Open Call to Strengthen Technical Support Towards the Monitoring of Wastewater Management Globally

About

The UN Habitat is seeking applications for its Identification of suitable partner institutions to support wastewater monitoring in the framework of SDG 6.

In line with the New Urban Agenda, UN-Habitat seeks to contribute to increased equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, improved sanitation, and sustainable management of water resources, including wastewater treatment, recycling, and safe reuse. It does so by facilitating policy dialogue, sharing good practices, by providing technical assistance for the development and implementation of field demonstration projects, and by supporting local, national, and global data collection and monitoring in order to strengthen advocacy, policy- and decision-making.

UN-Habitat’s vision is “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world”. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination, and poverty.

UN-Habitat is working with key partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to promote city-wide approaches to sanitation services and wastewater management systems, by mainstreaming sanitation into urban development strategies, harmonizing data management systems and national and sub-national level, and build capacity amongst water and sanitation utilities for improved service delivery.

Objective

• The objective of this project is to strengthen technical support towards the monitoring of wastewater management globally and to raise political awareness on the need to build capacity for sustainable (urban) wastewater management systems.

Key Areas

• The activities in the project will build on previous and current work by UN-Habitat and is broken down into three key areas:

  • Technical support to policy development on wastewater management

    • Follow up on and consolidate data collected by regional partners and prepare an analysis of the information provided;

    • Summarize the outcomes of regional consultative webinar meetings in a concise document with key messages and recommendations for policymakers. The preparation of this policy brief on wastewater management includes the drafting, facilitate review, editing, layout, and publishing services;

    • Support a review of the current methodology for SDG 6.3.1 with a view to developing a refined monitoring framework post-2030. This will include consultation with key actors, such as respective partner countries and relevant UN agencies;

    • Support the convening of a high-level meeting and/or the production of outreach materials at the occasion of the UN Water Conference 2023 to raise political awareness on the need to improve wastewater management in the context of rapid urbanization in the global south.

  • Data management and statistics on wastewater generation and treatment

    • Provide a review of the monitoring methodology used to collect SDG data on the flows of total wastewater generated and safely treated. This will be done in close collaboration with relevant UN partners and in partnership with OECD and Eurostat;

    • Propose new variables (sub-indicators) on wastewater issues (e.g. pollutant loads and wastewater reuse) and work with UN-Habitat, UNSD/UNEP, and OECD/Eurostat on the inclusion of these variables in relevant statistical tools;

    • Maintain a coherent repository of monitoring information on the SDG6.3.1 indicator, incl. review, and exploitation of the wastewater data from relevant databases. Produce graphics, aggregate wastewater data by regions, build time series and ensure that the data is included in a global database used to determine SDG 6.3.1 progress;

    • support the collection of disaggregated wastewater data from additional countries that are not currently reporting such data, by working through official national SDG reporting mechanisms and other means. Support countries to progressively align with international definitions and standards, by encouraging and assisting them in reporting to indicator 6.3.1 and to the existing international databases;

    • Contribute technical inputs in support of relevant progress reports on SDG 6.3.1 including updated statistical information, drafting of report sections, and related documentation;

    • Work with relevant partners to source, monitor, and aggregate utility and other city-level sanitation and wastewater data;

    • Co-facilitate training courses to build capacity on wastewater management and achieving and monitoring SDG indicators 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 and on other key areas to improve practitioners’ understanding of impacts of climate change on water resources and people and the interlinkages among them.

  • Communications for political change

    • Prepare infographics, story maps, and factsheets to raise awareness of current challenges and solutions regarding urban sanitation services and wastewater management systems, incl. in the context of the triple planetary crises;

    • Produce selected audio/visual communication products such as podcasts and videos on the interlinkages between sustainable wastewater management and key current environmental and climate issues;

    • Short-listed candidates may be invited to submit detailed proposals or provide clarifications.

Budget Information

• UN-Habitat will contribute financially in the range of US$70,000- 100,000 for the successful delivery of the outputs within the planned timeframe;

• Timeframe: The work outlined in this EOI is scheduled to commence in January 2023 and be completed within eight (8) months. The agreement can be extended depending on the budget availability.

Eligibility

• Governmental entities;

• International organizations;

• Non-governmental organizations;

• Academic institutions.

Post Date: 26-Dec-2022