This project involves multidisciplinary and participatory action research to examine water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) marketing systems as a way to achieve WASH outcomes for Melanesian communities of the Pacific, in particular informal urban or peri-urban communities. Residents of the informal settlements identified a desire to improve their WASH situation and foster demand-led marketing strategies.

Through working with community members of informal settlements and a range of enabling actors, from communities, government businesses, civil society organisations, the research produced publications to describe the features of a WASH marketing exchange system that supports sustainable and inclusive wash. Below are the range of outputs produced as a result of this project.

This research was managed by International WaterCentre and conducted by the International WaterCentre, Monash University, Water Institute at the University of North Carolina Water Institute, University of the South Pacific, Divine Word University, Civil Society WASH Fund and Live & Learn Environmental Education. It was conducted in partnership with local, provincial and national government departments, civil society organisations, water utilities, multilateral organisations, private sector actors and informal settlements in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. This work was achieved with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

To learn more you can visit the Research Project Overview page on the International Water Centre Website, or learn more about Wash Marketing Exchanges in this video.