Community of Practice
The WASH in HCF Community of Practice Initiative, facilitated by the Water Institute at UNC, is an action-oriented learning platform seeking to connect practitioners around the world.
The WASH in Healthcare Facilities Community of Practice (COP) seeks to bring together practitioners from across the globe to share experiences in providing and sustaining these critical services. The COP was originally launched in 2021 and is currently facilitated by the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the Secretariat. The COP contributes to the global WASH in health care facilities initiative co-led by WHO and UNICEF through three main objectives:
- Connect in-country WASH in healthcare facility implementers with the evidence, resources, potential partners, and funding mechanisms they need to develop, implement and advocate for WASH in HCF programs
- Provide a platform for COP members to share experience, ideas and best practices for WASH in HCF programming
- Encourage members to take action based on the latest research and best practices
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Previous events
Recent webinar events hosted by the COP are highlighted below. The full selection of prior webinars is archived here.
Most recent: Bridging energy gaps in healthcare facilities (June 2025)
This session presented on gaps in how energy access is measured and integrated into health system planning, with a case study from the Democratic Republic of the Congo that used high-frequency monitoring to link real-time electricity quality and reliability to health outcomes. Watch the recording here.
Measuring WASH Adequacy (February 2025)
This session presented on the Institutional WASH Insecurity Experiences (INWISE) project, in both schools and health care facilities. This session presented preliminary findings from Uganda and Ethiopia, highlighting how experiential data can inform policy and improve service delivery. Watch the recording here.
Launch of the WASH FIT implementation global report (January 2025)
Launch of the 2024 JMP report on WASH in healthcare facilities (December 2024)
This session launched the 2024 global monitoring report on WASH in healthcare facilities from the Joint Monitoring Programme of the WHO and UNICEF. The session presented trends in global access and data availability. implementation report from WHO/UNICEF, with an overview of how WASH FIT has been applied in different countries and specific case studies from Nepal and Benin. Read the report here. Watch the recording here.
Measuring water quality in hospital water distribution systems (November 2024)
This webinar presented findings from Bangladesh on water quality at different points throughout water distribution systems within a hospital. A plenary panel discussed the implications of the findings for monitoring and practice. Watch the recording here.
Active Groups within the WASH in HCF Community of Practice
Coming soon! Faith-based organizations working group
Launched in June 2025, the faith-based organizations (FBOs) working group welcomes members of all faiths. This group provides a platform for FBOs to connect, learn, and support one another to improve WASH in faith-based healthcare networks and beyond.
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This group will provide a platform for members to network and learn from one another, while working towards concrete products such as webinars, training materials, briefing notes, white papers, and other more. These discussions and products will explore topics such as how FBOs can support health systems strengthening and the role of FBOs to collaborate with and support other health systems actors. The group also welcomes FBOs who are new to the topic of WASH in healthcare facilities and seeking opportunities to learn.
To join the FBO working group, please email washinhcfcop@unc.edu.
Decentralized Chlorine Production Community of Practice
The Global Community of Practice (CoP) on decentralized chlorine use is an international consortium of civil society organizations, private-sector companies, and individuals seeking to advancing innovative chlorine generation technologies and service delivery models for disinfection and water treatment in low- and middle-income countries.
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The Decentralized Chlorine Use Community of Practice functions as a learning, networking, and research platform, seeking to stimulate collaborative and transparent discussion among partners on lessons learned, evidence gaps, and candid feedback on challenges related to chlorine use in water and environmental hygiene services. To participate in quarterly meetings and receive updates and news, contact Megan Lindmark (megan@covaagua.org), Adam Drolet (adrolet@path.org), or Becca Brehm (rbrehm@path.org) to be added to the CoP member list.
Recent events
Value proposition. Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices remain a major driver of disease and poor health outcomes in both healthcare facilities and communities. Chlorine is a widely recommended, low-cost disinfectant for infection prevention and water treatment, yet inconsistent availability limits impact. A global assessment of healthcare facilities in 78 low- and middle-income countries found that over one-third lacked chlorine for disinfection, undermining efforts to maintain safe care environments. While chlorination at the household level holds promise for improving water safety, challenges in supply, uptake, and sustained use continue to hinder long-term health gains.
“A healthcare facility without WASH is not a healthcare facility.“
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization