Assignment Name: A Study on Affordability and Willingness to Pay for Solid Waste Management (SWM) Service Fees, and the Viability of SWM Facilities in Teknaf Municipality and Adjacent Unions

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Following the large-scale influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh in 2017, over one million refugees now reside in 34 camps across Cox’s Bazar, with Teknaf and Ukhiya upazilas hosting a significant portion. This rapid population growth has placed heavy pressure on local infrastructure, public services, and the environment, particularly solid waste management (SWM) systems. In Teknaf Municipality and surrounding unions—Hnila, Whykong, and Teknaf Sadar—waste generation is estimated at over 63 tons per day, yet existing systems remain under-resourced, with limited segregation, fee collection challenges, and non-functional composting facilities.

From 2018 to 2022, UNDP, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), implemented the “Sustainable Solutions to Solid Waste Management” project in Teknaf and Ukhiya. The initiative introduced sanitary landfills, composting units, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), household waste bins, and awareness campaigns on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), along with public-private partnerships for service delivery. However, sustaining these systems has proved challenging due to infrastructure limitations, operational inefficiencies, and low cost recovery, compounded by growing environmental concerns from unsegregated waste disposal.

To address these gaps, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has commissioned DM WATCH LIMITED to conduct the current study. The study will assess household and commercial sector capacity and willingness to contribute to sustainable SWM services, analyze the viability of composting and recyclable material recovery, and provide evidence-based recommendations for fair and affordable service fees.

Following are the specific objectives of this assignment –

• To assess the current SWM service status; third-party’s operation in Teknaf Municipality.
• Identify other organizations involved in SWM services and conduct stakeholder mapping for Teknaf Municipality and other three targeted unions.
• To identify the current opportunities and gaps for SWM services including the capacities of Teknaf Municipality and other unions in mobilizing their internal resources.
• To analyze feasibility of compost sales based on the organic waste generated from municipal solid waste, including viability of compost production, operational considerations and its economic viability in Teknaf municipality and Hnila, Whykong, and Teknaf Sadar unions.
• To conduct a feasibility and market analysis for recyclable materials focusing on potential engagement of Scrap Associations with MRF.
• To recommend fair, affordable SWM service fees for different stakeholders/service takers to ensure a sustainable SWM system for Teknaf Municipality and each of the three unions separately.

The scope includes comprehensive household and market surveys, stakeholder mapping, feasibility analyses for compost and MRF operations, and institutional capacity assessments. Findings will guide UNDP, Teknaf Municipality, and Union Parishads in designing inclusive, financially sustainable, and environmentally sound SWM models that improve service delivery, strengthen resource recovery, and promote cleaner, healthier communities.

DM WATCH LIMITED will execute this assignment through a structured, multi-phased approach combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, stakeholder consultations, and technical analysis. The following key services will be provided:

Inception and Planning

• Conduct inception meetings with UNDP, Teknaf Municipality, and Union Parishads to confirm objectives, scope, and expectations.
• Review project documents, past SWM studies, relevant policies, and operational reports to inform the study design.
• Develop a detailed methodology, sampling strategy, and data collection instruments in Bangla and English, ensuring cultural appropriateness and contextual relevance.
• Prepare and submit an inception report incorporating stakeholder feedback.

Enumerator Training and Field Testing

• Design and deliver enumerator and qualitative data collectors training covering study objectives, ethical protocols, data collection techniques, and use of digital survey tools.
• Conduct field tests to validate survey instruments and refine tools for clarity, cultural appropriateness, and technical accuracy

Field Data Collection

• Conduct household surveys across all nine wards of Teknaf Municipality, applying stratified sampling to meet statistical confidence requirements.
• Implement market surveys in Teknaf Municipality and targeted unions (Hnila, Whykong, Teknaf Sadar) covering key markets and business types.
• Facilitate Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with male and female community members, and with shop owners in both municipal and union settings.
• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with municipal officials, union representatives, third-party service providers, Scrap Dealer Associations, civil society actors, and relevant technical experts.
• Carry out In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with market associations, business leaders, agricultural extension representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure real-time data entry and quality monitoring using KoboToolbox or equivalent platforms.

Technical and Economic Feasibility Analyses

• Assess existing SWM infrastructure, third-party operations, governance structures, and financial mechanisms.
• Analyze willingness to pay and affordability for different service user categories.
• Evaluate organic waste streams, composting methods, operational requirements, and economic viability of compost production in target areas.
• Map the recycling value chain, identify potential markets for recyclable materials, and assess the feasibility of establishing or strengthening Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
• Develop recommendations for integrating informal recyclers into the formal SWM system.

Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting

• Clean, validate, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data using statistical and thematic analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Stata).
• Disaggregate results by gender, socio-economic group, and geography to inform inclusive policy and operational decisions.
• Prepare a comprehensive draft report detailing findings, analyses, and actionable recommendations for sustainable, affordable SWM service models.
• Facilitate a stakeholder validation workshop to present preliminary results, gather input, and refine recommendations.
• Submit a finalized report and cleaned datasets in agreed formats (Excel, SPSS).

Key Deliverables

• Inception report with work plan, methodology, and survey instruments.
• Cleaned and validated datasets (Excel, SPSS).
• Comprehensive final report with evidence-based recommendations and supporting visuals.
• Presentation materials for stakeholder engagement and dissemination.