World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the UN specialized agency on health. WHO monitors global progress on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) through estimates of global burden of WASH- related disease, monitoring of progress under the SDGs on WASH in households, schools and health facilities, wastewater treatment and the enabling environment for WASH service delivery.

WHO supports progress on WASH though development of rigorous evidence-based global guidelines on drinking-water quality, sanitation and health, safe use of wastewater in agriculture and aquiculture, and safe recreational water environments and supports capacity development for guideline implementation at country level through 6 regional offices and 147 country offices. WHO also works with the health sector to ensure that WASH is coordinated and incorporated in health programme delivery wherever WASH plays a role in primary prevention or health service delivery with a focus on; WASH in health facilities, emergencies and cholera control, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance and health impacts of climate change. Further details is available in the WHO Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy 2018-25.

Estimated budget for water and sanitation activities (USD):
20-30 million

Example of Activities

UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-water (GLAAS)

WHO monitors SDG6b through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS).
Indicator:
SDG target 6.B: Support stakeholder participation
Number of countries:
110
Website:
UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-water (GLAAS)
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

GLAAS and TrackFin initiative

WHO monitors SDG6a through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) and also supports national level analysis of sector financing through the TrackFin initiative.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.A: Expand international cooperation and capacity-building
Number of countries:
110
Website:
GLAAS and TrackFin initiative
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

Monitor safe treatment of wastewater

WHO monitors safe treatment of wastewater through the Integrated Monitoring Initiative and the enabling environment for improvements in wastewater treatment and safe use through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS). WHO also supports global progress towards improvements in treatment and safe use through the WHO Guidelines on Safe Use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture and Guidelines on Safe Recreational Water Environments and promotion and capacity building on sanitation safety planning business models for safe resource recovery and reuse.
WHO also interfaces with health programmes where wastewater and ambient water quality plays a key role on primary prevention especially antimicrobial resistance and food safety.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater and safe reuse
Number of countries:
79
Website:
Monitor safe treatment of wastewater
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

Global access and use of safe-drinking water

WHO monitors global access and use of safe-drinking water in households, schools and health facilities through the WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring programme (JMP) and the enabling environment for safe drinking-water services through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS). WHO also supports global progress towards universal access and use of safe drinking-water through the WHO Guidelines on Drinking-water quality and water safety plan implementation working with a wider range of national governments and international development partners. WHO provides expert advice on emerging issues for water quality such as potable reuse of wastewater and microplastics in drinking-water. WHO also interfaces with health programmes where safe drinking water plays a key role in primary prevention and response especially cholera control.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.1: Achieve safe and affordable drinking water
Number of countries:
147
Website:
Global access and use of safe-drinking water
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

Global access and use of sanitation

WHO monitors global access and use of sanitation (including open defecation, basic, limited and safely managed services) in households, schools and health facilities through the WHO/Unicef Joint Monitoring programme (JMP) and also monitors the enabling environment for sanitation services through the UN-Water global analysis and assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS). WHO also supports global progress towards universal access and use of safe sanitation through the WHO Guidelines on Sanitation and Health and sanitation safety planning implementation working with a wider range of national governments and international development partners. WHO also interfaces with health programmes where sanitation plays a key role in primary prevention especially neglected tropical diseases (soil transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis), antimicrobial resistance and polio containment.
Indicator:
SDG target 6.2: Achieve access to sanitation and hygiene and end open defecation
Number of countries:
147
Website:
Global access and use of sanitation
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

Support for climate resilient water supply and sanitation service

WHO's primary SDG6 cross-cutting work is on guidance and implementation support for climate resilient water supply and sanitation services.
In addition, WHO engages in cross cutting work with health sector programmes to support global monitoring and progress towards SDG 3 on health. Key activities include monitoring of SDG3.9.2 on WASH-related disease and supporting implementation of the UN-Secretary General’s Call to Action of WASH in Health Facilities. In addition, WHO collaborates on WASH across the health sector for emergencies and cholera control, neglected tropical diseases (especially soil transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis control), antimicrobial resistance and polio containment.
Indicator:
Cross-cutting work on SDG 6
Number of countries:
146
Website:
Support for climate resilient water supply and sanitation service
Entity:
World Health Organization (WHO)

Current work on the Sustainable Development Goals

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6
SDG target 6.1: drinking water
SDG target 6.2: sanitation and hygiene
SDG target 6.3: water quality and wastewater
SDG target 6.A: cooperation and capacity-building
SDG target 6.B: stakeholder participation

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Representatives in UN-Water

Kate Medlicott