Environment

In emergencies, sanitation infrastructure in camps are often constructed overlooking the long-term needs such as safe containment and disposal of fecal matter. Commonly used pit latrine systems in densely populated camps expose fresh fecal sludge to the ground and pollute the environment and needs continuous desludging which causes high costs. Other conventional systems require high level of resources, time and skilled manpower which is not appropriate for rapid on-set of emergencies.

Climate change has dire consequences for populations in fragile states, which are not only climate vulnerable but also conflict-prone and energy poor. Yet climate solutions aren't reaching them. Little of the $250+ billion in annual renewable energy investment reaches those most in need. Renewable energy can have multiple short and long-term benefits in crisis contexts, but its adoption requires policy shifts and financial innovation to better link existing solutions with vulnerable populations.

Hussein Khalil of the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil will provide young people in urban slums with knowledge and tools to identify elements that promote the spread of diseases by rats and mosquitos such as dengue and Zika virus infection, and engage their communities to help combat those diseases. They will recruit 40 young residents from two urban slums to test their approach.

The project proposes to use an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) - a technology based on microbial community - to remove antibiotics and antimicrobial resistant genes from hospital wastewater. AGS is one of the latest innovations and it has not yet been applied for the treatment of hospital wastewater.

Making disposable tableware from fallen leaf in Cambodia