Wash'Em Toolkit

Product Description

Wash’Em is an online software tool developed through collaboration with the LSHTM, ACF, and CAWST and funded by USAID/OFDA. Wash’Em is a behavior change approach designed specifically for emergency situations. The Wash’Em software simplifies moving from behavioral insights to hygiene program design.

The process involves 5 rapid assessment tools to understand community behavior. Once data is entered into the Wash’Em software, evidence-based and context tailored WASH program recommendations are generated.

Target SDGs

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Community, Public Sector Agencies, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

This process has been implemented by over 45 organizations, including UNICEF, World Vision, Oxfam, WaterAID, and ACF.

Manufacturing/Building Method

N/A

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Wash’Em software is free to access online.

Distributions to Date Status

While exact distributions to date are unknown, Wash’Em has recorded over 50 sites in which the Wash’Em software has been tested.

Consumables

None

Number of uses

Unlimited

Power supply type

None

Size

N/A

Design Specifications

The Wash’Em Programme Designer software is developed by behavioral scientists. The process was designed through systematic literature reviews on handwashing and behavioral theories, and practitioner experience. The software is directed by each response to the questionnaire whether to provide a recommendation to the context. The 5 rapid assessment tools were developed based on extended mixed-methods research crisis-affected settings. Following testing, adjustment, and improvement in over 30 emergency responses, the process is now in its third iteration. The Wash’Em process produces handwashing programs specific to the implementing context. This process is generated as follows:

Learn about the target community: guides and worksheets that can be downloaded to help assess the community context through rapid assessments. Training resources which include slides, lesson plans, and training activities can be downloaded to support this process. This can take 1 to 2 days to complete.
Rapid Assessments: a minimum of 6 people should be present to help with the data collection, which can take 2 to 3 days to complete. The 5 rapid assessments include handwashing demonstrations, motives, personal histories, disease perception, and touchpoints.
Data entry: data from the Rapid Assessments is entered into the program designer software.
Context-specific hygiene program recommendations: 80+ handwashing promotion activities are generated with step-by-step instructions to aid integration into hygiene programs.

The program is designed to run on any modern web browser on a computer, laptop, or tablet.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Technical support is provided by the Wash'Em team.

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The designer states simple language, easy-to-use rapid assessment tools, and context-specific designed hygiene programs as performance targets.

Vetted Performance Status

The designer states the Wash’Em process was tested by 45 different organizations in more than 30 emergency responses in the first year of its release.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

The Wash’Em process can align with WASH humanitarian response programming.

Academic Research and References

None

Compliance with regulations

None

Evaluation methods

The designer states the product has been evaluated through literature reviews, in-depth research during crises, and interviews with humanitarian organizations.

Other Information

None