Proposals of shortlisted applicants will undergo external peer-review by two independent peer-reviewers, appointed by the Fund Coordinator. Comments on proposals will be sought from relevant parts of DFAT (e.g. DFAT Posts, Thematic areas); Upon receiving the recommendations from peer-reviewers, the RS Committee will reconvene and make final determinations, based on peer-review findings, relevant DFAT feedback and the RS Committee’s own rankings; Panel recommendations will be based on relative merit of the shortlisted application against the assessment criteria, total funding available, and a balanced research portfolio. Panel recommendations will be submitted to the Fund Coordinator for consideration. The Fund Coordinator will then submit a final list of research grants for DFAT endorsement. Applicants will be notified of the grant decisions in writing, with successful applicants being listed on the Water for Women (when available) and DFAT websites. Clear and transparent mechanisms will be available throughout the assessment process for the RS Committee members or peer-reviewers to declare any existing or potential conflicts of interest. The RS Committee will prepare a report that: summarises the RS Committee’s assessment of each proposal against the Selection Criteria; and recommends preferred applicants and lists other suitable applicants in ranked order for endorsement by DFAT. Selection Criteria 6.2.1 Applications will be assessed based on the following Selection Criteria: No. Selection Criteria Notes Organisational capacity and effectiveness Weighting: 35% 1 Research Leadership and Team (including partners) (Weighting 15%) The track record, experience and performance of senior academic leadership, including research excellence, team leadership, collaboration and research partnership in relevant country(ies), relevant experience in WASH-related research and their time-commitment to the project The track record, experience and performance of other team members (including partners) in relevant development research and research partnerships, including in-country experience Capacity to undertake and manage the proposed research is shown, including project management skills of a relevant research manager/coordinator (for proposed activity/activities) Depth of WASH-related research expertise and experience (including related sectors/disciplines) and demonstrated gender and social inclusion expertise within the team 2 Past performance and impact (Weighting 15%) Evidence of high-quality WASH research conducted in relevant country contexts, including outcomes and impact Evidence of effective engagement and communication processes with end-users, including WASH or other practitioners and/or policymakers and DFAT as relevant Evidence of successful research partnerships and research capacity building
Title Description Institution Year Outcomes Crafting sustainability: addressing water pollution in Vietnam’s craft villages This research looked at how community-based approaches to water pollution in Vietnamese craft villages can successfully secure economic, social and environmentally sustainable water management. Australian National University This project worked with a key policy research agency in Vietnam to investigate key drivers for water pollution from craft villages. It reviewed policy options to address water pollution while sustaining social and economic outcomes from craft enterprises, particularly the potential role of approaches. Assessing the and sustainability of sanitation infrastructure options for areas—a Case Study of Can Tho, Vietnam This research investigated the relative cost effectiveness and sustainability of sanitation infrastructure options for unserved peri-urban areas in Vietnam. University of Technology, Sydney Significant study in the Vietnamese context that legitimised decentralised sanitation options as economically feasible alternatives to expensive centralized sewer systems, informing subsequent major investments by Government of Vietnam and ADB. Winner of international IWA development research award. Improving environmental and human health in the Pacific Islands through better onsite wastewater management This research looked at the impact of wastewater pollution on both the ecosystem and human health, and how wastewater management (through a technology- eco-trench) can be improved. Southern Cross University The research tested new technology (EcoTrench) in Cook Islands. Based on the research, NZAID subsequently funded a $3 million project that included scale up of EcoTrench in Cook Islands, Nauru and Tonga to reduce nutrient contamination in groundwater. The Cook Islands Government also significantly increased its installation efforts of improved septic tank treatment systems as a result of this research. Making the invisible visible: documenting successes, enablers and measures of gender equality in water and sanitation initiatives in the Pacific (funded under gender equality priority theme) This research investigated the gender outcomes associated with WASH programs implemented by civil society organisations in Vanuatu and Fiji using a strengths-based participatory research design. University of Technology, Sydney Contributed to greater recognition of gender aspects of WASH programming and potential to influence women’s leadership using WASH as a strategic entry point, including within DFAT, amongst NGOs and other development agencies. Contributed to DFAT’s adoption of aggregate development result (ADR) on women’s participation in community-level committees. Guidance materials produced on supporting gender outcomes in WASH programming have been widely used and adopted by civil society organisations within and beyond the Pacific.
