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Add to Preferred SourcesThe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners have launched the Global WASH Sector Resilience Index (GWSRI), the first global tool designed to measure the resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, according to a press release. The Index was launched at the High-level Political Forum in July 2026. It assesses 151 countries through a multi-dimensional framework. The tool is aimed at governments, partners, and the wider WASH community. It marks a significant step in guiding risk-informed decisions worldwide.
The GWSRI combines data on hazard exposure, vulnerability, system performance, governance capacity, and access to WASH services. Its assessment covers ecosystem, service, and community levels. This structure allows a comprehensive view of resilience across country contexts. The Index builds on existing UNICEF efforts in the WASH sector. It offers a consolidated evidence base for benchmarking system readiness.
The Index responds to growing pressures from floods, droughts, conflict, pandemics, and economic shocks. Such threats can disrupt essential services across regions. They also undermine children’s health, nutrition, education, protection, and dignity. The GWSRI is designed to help identify where WASH systems are most exposed. It aims to inform coordinated responses under increasingly complex risk conditions.
The GWSRI is intended to help governments and partners strengthen risk-informed planning. It also seeks to prioritize investment in systems that can anticipate, withstand, and recover from shocks. The framework supports both national and subnational analysis. It provides indicators relevant for policymakers and development actors. The tool is expected to guide targeted, evidence-based programming.
More resilient WASH systems can also support climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and improved health, education, and economic outcomes. These benefits are particularly relevant for women and girls. The GWSRI positions WASH resilience as a cross-cutting driver of sustainable development. It reinforces the link between essential services and broader wellbeing. UNICEF and partners have made further details on the Index publicly available.