Social Entrepreneur Model Development to Ensure Safe Drinking Water Supply for Low-Income Communities through Water ATM Booths.

Agency: UNICEF | Reference: LRPS-2026-9205971 | Type: Request for proposal TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INSTITUTIONAL CONTRACTTitleShort title: Low Income Community (UC) Water ATM in KorailSocial Entrepreneur Model Development to Ensure Safe Drinking Water Supply for Low-Income Communities through Water ATM BoothsPurposeEngage a competent agency to install two inclusive Water ATM booths with two dispensers each; install appropriate treatment and digital monitoring systems and establish a self-sustainingsocial business model.LocationKorail Slum, Dhaka, prioritizing Mosharraf Bazar and Jamai Bazaradjacent to Ershad School playground.Estimated Duration15 months, including installation, commissioning, communitymobilization, O&M support and business model development.Reporting to Technical Supervisor of this assignmentWASH Officer, UNICEFBackgroundBangladesh is experiencing complex water security challenges linked to climate change, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, pollution and inadequate infrastructure. These pressures are particularly acute in dense informal settlements in Dhaka, where safe and affordable drinking water is constrained by contamination risk, poor drainage, seasonal flooding and limited-service infrastructure.Korail, located on the banks of Gulshan Lake and recognized as one of Dhaka's largest informal settlements, faces persistent water insecurity. Residents often rely on communal taps, private vendors or unsafe surface water sources. Untreated wastewater discharge and poor drainage further increase contamination risks and expose children, women, persons with disabilities and economically vulnerable households to waterborne health risks.UNICEF, in collaboration with Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (OWASA), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and relevant stakeholders, proposes to model an inclusive and digitally monitored Low Income Community (LIC) Water ATM model in Korail. The initiative aims to improve equitable access to safe drinking water for children, adolescents, women and other vulnerable groups while generating evidence for scalable service delivery models in underserved urban settlements. The initiative will demonstrate an affordable, climate-resilient and financially sustainable lifeline water service, using DWASA's special tariff for LIC customers, disability-inclusive access, safe water treatment, loT-enabled monitoring, cashless user management and a cross-subsidy social business model.Objectives,Purpose,andExpectedResultsOverall Objective:To establish a climate-resilient, child-friendly, disability-inclusive and financially sustainable Water ATM service model that provides affordable safe drinking water to low-income communities in Koraii slum and generates evidence for potential replication in other complex urban settlements in Dhaka, while contributing to improved public health outcomes and reduced exposure to waterborne diseases among children and vulnerable populations.SpecificObjectivesInstall two Water ATM booths which is child-friendly and disability-inclusive in accessible locations within Korail, prioritizing Mosharraf Bazar and Jamai Bazar adjacent to Ershad School playground with appropriate water treatment technology and dispensing system.Establish detailed water quality testing protocol for treated and dispensed water and monitoring database for health-related parameters and drinking water safety compliance.Develop a cloud-based backend using Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or cellular connectivity for real-time dispense logs, transaction records, card balance management, customer profiles, machine status, revenue visibility and dashboard reporting.Establish a self-sustaining social business model with a cross-subsidy structure that keeps water affordable for low-income and vulnerable users while supporting O&M cost recovery.Strengthen community awareness, demand creation, user registration and local accountability through sustained mobilization and orientation activities.ExpectedResultsPeople living in Korail, including children, women, persons with disabilities and extremely poor households, have access to safe, affordable and reliably monitored drinking water through two inclusive Water ATM booths.Two Water ATM booths with two dispensers each are installed, commissioned and connected to real-time digital monitoring.Appropriate treatment technology is selected based on source of water quality and consistently delivers water that meets applicable drinking water quality requirements.A transparent Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) or smart-card based user management and cashless recharge system is operational.A differentiated tariff and cross-subsidy mechanism is operational, including commercial users at WASA rate and LIC users at 30% subsidized rate, subject to final stakeholder agreement.A practical O&M plan, emergency protocol and social business model are established to support functionality beyond UNICEF direct support.Description of AssignmentThe selected agency shall be responsible for end-to-end DOCUMENTS AND LINKS: • LRPS-9205971- Water ATM.pdf: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadDocument?noticeId=313302&documentId=2091153 • Download all documents: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/DownloadAllDocuments?noticeId=313302 CONTACT: • Email: mahhasan@unicef.org