sanitation service delivery. Location: Indonesia AKSANSI. Guidance materials to support localised decision-making on management approaches adopted and used by AKSANSI. Follow-up work supported through DFAT-funded Indonesia Infrastructure Facility demonstrated improved local government management of systems in two cities and changes required in Ministry of Public Works national program guidelines to support more sustainable outcomes. Disability and its impact on safe hygiene and sanitation This project aimed to fill knowledge gaps relating to water, sanitation and hygiene access, needs and barriers for people with disabilities. The research collaborated with key stakeholders and policymakers to develop effective mitigation strategies. Location: Bangladesh, Malawi London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Developed quantitative and qualitative tools to assess access to WASH for people living with a disability. Trialed an intervention to increase inclusion of people with disabilities within a sanitation project (CLTS) which demonstrated strong needs of implementers and householders to result in actual change in access to sanitation for these groups. Climate change and water supply and sanitation on atolls and catchments in the Pacific This project developed a framework that will enable communities and water managers to navigate from understanding impacts of climate change to evaluating adaptation options for water supply and sanitation. The research produced tools to aid stakeholders throughout the Pacific in adapting to climate change. Locations: Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu International Water Centre This project applied a systems approach to understanding WASH and climate change risks in rural communities in Pacific Island Countries, with two case studies: flood-prone catchments in the Solomon Islands, and atolls in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The research team worked with communities, governments and civil society groups to enhance understanding of existing WASH systems and adaptation approaches, and to develop tools to support adaptation decision-making for sustainable management of water resources and drinking water supplies in remote and rural communities. Attachment E: Indicative Reporting Templates WASH Research Awards Reporting Templates
The template provided is indicative and will be refined during the inception phase in partnership with the Fund Coordinator, DFAT and the research organisations in order to meet the reporting requirements of the Fund and DFAT. Section E.1: Six Monthly Progress Report/Annual Report and acquittal template The following template should be used on a six monthly and annual basis and for the Final Report at the end of the grant. Notes/instructions may be deleted when responses are entered. Agreement Number Project Title Administering Organisation Principal Investigator Total Australian Aid funding received during reporting year (AUD$) Ethics approval status (please attach evidence of approval to this report) 1. What are the aims and objectives of the research? Limit 150 words. This may include both practical and higher order objectives. For example: To contribute new knowledge on a particular development issue To improve, contribute to or influence policy/program change To increase capacity of researchers, including those in developing countries, and other professionals to undertake inclusive research and use research findings. 2. Please outline the progress made towards achieving the research objectives during the reporting period? Did your research progress as planned? If not, why not? Limit 600 words. Referring to your Joint Research Plan and relevant workplan, please detail key activities completed that are contributing to your objectives. Please indicate any issues that could affect the ability of the research team to meet the research objectives. For example: delays in the research process changes to the geographic focus/research objectives changes to research team personnel/local partners How will these issues be managed by the research team going forward? How did the research progress as regards the use of gender and inclusive aspects or processes? 3. How is quality of research implementation being ensured, including with respect to use of gender and inclusive research processes? In what ways were gender and socially inclusive research processes applied? What were enablers of good practice and challenges faced? How has research quality been ensured? 4. What activities have been undertaken to engage key stakeholders or end-users in the research? Limit 300 words Referring to your Communications, Engagement and Pathway to Impact Plan, please provide information about the specific external people/groups you have engaged, how you have engaged with them and any results to date of this engagement