UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub
A global home for accelerating the scale-up of transformational, climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) innovations for children and their families.
From using satellite data to locate water underground to unlocking millions in innovative financing for toilets, the UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub (the Hub) is working to catalyze the scale of innovations that transform access for the world's most vulnerable children.
The Challenge
Clean water and sanitation are fundamental for children's health, education, and well-being, yet climate change, conflict, and poverty threaten these rights. Today, 1 in 4 people lack safe drinking water, and nearly half the world lacks safe hygiene and sanitation. To meet these challenges, innovation is needed now, more than ever.
Our focus areas
Building capacity
With a presence in over 100 countries, UNICEF’s global WASH network is a strong foundation for accelerating the scale of innovation. The Hub helps develop the capacity of UNICEF offices and governments to adopt innovative approaches to WASH.
Connection and collaboration
The Hub is working to foster partnerships and knowledge exchange to help drive forward innovation across the WASH-sector through guidance sharing, the demonstration of successful models, advisory groups, and strategic events.
Innovative finance
The UNICEF Sustainable WASH Innovation Hub uses innovative finance to accelerate the scale and sustainability of WASH solutions. By creating synergies between public and private finance, the Hub works to leverage major impact for children.
Portfolio
The Hub’s portfolio-based approach identifies, validates, and prioritizes investment in transformational, climate-resilient innovations to support the bold ambition of clean water and sanitation for all by 2030 as set in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Examples of our Portfolio Solutions
More Water More Life combines satellite imagery, digital mapping, and local knowledge to locate deep groundwater and improve water drilling success in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Angola. Endorsed by the World Economic Forum as investable, UNICEF is scaling the initiative to reach millions with safe water.
Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a low-cost solution that stores excess surface water underground during wet seasons for use during dry periods. MAR has successfully improved water security in Timor-Leste and Iraq, ensuring children and communities have reliable access to water during droughts. The Hub is working with governments and local stakeholders to expand MAR to multiple locations facing climate-induced water scarcity.
Sanitation Financing Facility (SFF) is a UNICEF-brokered blended financing model that unlocks capital for household sanitation improvements in sub-Saharan Africa. By securing donor-backed guarantees and leveraging private-sector investment, SFF is set to mobilize millions of dollars in affordable credit for households and sanitation businesses. This model is poised to expand access to improved sanitation for millions of people.
Nature Based Solutions (NBS) for Urban Wastewater Treatment refers to approaches that leverage natural processes, ecosystems and biodiversity to treat wastewater in an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective way. Successfully piloted with the support of UNICEF in Dhaka, Bangladesh, NBS solutions have demonstrated potential for broader urban deployment across Africa and Asia, improving sanitation while enhancing urban biodiversity and resilience.
Do you have a WASH innovation?
The Hub regularly looks for new solutions to meet evolving challenges. These are the key problems the Hub is working to solve.
The Hub, is a part of the UNICEF Office of Innovation and supported by the Government of Denmark.
Contact us
The Hub is working to ignite a revolution in climate-resilient WASH solutions—but scaling these innovations requires collaboration. We invite partners, investors, and innovators to join us in driving transformative change for children worldwide. Want to learn more?
Get in touch: washinnovation@unicef.org