sanitation

USAID’s TRANSFORM/WASH Program: Increasing Use of Improved WASH Products & Services in Ethiopia

Deadline: 19 May 2016

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for Assistance Agreement from qualified and eligible U.S. and non-U.S. organisations for funding to support a program entitled “TRANSFORM/Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) with an aim to increase the use of improved WASH products and services in Ethiopia and the TRANSFORM’s overall goal of ending preventable child and maternal death.

The objective of TRANSFORM/WASH is to capacitate an organization or consortium to support the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) to increase the use of improved WASH products and services in Ethiopia. All activities should aim to achieve sustained (product-facilitated) behavior change by combining hygiene promotion, small-scale private sector hardware interventions, and enabling environment activities that reduce barriers to attaining scale.

Objectives

Increased WASH governance and management capacity at the sub national level
Increased demand for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation
Increased supply for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation
Increased knowledge base to bring WASH innovations to scale

Funding Information: Pending the availability of funding, USAID anticipates awarding one or more Cooperative Agreement award with a value of $24,000,000.

Eligibility Criteria

All qualified U.S. and non-U.S. organizations (other than those from foreign policy restricted countries) are eligible to apply.
Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws and regulations.
The Recipient must be a responsible entity.
USAID encourages applications from potential new partners.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply via given website.

For more information, please visit TRANSFORM/WASH.

Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia: Innovation Grant Program for Private Sector!

Deadline: 5 February 2016

Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia (MCA-Zambia) is pleased to announce the second call for concept notes for its Innovation Grant program (IGP) which is a competitive pro-poor grant program to engage the private sector in innovative partnership opportunities in water supply, sanitation and drainage (Solid waste management).

MCA-Zambia has been established under the laws of Zambia as a company limited by guarantee, designated by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) as the Accountable Entity to implement the Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage Project. This has been funded by the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Objectives

To improve water use, sanitation and hygiene
To reduce blockage of sewer/drainage systems
To expand opportunities for entrepreneurship and income generation activities related to WATSAN and drainage
To ensure access for women and vulnerable groups to project benefits

Focus Areas

Improved water supply services
Improved sanitation & hygiene
Solid waste management

Grant Information

Total Grant Portfolio: $6.25 million
Small Grants: Minimum $30,000 to $100,000
Large Grants: $100,001 to maximum grant size $1.5 million

Eligibility Criteria

For-profit companies, non-government organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, universities, research institutions, and foundations
Zambian or non-Zambian, provided that non-Zambian organizations comply with Zambian regulations for performing business or related activities in the country.
Small organizations seeking grants are encouraged to affiliate with larger organizations that have the capacity to formulate a work plan and manage grant funding

How to Apply

Interested applicants can submit either hardcopy or electronic version of their application forms at the address given website.

For more information, please visit Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia.

Water and Sanitation in Urban Settings: Research Grant for Innovative Projects

Deadline: 31 March 2016

The Project “Water and Sanitation in Urban Settings” of The Coca-Cola Department of Regional Water Studies at TERI University with the support of USAID is inviting applicants in order to offer scholarships to final year graduate and post graduate students who are interested in showcasing their ingenuity in the field of managing water and sanitation.

India, as other South Asian countries, is heading towards freshwater crisis mainly due to improper management and use of water resources and environmental degradation. Depletion and overexploitation of fresh water resources is threatening the very existence of life on earth. There is an urgent need to make society responsible partners in solving the problems related to water – with youth and teachers in young countries of South Asia being an extremely important constituency for this movement.

For protecting valuable drinking water from contamination, one of the key steps is to break the vicious cycle of inadequate water supply and concentrated water pollution through proper collection, treatment and hygienic disposal of sewage. If sewage is eliminated, bacteriological contamination would end and so would water borne diseases, subsequently risk to health may be reduced. Therefore, these two aims- water supply and sanitation- need to be synchronized by planners at policy formulation as well as at operational levels.

Grant Information

The student shall be awarded a research grant amount of maximum up to two lakhs for a period of one academic year consisting of two academic semesters (July-December, 2016, January-June, 2017) or a research grant amount of a maximum of fifty thousand rupees for a period of six months (July-December, 2016 or January-June, 2017).

Thematic Areas

Health and hygiene in informal settlements-establishment of sanitation-health risk nexus, development of Mobile Apps for WASH determinable, risk identification, development of water borne disease surveillance system, especially in known disease hubs.
Compendium of toilet designs.
Sludge management of decentralised toilets, social acceptability, attitude on public, shared and private toilets.
Groundwater management interventions -focus on sub-surface hydrology.
Restructuring urban water hydrology towards alternative management of rain water and reduction in water logging.
Sanitation plan for smart cities, study of water contamination episodes in unplanned urban settlements – devising of response plans to deal with contamination.

