For Analysis of Trends in Arsenic Exposure and Health Impact based on Nationwide Arsenic Testing Data in Support of Safe Drinking Water SDGs in Bangladesh.
Summary
Description
Agency: UNICEF | Reference: LRPS-2026-9203670 | Type: Request for proposal
Title of the assignmentAnalysis of Trends in Arsenic Exposure and Health Impact based on Nationwide Arsenic Testing Data in Support of Safe Drinking Water SDGs in BangladeshPurposeTo develop a comprehensive policy document outlining strategies for arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh;To prepare a thematic report on water quality using MICS 2025 data, with a focus on arsenic and include health-relevant water quality parameters, including spatial analysis of arsenic to identify high-risk areas;To pilot test a low-cost, user-friendly arsenic testing technology suitable for local use in Bangladesh.To recommend methodological improvements for future MICS surveys and policy interventions to advance safe drinking water access.Assess the efficacy of existing Arsenic Safe Union model in mitigating Arsenic in Bangladesh context and develop Arsenic Mitigation Pathway for Bangladesh based on last 15 years sectoral lesson learnedLocationDhaka and selected district (selected one Union) of coastal belt areaEstimated DurationDuration: 8 monthsEstimated starting date: 1 June 2026Reporting to Technical Supervisor of this assignmentWASH Specialist andWASH Officer, WASH Section1.
BackgroundBangladesh has made significant strides in increasing access to improved drinking water sources, achieving a coverage rate of 99% as reported by the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, which was conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in partnership with UNICEF.
Nevertheless, considerable gaps still exist in providing genuinely safe and dependable drinking water.
Only 39.3% of the population has access to drinking water services that are safely managed and meet essential criteria: being located on the premises, available when needed, free from microbial contamination (E. coli), and adhering to arsenic limits (adjusted to meet the national standard of ≤50 ppb).Arsenic contamination remains a significant public health concern.
The MICS 2025 data show that 15.8% of households have drinking water sources with arsenic levels exceeding the World Health Organization's guideline of 10 ppb, while 9.9% surpass the national standard of 50 ppb in Bangladesh.
These statistics indicate a positive trend compared to earlier surveys—those with arsenic contamination above 10 ppb dropped from 16.7% in MICS 2019 and 24.8% in MICS 2013—highlighting some progress in mitigation strategies over the years, though the recent progress has been slow.
However, tens of millions continue to be at risk from elevated arsenic levels, which increases the likelihood of chronic diseases such as skin lesions, cancers, cardiovascular problems, and developmental issues.The Government of Bangladesh has firmly committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1 by 2030, which calls for universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
This commitment is reflected in various national strategies and policies.
However, accelerating progress requires strengthened, evidence-based approaches to address persistent arsenic contamination at the national level.Available datasets on Water Quality-DatasetNo. of E.
Coli testsNo. of As testsNo. of Salinity testsAvailable ParametersGPS informationTesting methodMICS 201315,452[2,500 (at source) + 12,952 (at HH)]5,038[2,500 (at source) + 2,538 (at HH)]-E.Coli at source and HH, Arsenic at source and HHNot availableField test kitMICS 201918,307[PoU= 12,238 +PoC= 3028]6,069PoU+PoC= 6069-E.Coli at source and HH, Arsenic at source and HHNot availableField test kitMICS 202512,596(2 tests per HH)6,2986,298E.Coli at source and HH, arsenic and salinity at sourceThe GPS coordinates for the center of cluster are availableField test kitArsenic Screening under Arsenic Safe Union 2014, 2019 (37 unions in 6 upazila)-72,429-ArsenicGPS availableField test kitArsenic Screening under Government Arsenic Mitigation program 2023 (57 districts)-5,919,835-ArsenicGPS available for the center of clusterField test kitThe recent MICS 2025 survey, with its extensive sampling and on-site rapid testing for arsenic (alongsideE. coliand salinity in over 6,298 households), provides a robust, up-to-date dataset.
Analyzing this data to produce an updated arsenic contamination map—along with comparisons to the 2019 MICS map—will highlight progress, identify remaining hotspots, and guide targeted interventions and future projects.Furthermore, although various arsenic test kits are utilized by governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, there are none that are easily accessible in local markets for individual or community self-testing.
Most current kits produce dangerous mercury-laden waste.
There is an urgent need to identify affordable, easy-to-use, and environmentally friendly arsenic testing kits.
There is also a need to build sector-wide testing capacity using the “proven” options to facilitate wider, decentralized monitoring and increase awareness.The detailed spatial analysis of MICS 2009 As data has id
DOCUMENTS AND LINKS:
• LRPS-2026-9203670- Arsenic Advocacy_Sign.pdf: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadDocument?noticeId=299036&documentId=2008293
• Download all documents: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadAllDocuments?noticeId=299036
CONTACT:
• Email: mahhasan@unicef.org
About This Opportunity
This is a consulting contract in the environment and climate, health and medical services and water and sanitation sectors, with a focus on Pollution Control, Water Quality, Coastal Marine and Hygiene. Located in Bangladesh, Asia, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums. Proposals must be submitted before May 19, 2026.
Published through UNGM - United Nations Global Marketplace, part of the United Nations system, which follows UN procurement standards. UN-funded opportunities are typically open to vendors registered in the UN Global Marketplace for consulting in the environment and climate sector. Consulting assignments are typically evaluated with a strong emphasis on the technical proposal, including the methodology and qualifications of key experts. Shortlisted firms may be invited to submit financial proposals in a second stage. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.