Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) and the International Training Network of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (ITN-BUET) have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) to enhance urban sanitation efforts across Bangladesh. The partnership, formalized during a signing ceremony on November 25, 2024, at ITN-BUET’s Seminar Room in Dhaka, brings together the expertise of both organizations to address critical challenges in the water and sanitation sector. WSUP was represented by CEO Ed Mitchell and SPA was signed by Bangladesh Country Manger Mr. Uttam Kumar Saha, while Prof. Dr. Tanvir Ahmed, Director, ITN-BUET, signed on behalf of ITN-BUET. Mr. Jeremy Horner, Director of Programmes at WSUP and Mr. Alauddin Ahmed, Project Manager at ITN-BUET signed as witnesses from the respective organizations.
ITN-BUET, as a leading research institute, will contribute with its wealth of expertise and innovative approaches, while WSUP will bring practical insights from its field experience. To promote Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approaches, this SPA will leverage ITN-BUET’s expertise in capacity-building, and WSUP’s technical experience in implementing innovative sanitation models. Together, the organizations will focus on scaling effective strategies in urban WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), including fecal sludge management, integrated waste management, and pro-poor service delivery, while aligning efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 on safely managed sanitation.
A core area of focus will be the scaling of WSUP’s successful SWEEP model to small and medium-sized towns, ensuring sustainable and inclusive waste management services. WSUP organized a three-hour spanned discussion session with SWEEP private partners from Dhaka (Gulshan Clean & Care, Lily’s Family Ltd., Healthy Tank Bangladesh), Chittagong (Kalam & Brother) and Rangpur (Shafi Enterprise). Mr. Alauddin Ahmed presented how SWEEP can fit into CWIS model from ITN-BUET’s capacity building perspective. Mr. Ahmed mentioned that ITN-BUET will keep providing technical guidance and advocacy to support its adoption nationwide.
This partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable solutions for urban WASH challenges in Bangladesh. It represents a significant step in strengthening municipal capacities and fostering innovation to build inclusive and resilient sanitation systems. Other representatives from both organizations to attend the signing ceremony are Dr. Asef Mohammad Redwan, Technology & Knowledge Management Specialist, ITN-BUET; and Mr. Muhammad Muhiuddin Siraj, Business Development Specialist, WSUP and Ms. Tahia Afsah Khan, WASH Engineer, WSUP. Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to working together to promote sustainable sanitation solutions and ensure lasting impact for urban communities in Bangladesh.
