Shaping the future: Our strategy for research and innovation in humanitarian response.
A global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation..
Our purpose is clear: we work in partnership with a global community of humanitarian actors, researchers and innovators to improve the quality of humanitarian action and deliver better outcomes for people affected by crises.
We empower the humanitarian community. Find out how we can support you...

Poor surface water drainage can pose health risks by supporting the development of vector-borne diseases such as malaria or cholera. It can also pose accessibility problems by making it difficult for people and humanitarian services to make their way through a camp and maintain essential water and sanitation services.

Building on the findings of our Gap Analysis, and the Problem Exploration Report on Surface Water Drainage, two core problems stood out:

  • While surface water drainage solutions exist, the information is scattered across multiple sources and it is not always clear which solutions are best to use in which context.
  • Most of the existing solutions come from the development sector and are therefore resource-intensive and impractical in a humanitarian crisis.

We have also produced a Challenge Candidate List, which provides a summary of the key challenges presented in the Problem Exploration Report
on Surface Water Drainage.

We have prioritised innovations looking to address these particular surface water drainage challenges.

We have prioritised innovations looking to:
  1. Develop guidance to help field practitioners decide between existing drainage solutions in an emergency;
  2. Develop affordable and effective solutions to improve surface water drainage in an emergency.

WASH in Emergencies Problem Exploration Report: Surface Water Drainage

Globally, waterborne diseases and sanitation-related infections are both major contributors to public healthcare burdens and mortality. Effective drainage reduces breeding grounds for vectors (such as mosquitoes) and reduces the creation of muddy stagnant pools that harbour dangerous pathogens which cause a wide range of diseases. The findings of this report suggest that a paradigm shift that takes into account the need for long-term, tailored drainage solutions in emergency situations is required.

Read our report

Our Surface Water Drainage Projects
United Kingdon

Surface Water Management in Refugee Camps
Iraq

Sustainable Flood Resilience in Refugee Camps
United Kingdon

Going with the flow: surface water management training

Our Surface Water Drainage Tools & Research
Tool COVID-19, Water, sanitation & hygiene

WASH Innovation Catalogue
Report Water, sanitation & hygiene

WASH in Emergencies Problem Exploration Report: Water Treatment
Report Water, sanitation & hygiene

Gap Analysis in Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion

Surface Water Drainage Tools & Research from our funded projects
Tool Water, sanitation & hygiene

Practical guidance on surface water management & drainage for field practitioners
Report Water, sanitation & hygiene

Final Phase 1 Report: Surface Water Management In Refugee Camps
Report Water, sanitation & hygiene

Sustainable Flood Resilience in Refugee Camps; Combining sustainable drainage (SuDS) with WASH
Peer Reviewed Water, sanitation & hygiene

Sustainable Drainage in Challenging Environments

Find out more about our WASH work
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Visit to our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) home to find out more about how we identify the most pressing humanitarian challenges in WASH and design innovation challenges to find and support the right solutions.
Safe Water

Providing safe water to drink is essential for public health in emergencies. Without safe water, infectious diseases including hepatitis E, cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases can quickly spread causing suffering and loss of life.
Sanitation

The provision of adequate sanitation facilities is one of the key measures to minimise health risks as well as preserve the privacy and dignity of people affected.

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