We prevent diseases by providing leadership and building country capacity in key areas of environmental health, including water, sanitation and hygiene; clean, reliable and sustainable energy; air quality; harmful chemicals and radiation; climate change; ecosystem disruption; and emerging environmental health threats.
We address health threats through a One Health approach ranging across human, animal, and environmental sectors. We address the specific health needs of migrants and refugees through inclusive policies and health systems.
Our director and our team
Director a.i.
Our team
Dr Amina Benyahia
Head, One Health Initiative
One Health Initiative
Mr Bruce Gordon
Unit Head, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health
Water Sanitation and Health
Dr Emilie Van Deventer
Unit Head, Chemicals, Radiation and Health
Radiation and health
Latest publications
All →WHO international scheme to evaluate household water treatment technologies: results of Rounds III and...
This report presents the performance results of 21 household water treatment (HWT) products evaluated in Rounds III and IV of the WHO International Scheme...
WHO water, sanitation, hygiene and waste strategy 2026-2035
Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) still drive at least 1.4 million preventable deaths each year, while climate shocks, outbreaks, migration...
The GLAAS 2025 report, State of systems for drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene: global update 2025, and Key findings of the report were launched...
GLAAS 2025 report key findings
This summary presents the key findings from the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) 2025 report, which features...
Throwing away our health: the impact of solid waste on human health – evidence, knowledge gaps, and health...
This document summarizes current knowledge on the links between solid waste and human health, focusing on municipal solid waste. It covers definitions...
Safe and reliable drinking-water supply depends on effective risk management, appropriate regulation and support, and well-informed technology selection....
Guidelines on hand hygiene in community settings
These Guidelines are concerned with the practice of hand hygiene to protect community health outcomes, in particular, the reduction of diarrhoeal...
Essential services for quality care: water, sanitation, hygiene, health care waste and electricity services...
This report provides the latest progress in ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), waste and electricity services in health care...