Humanitarian & Disaster Management
WASH Specialist in Emergencies and Humanitarian Settings
Advanced WASH programming for specialists leading emergency and recovery water and sanitation work.
Syllabus at a glance
Around 24 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–5 | WASH assessment, design and technical options |
| 2 | Weeks 6–10 | Water systems, boreholes and distribution networks |
| 3 | Weeks 11–15 | Sanitation engineering in constrained settings |
| 4 | Weeks 16–20 | Outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease |
| 5 | Weeks 21–24 | WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance |
Module breakdown
- 1
WASH assessment, design and technical options
Weeks 1–5Build a shared working vocabulary for WASH assessment, design and technical options and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind WASH assessment, design and technical options
- Step-by-step methods and templates for WASH assessment, design and technical options
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in WASH assessment, design and technical options, and how to avoid them
- Applying WASH assessment, design and technical options in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying WASH assessment, design and technical options to a local scenario.
- 2
Water systems, boreholes and distribution networks
Weeks 6–10Work through the methods and tools used for water systems, boreholes and distribution networks in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for water systems, boreholes and distribution networks
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in water systems, boreholes and distribution networks, and how to avoid them
- Applying water systems, boreholes and distribution networks in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to water systems, boreholes and distribution networks.
- 3
Sanitation engineering in constrained settings
Weeks 11–15Practise sanitation engineering in constrained settings on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in sanitation engineering in constrained settings, and how to avoid them
- Applying sanitation engineering in constrained settings in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your sanitation engineering in constrained settings work
Assessed work: Group simulation using sanitation engineering in constrained settings under time pressure.
- 4
Outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease
Weeks 16–20Turn outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use outbreak WASH: cholera and diarrhoeal disease in your role.
- 5
WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance
Weeks 21–24Review, quality-check and improve your own WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance
- Step-by-step methods and templates for WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering WASH coordination, budgeting and quality assurance.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • NGO, government and community responders involved in preparedness and response.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Full WASH response design assignment with budget and monitoring plan.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
Certification
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Lead the design of a multi-site WASH response
- Select appropriate technical WASH options
- Manage WASH quality, budget and coordination
Practical component
Full WASH response design assignment with budget and monitoring plan.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Ready to start WASH Specialist in Emergencies and Humanitarian Settings?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.