WASH Cluster_ June 2019

WASH Cluster Standard Guidance

Note for
Hygiene items

This Guidance is for WASH agencies to accompany the standard Basic and Consumable Hygiene Kit
(HK) to improve quality, effectiveness and delivery of response. As a core pillars of response, hygiene
items play a key role in preventing disease outbreaks, saving-lives (enabling water collection or personal
hygiene), and helping affected populations carry out every day needs such as collecting water.
The standard kit is a guide for basic hygiene items, however WASH actors should conduct assessments
through participatory approaches and consultation with affected communities to identify specific needs
and appropriate support. Hygiene items should not be harmonized for all situations and contexts. Unique
needs change or are prioritized differently in different areas, may differ based on context and
communities’ needs, group target.

As many items are is available in local/rural shops and markets generally in Yemen are functioning, the
WASH Minimum Expenditure Basket1, and cash/voucher for hygiene items is highly encouraged.
Partners should conduct markets assessment and have proper means of targeting and monitoring.

Phasing and Kits Guide;

 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM): The guidance does not cover RRM which provides Basic
Hygiene kit (BHK) on no regrets basis and should last 1 month for new onset displacement.
 Partners distributing BHKs should be provided based on need within 1st and 2nd line responses
 Consumable Hygiene Kits (CHKs) should be provided and adapted based on need. CHKs are items
that need replenishment (i.e. soap) and can target IDPs in sites (post RRM/ BHK distribution),
populations in their homes (such as HH with SAM / cholera cases) and as such most likely have non-
consumable items (i.e. jerrycans). CHKs can be considered for 3-6 months depending on context and
need.
 Cholera Kits; Includes Consumable HK, water containers and Aquatabs used by RRT’s targeting
Cholera suspected / confirmed cases from the line list and surrounding 5 HHs or 50-100 m radius and
to HH with a drinking water source known to be contaminated with cholera
 Additional Extras; WASH partners should adapt kits and items based on needs assessment and
include additional items, such as Baby kit (Nappy and Potty) and washing basin as needed.
Maximising the benefits of the Distribution of hygiene items
If Hygiene items are not used for their intended purpose, they may be sold to It is critical to involve HPs
pay for other needed items. Populations can make their own decisions, but an in the selection and
important opportunity to enable better health and hygiene may be lost if distribution of hygiene
people are not given enough information about health benefits of items. The items, especially where items
provision of hygiene items by hygiene promoters (HPs) can act as an may not be used for their
incentive to become involved in HP activities. intended purpose

1
WASH SMEB can be found here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1g9DiOocLvYh6KVViVZ8kp_4tVsBle0_6
 WASH Cluster_ June 2019

Encouraging women, men and children to make the best use of hygiene items is often done by HPs /
CHVs, but items are often purchased and distributed by other teams (such as logisticians). It is
recommended that HPs / CHVs work with other teams to ensure an effective system is in place. Large
distributions may need logistics teams, but smaller distributions could be done with community
mobilisers.
Not only is it important that beneficial use is made of HKs, but also that items do not have a negative
effect on other areas of the intervention e.g. Chlorine solution may be harmful if not used correctly.
Packaging for HKs may also present a problem of waste. Partners should consider ways to ensure HKs
have minimal packaging, or packaging that can be re-used for other purposes.
Selection of Hygiene Items
Discussions with affected men and women should form the basis of selection of hygiene items and while
it may not be possible to consult extensively in onset emergency, there is always space for dialogue with
the affected population. Standard hygiene kits act as a guide and ensure minimum quality standards and
criteria, however exact contents will depend on specific circumstances. WASH agencies can draw from
the list of contents and deliver appropriate items with sensitization.

It is important to consider quality as well as cost; The cheapest items do not always last long
or be used as much. Populations are less likely to use soap if the quality is inadequate and
cheap, flimsy water container may easily get damaged and be a source of contamination.

Guide for reusable items:

Reusable items could be used where laundry facilities are available, based on preference and provided
with community sensitization, participation and follow-up to ensure they support needs in a dignified
manner.
 Reusable Sanitary pads: Can be explored based on focus group discussion, preference and
availability, and where safe private places to WASH the cloths and to ensure no risk if fecal oral
contamination.
 Reusable baby nappies/diapers: Is only recommended where population preference and where
suitable laundry facilities are identified, to ensure that there is NO risk if fecal oral contamination

Distribution
RRM provides a way to pre-stock priority items for distribution in the initial stages of an emergency on
‘no regrets’ basis. For other items there must be an assessment of what people need and what is culturally
appropriate. Where possible it is beneficial to procure items locally to ensure acceptance.
 Different modalities should be considered according to context; such as in-kind, vouchers, CASH to
enable people to make their decisions about the items they choose.
 CHKs need repeat distribution to replenish, depending on people’s capacity to meet their needs.
 Monitoring of acceptance and use of the HKs should take place as soon as possible after the
distribution, and modifications made, as necessary, prior to the next distribution.
 If distribution is done through an intermediary e.g. community leaders for example, follow up is also
vital. Support may be needed to ensure adequate and systematic monitoring and follow up.
 In areas of high literacy, it may be possible to provide a written leaflet to accompany the materials
distributed. This should clearly explain the contents of the kit, use, and, where necessary, warnings
 WASH Cluster_ June 2019

about misuse. This is also an opportunity to include key hygiene and health messages and can contain
feedback options and contacts of the agency.
Tips for improving the distribution of hygiene items
Before distribution
 Participatory identification and prioritization of appropriate hygiene items should be done with the
community during the rapid assessment. Items should be packaged for ease of handling and
transportation by beneficiaries, and securely enough to prevent leakage of liquids.
 A registration list of beneficiaries’ HH is required (indicating male, female, persons with disability or
special needs, children, elderly, and other vulnerable groups and total number of HH occupants.
 A distribution team should be identified; with distribution officer, beneficiary leader(s), and
CHVs/HPs.
 A distribution schedule with dates/times, sites, targeted beneficiaries, items, and responsible persons
must be prepared. The list should be shared with the logistics team/warehouse to enable them to
prepare transport and support if required.
 Information about the time, place, and nature of the distribution must be communicated to affected
populations via leaders, notices, community health workers etc.
 If the distribution is targeted, the beneficiary selection criteria should also be made known.
 If necessary, organize and train separate teams to carry out demonstrations or provide information on
assembly and use of items distributed e.g. water filters, chlorine solution and ORS
During distribution
 Ensure beneficiaries understand criteria for selection, content and use to encourage transparency.
They should be made aware of their rights regarding distribution and complaints procedures
 Try to address queries or complaints as they arise and that disruptions addressed quickly and
effectively.
 Ensure materials distributed are intact and functioning e.g. buckets have lids and taps
 Conduct community engagement, awareness and promotion activities during the distribution on the
sue and purpose of the items and other relevant promotion on safe hygiene behaviours
After distribution
 Monitor beneficiary satisfaction with the distribution process and the items and observe the use of the
items. This can be done by selecting a percentage of HHs for interviews and/or through focus group
discussions, as part of post distribution monitoring.
 Monitoring may highlight where items have been sold to purchase items considered more important
e.g. food or medicines and may thus highlight other unmet needs.
 Compile distribution reports of items distributed, number of people receiving items and their level of
satisfaction with the items received.
 Reconcile stock levels with broken or defective items, Document emerging issues and lessons learnt
and ensure they feed into subsequent distributions.