Intern (SD2-SD2-WUD) 2601-026

6. Education Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a masters 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 evidencebased insights through to published working papers.

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 endocrinedisrupting 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 laundryrelated water pollution is currently managed and what gaps or challenges exist in realworld operations and policies.
• Review ADB project documents: look at current and upcoming ADB governmentfunded (sovereign) projects to find opportunities where laundryrelated solutions could be addedsuch as laundromats sewer network upgrades greywater reuse or smallscale 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 communitybased 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 ADBs urban and circular economy programs.
• Contribution to knowledge products supporting WUDs WASH and water-health agenda.