The deadline for submisisions has been extended to June 20th 2021.

Sanitation programmes throughout and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with hygiene – and handwashing in particular – receiving unprecedented attention since the start of the pandemic.

However, development challenges faced prior to the current crisis still exist. Prior to the pandemic, two billion people lacked access to even basic sanitation, and it was estimated that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 would not have been met until the 22nd century. While there has been much discussion on WASH responses to COVID-19, so far there has been little focus on how to continue and how to adapt sanitation programming to meet pre-pandemic objectives.

In order to contribute to bridging this gap, the Sanitation Learning Hub (SLH) and UNICEF are hosting a webinar series looking at ways programmes have overcome unforeseen challenges to continue to improve access to sanitation during the pandemic.

The webinar series aims to provide practical ideas for the sector to progress towards SDG 6.2 in a changing world. The series will include three webinars, with two or three presentations each followed by Q&A sessions. We aim to hold the webinars between late June and mid-July 2021. The webinars will be in English.

We are looking for speakers willing to present practical examples of initiatives which have continued pursuing pre-existing sanitation and hygiene objectives during the pandemic, and to discuss successes, setbacks and adaptations.

Speakers are welcome from national or sub-national governments, UN agencies, national or international NGOs, CSOs, or the private sector, from a diversity of geographical regions.

If you are interested in presenting and discussing an example from your experience, please send us an abstract of maximum 400 words at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by 20 June 2021. The abstract should concisely describe:

• the context, location and the stakeholders;
• the sanitation programme implemented;
• the challenges generated by the pandemic;
• the strategies to cope with those challenges;
• the main outcomes (successes, setbacks, learnings, etc).

We will come back to you with further questions as necessary based on this information. For enquiries, please contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

We look forward to hearing from you!