Eligibility Criteria

All final year students studying in Indian institutions are eligible for the research grant, regardless of the nationality of the student.

The project proposal can be submitted for grant by final year graduate and postgraduate students from the following disciplines:

Engineering/Architecture/Urban Planning
Physics/Chemistry/ Biochemistry/Biotechnology/Mathematics/Zoology/Botany
Economics/Anthropology/Geography/Statistics

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by submitting their proposals electronically at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit Water and Sanitation in Urban Settings.

UNICEF Bangladesh Needs WASH Officer in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Deadline: 7 Feb 2013

Applications are invited by The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) from qualified and deserving candidates for the job/vacancy of WASH Officer, “special projects in severely arsenic affected areas”. The location of this assignment will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh with frequent travel to the field. Please note that this position is open for Bangladesh Nationals only. Duration of this assignment is 364 days with possibility of extension, depending on needs and availability of funds.

Education:

Degree in civil/ sanitary/ environmental engineering or equivalent and substantial experience in water, sanitation and hygiene promotion.

Work Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in promoting safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene
Experience of implementing and monitoring Arsenic Mitigation;
Experience in rural piped water technologies development, implementation and monitoring;
Experience in low cost water supply technologies, including arsenic-safe alternative and removal technologies; low cost sanitation and hygiene promotion;
Experience on water quality issues, monitoring and water safety plans;
Experience in working with local government agencies, international agencies, NGOs and private sector is an advantage;
Experience in participatory assessment of water supply, sanitation and hygiene practices; and in promoting community based demand-responsive approaches;
Experience in different hard to reach and hydro- geologically challenging areas;
Proficiency in computing, especially word processing, spreadsheets, power points, AutoCAD and internet etc.; and
Prior experience with UNICEF or other UN agencies is an advantage.

Language requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written Bengali and English

Competencies/ skills:

Working in multicultural environment; and sensitiveness towards local/national political environment
Awareness of and commitment to child rights and gender issues; and ability to mainstream them in programmatic activities
UNICEF’s core competency areas such as: commitment, drive for results, embracing diversity, integrity, teamwork, analytical & conceptual thinking, building trust, networking, communication, technical knowledge, planning, setting standards and monitoring work

How to apply:

Applications with CV and a filled-in P-11 form should be sent to the Chief, Human Resources Section, UNICEF-Bangladesh, Hotel Ruposhi Bangla Annex, 1 Minto Road, Dhaka-1000 no later than 7 February 2013. Please mark on the envelope the post applied for.

For more info please visit this link.

Gates Foundation’s Request for Letter of Inquiry: Round 3 of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a new funding opportunity under its Water, Sanitation & Hygiene program which works with partners wot develop sustainable sanitation services that work for everyone. Under this new funding, the Foundation is seeking Letters of Inquiry (LOI) for the third round of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.

The Reinvent the Toilet Challenge is designed to prototype a means of dealing effectively and cost-efficiently with human waste for the 2.5 billion people on earth who currently lack access to safe and affordable sanitation.

Successful applicants will participate in the next phase of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge by designing, prototyping and testing entirely stand-alone, self-contained, practical sanitation modules which intake bodily wastes or fecal sludge collected from pit latrines and septic tanks and swiftly dispose of them without any incoming water piping, outgoing sewer piping or electric or gas utility services. These modules must intake all outputs of the serviced population – ultimately at single-residence scales (smaller-scale individual family toilet solutions) or group of households (larger-scale neighborhood fecal sludge processor solutions)– with minimal module footprints and assured biosafety. The anticipated capital and operational cost for the final products (commercial units) is expected to be less than $0.05/user/day, both for the family and neighborhood solutions. The design should anticipate the effects and fate of complementary sanitary products entering the system such as paper, cloth, sand, and other personal hygiene products and chemicals.

This RFP will use a mandatory two-step application process. The first step requires the submission of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) in the form of a 5 page concept note, detailed in the RFLOI Overview and Guidelines. After evaluation of all LOIs received, the foundation will contact those applicants who are eligible and have projects of further interest to complete step two—the submission of a full proposal. If invited to submit a full proposal, instructions on the preparation of the proposal will be provided at the time of invitation.

