Description
UN-Habitat’s vision is “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world”. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination, and poverty.
In line with the New Urban Agenda, UN-Habitat seeks to contribute to increased equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, improved sanitation, and sustainable management of water resources, including wastewater treatment, recycling and safe reuse. It does so by facilitating policy dialogue, sharing good practices, by providing technical assistance for the development and implementation of field demonstration projects, and by supporting local, national, and global data collection and monitoring in order to strengthen advocacy, policy, and decision-making.
Background
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations aim to address global challenges and ensure a sustainable future. The Target 6.3 focuses on improving water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials. It also aims to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increase recycling and safe reuse globally.
In line with this goal, UNHABITAT is seeking a partner to perform a study to assess the efficiency of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in wastewater treatment in Mexico. The findings from this study will not only contribute to the global discourse on sustainable safe water management, but also guide policy decisions and interventions in Mexico for improved wastewater management, pollutants and GHG emission control.
Objective
The objective is to conduct a diagnosis of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Mexico, with a specific focus on the on a large pilot WWTP. The main objective is to assess the efficiency of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in removing pollutants, thereby enabling the safe reuse of treated wastewater, including for human consumption. This study will also focus on the estimation of the total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) potential emissions associated with wastewater treatment in general, and within the NbS process in particular.
The Activities
Activities expected to produce the deliverables includes:
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Research Design: Define the scope, objectives, and methodology of the study. Determine the specific metrics and parameters that will be used for estimating wastewater flows, pollutants concentrations and loads, and GHG emissions.
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Diagnosis of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) in Mexico. The analysis will be based on the Inventory of WWTPs in Mexico. It will focus on the number of plants in operation, their flow rates, the technologies employed, their geographical location, and an estimation of the GHG potential emissions. It will furthermore identify treatment plants that incorporate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into their processes, assessing their operational capacity, treated flow rates, and geographical locations.
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Selection and description of a study site that can be used as a pilot to evaluate the impact of NbS on water quality and GHG emissions.
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Research Design. The design will encompass the determination of various physicochemical parameters to evaluate the efficiency of the NbS implemented at the pilot WWTP, and the possibility of reusing this volume for additional uses than irrigation, such as human consumption.
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Data presentation and analysis: Presentation and interpretation of the physicochemical analysis methods employed to assess both the influent and effluent of the selected NbS. The effectiveness of the NbS in improving the quality of treated wastewater will be evaluated, based on physicochemical parameters analyzed from the wastewater samples, along with the analytical methods used, permissible limits, and units of measurement.
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Report and Communication. A comprehensive report will be organized to detailing the scope, objectives, methodology, results, key findings, and conclusions.
The Deliverables
Expected deliverables are:
1. Report of the diagnosis of Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Mexico and associated potential GHG emissions.
2. Detailed methodology for the physicochemical parameters analysis of the influent and discharge of the selected NbS to determine it’s efficiency in removing pollutants.
3. Report on the physicochemical parameters analyzed from the wastewater samples to assess the treatment efficiency and water quality of the selected NbS.
4. Final report.
5. Online presentation of the methodology and the results available for potential presentation in international fora.
This call invites Expression of Interest from international organizations, nonprofit organizations, NGOs, and research and academic institutions, to lead the activities. Selected institution(s) will be expected to work under the overall guidance of UN-Habitat and in collaboration with other partners in developing the structure and scope of the process, including the reports development.
Selected institution(s) will prepare an Inception report to detail the proposed process. Prior to the completion of the activities, the institution(s) will develop activities report with the overall activities including the outcomes expected and agreed during the inception report. All materials and raw data, if any, shall be handed over to the UN Habitat as part of acceptance of final deliverables.
Institutions interested in complementing their expertise through collaboration are encouraged to submit joint expressions of interest. Such partnerships should appoint a lead entity responsible for subsequently subcontracting the other partner(s).
Short-listed candidates may be requested to submit detailed proposals or provide clarifications.
The Expression of Interest
The Expression of Interest (EOI) should contain, but may not be limited to, the following:
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A concept note including background information and the approach that will be applied by the institution’s contribution towards the dissemination, including the staff/expert, time frame and work plan of each activity proposed;
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Experience of the institution in scientific-based research on wastewater management and treatment, SDG 6.3.1 and related topic on GHG emission. The institution should be able to perform data collection, verify and analyse the data. This should include a portfolio of projects undertaken in similar areas (i.e., a list of references);
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Institution should specify their intended support, detailing cash and in-kind contributions, which may include staff time, office space, equipment, and other resources, quantified in monetary terms;
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Details on governance and organizational structure, along with resumes highlighting the experience and qualifications of key staff and descriptions of the organization's infrastructure facilities, should be provided;
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Certified true copies of original Audited Account Statements for the last two years
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Latest annual report.
UN-Habitat Financial Contribution
The estimated UN Habitat Financial contribution, detailing cost breakdown of each proposed activities.
Upon selection, UN-Habitat will enter into an Agreement of Cooperation with the selected entity with a value of US$ 12,000 for the successful deliverables.
Overall Timeframe
The work outlined in this EOI will commence in September 2025 and be completed within 6 months.
Submission Requirements and Guidelines
The EOI must be delivered in electronic format no later than Sunday 20 July 2025, 23.59 EAT (Nairobi Time), to unhabitat.ubss.eoi@un.org cc-ed to florian.thevenon@un.org with the reference “country-scale assessment of the efficiency of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in wastewater treatment in Mexico” indicated in the subject.
Contact information
Florian Thevenon
Wastewater consultant, Urban Basic Services Section, UN Habitat
Other
Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the EOI/or solicitation process. Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission will receive the final solicitation document.