Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments

Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) aims to provide research-based evidence that a localized, water sensitive approach to revitalizing informal settlements can deliver sustainable, cost-effective health and environmental improvements, paving the way for further deployments in the region and globally. WHD researcher Steve Luby and colleagues in this multi-university project are working with communities, governments, local leaders and partner institutions to co-design location-specific solutions that integrate green infrastructure, such as constructed wetlands, to strengthen the whole-of-life water and sanitation cycle. 

Working across 24 settlements in Fiji and Indonesia, RISE aims to enable these communities to:

• Recycle their own wastewater (both blackwater and greywater);
• Harvest rainwater;
• Create green space for water cleansing and food cultivation;
• Restore natural waterways to encourage diversity; and,
• Reduce vulnerability to flooding and climate change.
• The program intends to reduce both environmental contamination itself and the likelihood of human contact with contaminants. Multiple benefits are anticipated, including improved community health, fewer infections, better intestinal health among children, increased food production, and reduced gender inequality through the provision of secure domestic sanitation facilities and reliable water supplies.

More information can be found at the RISE website: https://www.rise-program.org

Videos courtesy of Monash Sustainable Development Institute.