The deadline to submit applications is 8 November 2012. For more information, visit this link.

Japan Water Forum Fund: Grants for Grassroots NGOs

The Japan Water Forum has announced a grant opportunity for grassroots NGOs in developing countries working to resolve water and sanitation problems.

Only projects planned and faithfully implemented to solve the current water and sanitation problems by grass-roots organizations in developing countries will be considered.

These projects include for example:
Installation of rainwater-harvesting tanks, ponds or digging wells;
Development of small scale water supply systems;
Building new toilets and upgrading existing sanitation facilities;
Prevention of water-related disasters projects;
Establishment and encouragement of water-efficient irrigation;
Solving gender issues on water and sanitation;
Water environment restoration activities.

Any grassroots organizations in developing countries involved in resolution of water and sanitation problems. National governments, Local governments and private companies will not be selected can apply for this opportunity.

The JWF Fund recommends that your proposed project includes capacity building/awareness-raising programs but it should not be only that. All projects need to be implemented by end of March 2013.

Proposals to be submitted using the given application form. The deadline to submit proposals is 25 July 2012. For more information, visit this link.

Gates Foundation’s Grants under Water, Sanitation & Hygiene for Reinventing the Toilet Challenge

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has issued a request for letters of inquiry for disbursing a set of new grants to support its Reinventing the Toilet Challenge (Round 2) under its Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Program. These grants are intended for exceptionally highly-qualified research groups interested in contributing to major advances in sanitation and hygiene in the developing world.

The Reinvent the Toilet Challenge is designed to prototype a means of dealing effectively and cost-efficiently with human waste for the 2 billion people on earth who currently lack access to safe and affordable sanitation.

Successful applicants will participate in the next phase of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge: designing, prototyping and testing entirely stand-alone, self-contained, practical sanitation modules which intake bodily wastes and swiftly dispose of them without any incoming water piping, outgoing sewer piping or electric or gas utility services. These modules must intake all outputs of the serviced population – ultimately at single-residence scales – with minimal module footprints and assured biosafety. Thus, chemical and mechanical engineering approaches are preferred.

At present, the Foundation is soliciting letters of inquiry and capability declarations from groups, primarily in the academic sector and from for-profit organizations, who are well qualified to undertake R&D and execute pertinent program plans. Full proposals for grant awards are not being solicited at the present, but submission of proposals may be invited in the near future from those whose letters of inquiry and capability declarations are of extraordinary quality.

A single-page typed-or-printed letter of inquiry and capability declaration should be submitted no later than May 10th 2012 in order to be assured of consideration.

For more information, visit this link.

Global Sanitation Fund seeks business proposals in Malawi

Plan Malawi, the Executing Agency for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council’s (WSSCC’s) Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) in Malawi, invites suitably qualified firms and organisations to submit expressions of interest in the role of Sub Grantee (SG) for the GSF grant programme in the country.

Sub-grantees are the primary agents that implement the programme of activities that have been set out in the Country Program Proposal funded by the GSF, with the purpose of contributing directly to achieving the objectives of the GSF.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the request for funding from the GSF is to support Malawi in achieving its goals in reducing open defecation, increase access to improved sanitation, coverage and use of safe hygiene practices; thereby contributing to the agreed national targets and the MDGs.

The $5 million/5 year GSF programme in Malawi will consist of five components, namely:

1. Decrease in open defecation, increased use of improved sanitation and promote use of safe hygiene practices in rural districts with the lowest baseline and investment.

2. Sanitation and hygiene promotion campaigns.

3. Capacity development of local district government, civil society, and private sector.

4. Support in planning of implementation of sanitation and hygiene promotion activities at district level

5. Documenting of lessons learnt from GSF programmes, which will contribute to improved programming for coordination and scaling up.

Focus Districts and TA’s

The Programme targets 6 districts in Malawi with high levels of open defecation, low access to improved sanitation and low investment in sanitation and hygiene namely Chikhwawa, Balaka and Phalombe in the southern region, Ntchisi and Nkhotakota in the central region and Rumphi district in the northern region. Proposal for the districts of Balaka and Pholombe are not accepted in this funding round.

This call for proposal only focuses in 5 districts with a maximum implementation period of two years. Proposals might cover the whole target population in one district or a percentage of the target population.

Methodology

The program delivery will involve the use of development approaches outlined below to achieve the objectives of the CPP.

Community Led Total Sanitation
Sanitation Marketing
Equity and Inclusion
Citizen Action Initiatives
HIV and AIDS Mainstreaming

Last date for submission of proposals is October 22, 2011. For more information, visit this link.

