Development of Conceptual Design and Cost Estimation for Decentralized Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Solutions & Management plan in Korail Settlement, Dhaka

Agency: UNICEF | Reference: LRPS-2026-9205787 | Type: Request for proposal Title of the assignmentDevelopment of Conceptual Design and Cost Estimation forDecentralized Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Solutions & Management plan in Korail Settlement, DhakaPurposeTo develop conceptual decentralized wastewater treatment solutions and indicative cost estimates for Korail Settlement through an evidence-based planning process that supports improved wastewater and fecal sludge management and provides a pathway toward sustainable municipal service integrationLocationKarail Slum, Dhaka, BangladeshEstimated Duration3 MonthsReporting to Technical Supervisor of this assignmentWASH Specialist, WASH Section, UNICEF, Bangladesh1.BackgroundKorail is the largest informal settlement in Dhaka, covering approximately 100 acres and accommodating an estimated 250,000 residents. The settlement is characterized by very high population density, inadequate housing conditions, limited public infrastructure, and insufficient water and sanitation services.The sanitation situation remains critical. Most households rely on shared or informal sanitation facilities, with wastewater and fecal sludge frequently discharged into the surrounding environment. Formal fecal sludge management services are almost non-existent, contributing significantly to environmental pollution, particularly in Banani Lake.Water quality is also a major concern. Widespread contamination of municipal piped water due to leaking distribution systems, illegal connections, and unsafe storage practices exposesresidents to significant public health risks, including diarrheal diseases and typhoid. Children are particularly vulnerable.UNICEF, in partnership with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the Government of Denmark, the Gates Foundation and other stakeholders, has been supporting innovative sanitation interventions within Korail. However, a comprehensive Karail low-income community sanitation and wastewater management framework, including a clear pathway for integration into Dhaka city-wide inclusive sanitation planning and DWASA/DNCC investment planning, is still lacking.Given the complexity of the settlement, land tenure challenges, and limited municipal service provision, there is a need to develop technically feasible, climate-resilient and scalable decentralized wastewater treatment solutions accompanied by indicative cost estimates and implementation strategies.2.Objectives, Purpose and Expected Results Purpose:To develop a settlement-level conceptual sanitation and wastewater management plan/ solutionsfor Karail including, conceptual decentralized/hybrid wastewater management solutions, indicative investment and O&M costing, t through an evidence-based planning process that supports improved wastewater and fecal sludge management and provides a practical pathway for sustainable integration of the settlement into city wide sanitation planning process.Objectives:Assess the existing sanitation, wastewater, fecal sludge management, environmental, and institutional and social inclusion and service delivery contexts in Karail.Develop technically feasible, climate resilient and financially realistic decentralized and/or hybrid sanitation and wastewater management scenarios suitable for Karail and comparable high-density low-income settlements.Prepare conceptual engineering designs, indicative layouts, service-zone maps and technology option for clustered and hybrid decentralized wastewater treatment systems.Define potential service zones and infrastructure requirements.Estimate indicative CAPEX, OPEX, lifecycle costs, investment requirements, O&M responsibilities, cost recovery options, and phased investment/deployment options.Provide recommendations for institutional arrangements, service delivery mechanisms, community engagement, gender/disability inclusion, safeguards long-term O&M and integration of Karail into DWASA/DNCC master planning and CWIS processes.Expected ResultsOutput 1:Baseline Assessment, Service-Zone Mapping and Strategic ProjectionA comprehensive assessment synthesizing existing information on wastewater, fecal sludge management, water quality, socio-economic conditions, environmental contamination pathways and institutional challenges in Korail.Output 2:Decentralized/Hybrid Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Options and Concept DesignConceptual designs of decentralized and hybrid wastewater treatment solutions suitable for high-density informal settlements, including phased implementation strategies.Output 3:Karail Sanitation and Wastewater Management Plan, Service Zone Modelling and Investment FrameworkService zone delineation, wastewater demand projections, indicative engineering requirements, land requirements, and cost estimates to support future investment decisions.Major ActivitiesTask 1: Inception and Baseline AssessmentTask 2: Institutional and Service Delivery AssessmentTask 3: Development of Wastewater Management Scenarios Task 4: Conceptual Engineering DesignTask 5: Service Zone Planning and Cost Estima DOCUMENTS AND LINKS: • RFP- 2026-9205787- Conceptual and Technical Design of Wastewater Management of Karail Slum in Dhaka..pdf: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadDocument?noticeId=312335&documentId=2085727 • Download all documents: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadAllDocuments?noticeId=312335 CONTACT: • Email: mahhasan@unicef.org