Participants from the Online Training on WASH’Em Approach

Environment & Public Health Organization (ENPHO), in collaboration with Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST) and German Toilet Organization (GTO), successfully concluded the Online Training on the Wash’Em Approach for South Asia on 14 August 2025.

This intensive training, which began on July 3, 2025, was designed to strengthening the skills of South Asian WASH practitioners to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based and contextually adapted handwashing behavior programs in emergency settings. The curriculum specifically addressed challenges posed by pandemics, earthquakes, and displacement.

The program was delivered through a series of four interactive virtual sessions, fostering a dynamic learning environment. It attracted a diverse group of 135 participants (90 male, 45 female) from across South Asia, including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, with additional representation from several African countries, highlighting the global relevance of the topic.

Online Session Delivered by Ms. Emily Guebert

To date, 27 participants have successfully completed all course requirements and received certification. 28 are in the process of finalizing their course. Participants praised the training for its practical focus and immediate applicability to their work.

“First of all, many thanks to ENPHO and CAWST for giving us an opportunity to join this course. This is a brilliantly designed course, much more relevant to designing hand hygiene programs in emergencies. I believe this learning can also be contextualized for hand hygiene program designing in a development context.”

— Peoples Wash Solution LLP, India

 

“The WASH’Em has been an eye-opener for my work in Nepal’s humanitarian settings. It’s practical, fast-paced, and focuses on real behavior change – not just infrastructure.”

— Dr. Basista Shah, SIDS Nepal

 

This initiative marks a crucial step in building a more resilient South Asia. The newly trained practitioners are now prepared to implement these strategies, ensuring future emergency responses effectively promote life-saving handwashing behaviors and strengthen public health defenses across the region.