Subscribe to the latest funding opportunities, scholarships and other useful resources in Malawi. Click here.

University of North Carolina to organize Annual Conference on “Water and Health”

Even in 21st century, there are hundreds of millions of people in the world who don’t have access to clean, fresh water for survival. For many, who have access to this basic necessity, there are threats of aging infrastructure, politics and climate change.

To address these issues, the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hills is organizing its annual conference entitled “Water and Health: Where Science Meets Policy”. The Conference, convened by Water Institute at UNC and the UNC Institute for the Environment, will be held from October 3 – 7, 2011 and attended by hundreds of the world’s leading water, sanitation and hygiene experts. The event will take place at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education.

Presenters and attendees will examine water-related issues in six areas:

Freshwater availability and climate change adaptation;
Human rights and ethics as related to water;
Water, sanitation and hygiene in peri-urban areas (on the fringes of urban areas);
Hygiene behaviors and household water treatment;
Small-community water, sanitation and hygiene; and
Water challenges facing North Carolina and the Southeastern U.S.

The event will highlight research, education and public outreach, both during the conference and at workshops before and after it.

“Solutions to these urgent problems can be found and implemented more quickly if experts from diverse locations and disciplines share ideas and information,” said conference co-chairs Jamie Bartram and Lawrence E. Band, both of UNC.

Participants already registered come from nearly 50 countries, including Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Palestine, Philippines, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Attendees represent diverse organizations such as the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CARE, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Procter & Gamble, Samaritan’s Purse, Save the Children, The World Bank and others.

Registration is $225 for students and $450 for the public. Workshop-only registrations are available for $175.

Keynote speakers include:

Catarina de Albuquerque, special rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, United Nations
Frank Rijsberman, director, global development program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Jaehyang So, program manager, water and sanitation program, The World Bank
Charles J. Vörösmarty, director, City University of New York environmental crossroads initiative, professor and distinguished scientist with the City University-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s cooperative remote sensing science and technology center
Jeff Chapin, senior designer, IDEO
Ellen Gilinsky, senior policy adviser, office of water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

IRC Seeks Applications for Participation and Contribution in Learning and Sharing Session

The IRC is the organizations dedicated to improve the condition of water and sanitation services across the world. Over the past few decades, the IRC has worked for promotion and use of knowledge to enable governments and organizations help poor communities in developing world in getting better water and sanitation services.

IRC, together with UCLGA, WIN-SA and AusAid, will host a Learning and Sharing Workshop on the topic ‘Sanitation in Rapidly-Growing Towns’ in November 2011. The 2-day session, to be held near Johannesburg will explore proactive, tangible ways to deal with pressing sanitation issues in towns experiencing rapid growth in Southern Africa.

IRC has issued a call for participants and contributors to an in-depth learning and sharing session on sanitation in rapidly-growing towns. SADC participants are hereby invited to apply to participate or contribute to the workshop – which discusses practical and pragmatic ways to seize the current ‘window of opportunity’ that exists in rapidly growing towns.

Context

Africa is the most rapidly urbanising continent. By 2010, four in ten of Africa’s one billion people lived in urban areas. Six in ten of those live in slums, where water supply and sanitation are severely inadequate.

However, the majority of future growth is not forecast to be in the mega-cities – it is expected to take place in the small and medium-sized towns of today. This is both a problem and an opportunity. While smaller towns have less capacity to deliver services and often little sanitation infrastructure, their small size and lower density provides significant opportunity for action.

“Winning the race” will require local governments and their allies to be proactive in preparing for this urban growth. This interactive session will discuss how the challenges ahead and practical and pragmatic ways can be understood to seize the window of opportunity in rapidly growing towns.

Objectives

Discussion of how SADC local governments and their allies can be proactive in preparing for rapid urban growth and the associated sanitation challenges.
Sharing of existing knowledge on this topic and tools that are available.
The identification of practical and pragmatic ways to seize existing windows of opportunity.

Expected Results

A group of committed local governments and individuals who are keen to continue the work and learning together on this topic.
Better cross-fertilisation within SADC on an important issue.
Proactive measures taken to underpin sanitation delivery in rapidly growing towns and cities across Africa.

You are expected to apply early as the session will only be open to a maximum of 25 participants. If you are successful in your application, you will be notified by 15th Oct 2011 at the latest, in order for you to make flight reservations etc.

Travel bursaries exist, but are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Last date for submitting the applications is October 10, 2011. For more information and details, you can visit this link.