CIRCLE WASH – CIRcularity for CLimate-resilient and Equitable WASH
Terms of reference for Pacific-based researcher
Project Summary
CIRCLE WASH is an applied research project. The research will create knowledge on how Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems and services can draw on circular economy approaches to achieve inclusion and climate resilience. Circular economy approaches seek systems change by reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering materials – rethinking ‘waste’ and seeking efficient, closed loop processes. In the case of WASH, circular economy ideas apply to flows of water, waste, energy and nutrients.
The project is led by University of Technology Sydney - Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS-ISF) and is being conducted in Kiribati and Vietnam. The partnership includes the UNICEF Pacific Islands, Institute for Water Resource Economics and Management (IWEM), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Funding is provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia via the Water for Women Fund.
The project runs from February 2023 to December 2024 and aims to:
- Integrate concepts from circular economy, climate resilience and inclusive WASH to inform planning for and implementation of inclusive climate resilient WASH service systems and wider societal resilience (component 1);
- Apply concepts to WASH service systems in Vietnam (Ha Tinh province) and Kiribati (Line Islands) to identify and assess contextually appropriate opportunities associated with circular approaches to WASH service delivery (component 2); and
- Facilitate collaborative visioning and knowledge co-production methods to support institutions in case study contexts to capitalise on circular economy opportunities to drive inclusive, climate resilient WASH systems and services (component 3).
In Kiribati, the project will build on existing work by UNICEF Pacific Islands, through the Kiribati Field Office. Specifically, this includes engagement in the Line and Phoenix Islands to build greater socio-economic and climate resilience under the EU-Kiribati Partnership. They are working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Line and Phoenix Island Development to improve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene; and build community, household and institutional resilience for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
This project includes an exploratory case study on Kiritimati Island, which aims to respond to and complement the existing work being undertaken by partners, and the novelty of applying circular economy ideas in Pacific island contexts. The exploratory focus will consider sanitation as the entry point for circular solutions, leveraging UNICEF’s planned faecal sludge reuse activities and considering benefits, risks, practicalities and inclusivity aspects of planned and potential system improvements to improve climate resilience.
Scope of services
The Pacific based researcher will be responsible for supporting the UTS-ISF and UNICEF Pacific partners in component 2 and 3 of the project focused on the Line Islands Group in Kiribati. In particular, the researcher will contribute to the exploratory case study research in the Line Islands Groups of Kiribati, with a focus on Kiritimati Island. This will include:
Component 1
- Stakeholder engagement including with local government and other local institutions (Ministry of Line and Phoenix Island Development, Kiribati Local Government Association and Line Island Councils). Guiding the wider research team on engagement strategies that meet stakeholder needs and drive research impact.
Component 2
- Situational analysis of the WASH context in Kiritimati: Contribute contextual knowledge to the situational analysis, including collating and synthesising information about water and sanitation systems on the island, local institutions, and local climate risks.
- Provide critical input to identification of tools and approach for stakeholder engagement and data collection, ensuring tools are contextually appropriate.
- Support the facilitation of workshops and other engagement processes to design then assess circular options.
- Conduct data collection to inform assessment of circular economy options. Specific data collection requirements will be determined collaboratively based on a prioritised set of assessment methods, but may include collating data, note-taking, transcribing and arranging for translations.
- Contribute to data analysis and sense-making team workshops.
- Co-author case study outputs including journal paper and policy brief, providing critical inputs on how to pitch outputs appropriately for target policy audiences.
- Support logistics for data collection and workshops, including interpretation and translation of workshops and outputs and pending detailed methods co-design.
Component 3
- Co-design and support facilitation of workshops with stakeholders in Kiribati.
- Support the coordination of logistics for workshops and related roadmap development activities, including arranging workshop venue(s), invitations and catering.
- Arrange interpretation and translation of workshops and outputs as required and pending detailed methods co-design.
- Participating in knowledge co-production activities to consider how findings could inform policy and practice in Kiribati.
Timeframe
The dates of engagement for the Pacific based researcher are estimated to run from 15 July 2023 to 31 December 2024, with a total of 33 days required.
Outputs/Deliverables
The Pacific based researcher will contribute to the following outputs (exact roles will be negotiated with the research team):
- Paper reporting the case study findings for Kiribati.
- Institutional knowledge co-production workshop to identify visions and pathways for leveraging circular economy ideas for inclusive climate resilient WASH.
- Policy briefs communicating insights to government audiences.
- Fact Sheets/Field Notes/Technical briefs
Skills/expertise required
Essential
- Experience undertaking social research in the Pacific island region, preferably in the area of WASH.
- Experience in project management and research coordination.
- Familiarity with atoll environments.
- A Bachelor degree (preferably a Masters degree) in a relevant area.
- Strong communication and teamworking skills, especially online teamwork and working remotely.
- Strong written and spoken English skills.
Desirable
- Work experience in Kiribati.
- Working knowledge of the Gilbertese language.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying, please send your CV and a cover letter (1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and proposed daily rates for this role to Jeremy.Kohlitz@uts.edu.au.
Closing date
25 August 2023
Download Terms of Reference as a PDF here.