Overview

The figure below illustrates USPCAS-W vision of Pakistan’s water sector as an integrated sociotechnical system, bringing together resource endowments, engineering systems, and natural and social sciences considerations, as well as, the natural and human impact factors, i.e., natural hazards (especially climate change), and the multiplicity of human responses (policy, governance, law, finance and economics, and culture).

The Applied Research Program seeks to support the sustainable implementation a four-part program of Irrigation and Drainage Integrated Water Resources Management, Water Resources Engineering, Urban Water, Irrigation and Drainage, and Environmental and Sanitation Engineering. The graphic also displays the key technical tools of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, observations and hydroinformatics, and numerical modeling as essential for meeting the most pressing applied research needs and addressing the most critical cross-cutting issues of climate change, extremes, population growth, weak governance, and gender inequity.

 

 

 

Objectives

The goal of the USPCAS-W Research Program is to stimulate competitive and innovative applied research that is multi-disciplinary in nature and developed within the broader context of the water-development nexus to support the achievement of sustainable development goal on water. To this end, key features of the applied research agenda include:

• Overcoming water scarcity
• Developing and maintaining water infrastructure
• Improving water quality
• Improving water use efficiency and agricultural productivity
• Enhancing access to drinking water and sanitation
• Bridging disparities in access and coverage
• Reversing groundwater depletion
• Reclaiming degraded lands
• Strengthening water governance
• Improving performance of water utilities
• Protecting water ecosystems

 

Research Groups

At the Center, the following four research groups are currently engaged in undertaking research on different aspects of water resources planning and management.

• Water governance and sustainable development
• Sustainable agriculture water management
• Water informatics and decision support (hydroclimate modeling)
• Clean water infrastructure and technologies

 

Call for Concept Notes

The U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (US-PCASW) invites Concept Notes for research projects aimed at addressing water-related issues impeding socioeconomic development of Pakistan. These issues include: water scarcity, water quality, water governance, agriculture water management, groundwater management, urban and irrigation water systems, and adaptation to climate change, among others.

The Concept Note should be limited to three pages (single-spaced) that clearly states: (i) a narrative of the project idea; (ii) how the proposed project will contribute towards addressing issues such as mentioned above; (iii) value added to existing knowledge; (iv) linkages and impact on achieving different targets spelled out under the water SDG; (v) sustainability plan; and (vi) indicative budget. Maximum funding available for each project will be around Pak Rs 3 million. Concept Notes will be evaluated against quality of the research proposal and its compliance to above mentioned criteria. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to prepare detailed research proposals.

All registered research institutes, universities (HEC approved), non-governmental/civil society organizations, with minimum of 5 years’ experience in applied and policy-oriented research related to water issues are eligible to apply for research grants. Further guidelines are available at: water.muet.edu.pk

Concept Notes should be emailed to Director Administration at da.uspcasw@admin.muet.edu.pk by 31 October 2016.

 

Target Dates

Submission of concept notes: Announcement of short listed proposals: Submission of detailed research proposals: Announcement of selected proposals: Award of contracts:

31 October 2016 30 November 2016 31 December 2016 20 January 2017 31 January 2017