Sectors Department 2 (SD2)
Water and Urban Development Sector Office (SD2-WUD)
1. Internship Topic
Analyzing and Tackling Laundry Water Pollution (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines)
2. Summary of Job Description
The intern will
- Analyze laundry wastewater: study the wastewater coming from household and commercial laundry, looking at what chemicals it contains, such as detergents, surfactants, phosphates, microplastics, and newer pollutants like endocrine‑disrupting substances. You will assess how these chemicals affect water quality, river life, and human health via food systems for example, using desk studies and interviews with researchers and ADB staff.
- Map where the wastewater goes: trace how laundry wastewater moves through drainage systems, sewers, and informal channels before reaching rivers or other natural water bodies. This includes creating simple geospatial maps for one or two cities to show pollution hotspots and areas most at risk.
- Conduct stakeholder interviews: speak with ADB staff, and where possible, local water utilities and regulators, to understand how laundry‑related water pollution is currently managed, and what gaps or challenges exist in real‑world operations and policies.
- Review ADB project documents: look at current and upcoming ADB government‑funded (sovereign) projects to find opportunities where laundry‑related solutions could be added—such as laundromats, sewer network upgrades, greywater reuse, or small‑scale treatment systems in both urban and rural areas.
- Draft a memo: prepare a short-written summary explaining how laundry practices connect to water systems, the main challenges you identified, and ideas for practical solutions. This memo will also outline possible models like decentralized laundry hubs or community‑based treatment units, and discuss how these could support resilience, circular economy approaches, and climate adaptation.
- Identify pilot options: explore practical pilot initiatives in the Philippines, Pakistan or Bangladesh and design a pilot by identifying what needs to be assessed.
- Prepare a policy brief: Develop actionable recommendations for ADB operations and WASH programs, emphasizing:
- Regulatory gaps: detergent standards and effluent norms to reduce harmful chemicals entering waterways.
- Infrastructure priorities: combining laundry practices, laundromats and so on with decentralized treatment systems, greywater segregation, reuse technologies to minimize untreated discharge.
- Behavioral interventions: consumer awareness campaigns and incentives for adopting low-impact detergents and more sustainable laundry habits.
3. Period of Assignment
Duration: 11 weeks
Timing: June 2026 onwards
4. Location
ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines
5. Expected Outcomes
- General overview and country-specific analysis of laundry-related wastewater and effluent characteristics including possible impacts
- Mapping report on pollution pathways, infrastructure gaps and laundry entry points
- Memo on laundry-water infrastructure linkages for WASH, River Management and Water and Urban Development sovereign loans and Technical Assistance.
- Recommendations for pilot interventions in the Philippines, Bangladesh or Pakistan.
- Policy brief on laundry and urban water resilience for ADB’s urban and circular economy programs.
- Contribution to knowledge products supporting WUD’s WASH and water-health agenda.
Qualifications
6. Education Requirements
- Currently enrolled in a master’s degree program or PhD in Environmental Sciences, Water Resources Management, or related fields.
Specialization in wastewater management, WASH, or circular economy preferred.
7. Relevant Experience and Other Requirements
- Familiarity with water systems, wastewater treatment, and pollution control.
- Understanding of WASH principles and SDG 6 targets
- Strong analytical and research skills; ability to synthesize technical and policy information.
- Experience with stakeholder engagement and interviews (utilities, regulators, government agencies).
- Excellent writing skills for technical memos and policy briefs.
- Knowledge of circular economy concepts is an advantage.
- Regional familiarity with South and Southeast Asia urban water challenges is desirable.
- Preferably with 2-3 years relevant professional experience.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- Ability to carry analysis, findings, ideas, and evidence‑based insights through to published working papers.
