Summary

A collaborative project with partners at the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Aberdeen, TATA Institute of Social Sciences, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and Universidade Federal de Vicosa (Brazil).

There is a lack of systematic and integrated evidence on the sustainability outcomes of transitions in sanitation systems. Such outcomes can depend on factors as diverse as context-specific resource availability, everyday practices and local value, belief and norm systems.

The project will enhance our understanding of complex human-environment interactions and their sustainability outcomes. It aligns with the GCRF agenda for enabling change in addressing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): reducing inequalities in promoting sustainable sanitation for low-income areas (SDG10, SDG12); supporting the development of sanitation infrastructures that are culturally appropriate, more inclusive, economically viable and less wasteful (SDG6, SDG11); helping to reduce common health risks associated with the lack of sanitation (SDG3); and progressing the improvement of living standards for the poor (SDG11).

Team

Principal Investigators

Dr Deljana Iossifova (Lead and PI UK), Senior Lecturer in Urban Studies at the School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester. 

Prof Amita Bhide (PI India)
Dean, School of Habitat Studies, TATA Institute of Social Sciences.

Prof Norma Felicidade Lopes da Silva Valencio (PI Brazil)
Senior Professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos.

Co-Investigators

Ulysses Sengupta
Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Director of Complexity Planning and Urbanism (CPU) at the Manchester School of Architecture (Manchester Metropolitan University). 

Dr Nir Oren
Reader in the Agents, Reasoning and Knowledge (ARK) group of the Department of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen. 

Dr Murilo da Silva Baptista 
Reader at the Institute for Complex Systems and Mathematical Biology, University of Aberdeen.

Dr Ana Paula Baltazar
Professor of Architecture and Urbanism and Director of MOM (Morar de Outras Maneiras), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Dr Ana Augusta Passos Rezende
Professor of Civil Engineering at Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV).

Advisory Board

Dr Alexandros Gasparatos
Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at IR3S, University of Tokyo.

Paula LUCCI,
Senior Research Fellow, Overseas Development Institute (ODI, London). 

Dr Jose SIRI,
Senior Science Lead for Cities and Health, Wellcome Trust.

Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of this project is to contribute to improved human well-being as the overarching goal of the Sustainable Development agenda.

It will define and advance a systems approach for sanitation and the study of sustainability outcomes across different sanitation systems, geographical contexts (India, Brazil) and temporal scales using multiple analytical approaches and state-of-the-art modelling. Scenario building will support decision makers in uncovering plausible futures.

The main question framing this project is: 

How can sanitation be planned, designed, implemented, maintained and used in ways that improve human well-being and minimise negative sustainability trade-offs in the short- and long-term? 

We adopt a transdisciplinary, multi-layered and multi-study comparative approach. The project has four interlinked objectives:

• (Obj1) to understand the components of different types of interlinked sanitation systems and their interactions with other social, technical and environmental systems
• (Obj2) to reveal the interactions between different sanitation systems and the Sustainable Development agenda, SDGs and their targets
• (Obj3) to co-develop models and tools with stakeholders that support informed decision making in sanitation towards sustainable development
• (Obj4) to build transdisciplinary capacity in sanitation research, design, planning, implementation, management and maintenance