Attachments
Reflections of 2024 emergency response coordination
▪ Violet Tembo presented an update of the emergencies the cluster has been responding to in 2024 highlighting the impact and the response coverage by partners in WASH cluster. The incidents included cholera outbreaks affecting multiple districts, Floods that affected Karonga and Nkhotakota as well as Tropical Cyclone Chido, which affected some of the southern region districts. These emergencies highlighted the vulnerabilities in the current coordination mechanisms and the urgent need for improved preparedness and response strategies.
▪ On notable achievements, the cluster reached out to the people in need of WASH services with over 1.7 million people were provided access to safe drinking water and domestic water facilities, while hygiene supplies and promotion messaging reached 3.7 million individuals. Additionally, more than 100,000 people were supported with access to safe sanitation facilities, including those in internally displaced person (IDP) camps. These achievements were made possible through the collective efforts of all partners involved, showcasing the strength of collaborative approaches.
▪ Reflections on challenges that affected response. The challenges include inconsistency in reporting activities among some partners, which hampered accurate data collection and monitoring. Institutional coordination challenges specifically on misalignment between district and national plans within the line ministry and ministries with overlapping activities in WASH that contributed to duplication of activities and unmet needs in certain areas. Additionally, limited partner reporting to the cluster affected the ability to capture a complete picture of activities and their impact.
Notably, insufficient funding posed a significant challenge, often forcing prioritization of immediate needs over long-term resilience building. This lack of resources hindered the continuation of interventions aimed at strengthening community resilience. Simultaneous emergencies, such as cholera outbreaks during floods, overwhelmed response teams, while inadequate technical and operational capacity at the district level created further obstacles. For instance, areas like Nkhotakota, which were not accustomed to experiencing floods, struggled to implement effective response measures within the recommended 72-hour window.
▪ From the presentation, discussions were held that unearthed valuable lessons for learning and improvement. The prepositioning of essential WASH supplies proved crucial in enabling a timely response, while regular coordination meetings facilitated information sharing and capacity building among partners. The development and use of comprehensive contingency plans to address multiple hazards, such as floods and cholera outbreaks, enhanced the agility of responses and demonstrated the importance of integrated planning.