Handwashing with soap and proper hygiene are the first lines of defense against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). ADB, together with world leaders and heads of international organizations, in a joint statement, recognize that water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services must be prioritized at the local, regional, and global levels. In this regard, to support developing member countries (DMCs) in improving their WASH services, the Water and Health Sector Groups, led by the recently formed Water and Health Advisory Team (WHAT), collaborated with WaterAid – an international development agency specializing in WASH and behavior change – to provide needed knowledge and insights that can inform project design and implementation as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and longer-term safety.

The seminar series covered 4 sessions, each focusing on a specific field relating to WASH: