Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE)

by Monash University

(Business)

A Global Compact member

img

RISE is an action-research program working at the intersections of health, environment, water and sanitation.

Project implemented: August 2017 - July 2022

Project goal

To demonstrate that a localised, water sensitive approach can deliver sustainable health and environmental improvements in urban informal settlements.

delivering on

why is this project important?

Australia has a responsibility to support its Asia Pacific neighbours, and collaborate with them to solve global challenges.

Key steps to make it happen

1Baseline

Baseline health and environmental assessments

2Co-Design

Co-design of upgrading works with communities and local partners

3Implementation Tranche 1

Implementation of upgrading building works to half of the settlements

4Monitoring

Quarterly monitoring of human health and environment

5Implementation Tranche 2

Upgrading the control settlements at the end of the study

6Policy and investment

Continuous dissemination of lessons learned and results to inform policy making and investments

Over one billion people live in urban informal settlements globally, and over two billion live without basic sanitation. In these communities polluted water and inadequate sanitation are the leading causes of preventable diseases. Water and sanitation challenges are intensified by climate change and rapid population growth. A new approach to water and sanitation management is needed to achieve SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

To help meet this challenge, an interdisciplinary team of global researchers are channelling their efforts into the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) program. RISE aims to provide unprecedented insight into a more sustainable approach to water management, trialling the water sensitive cities (WSC) approach in 24 urban informal settlements across Suva, Fiji and Makassar, Indonesia. The goal is to reduce both environmental contamination itself and human contact with contaminants. Underpinned by the emerging discipline of planetary health, success will be measured by the health and well-being of residents – particularly children under five years of age – and the ecological diversity of the surrounding environment.

The WSC approach integrates sustainable water sensitive infrastructure – like constructed wetlands, bio-filtration gardens, and decentralised sanitation systems – into buildings and landscapes. Also known as nature-based solutions, these systems are more ecologically sustainable because they mimic natural processes, while being more economically sustainable because they require less energy to operate and maintain. Decentralised water infrastructure is implemented at dwelling, neighbourhood, and precinct scales to harvest rainwater and storm water, recycle wastewater, and protect dwellings from flooding and environmental pollution. Locally sourced water is used for a range of domestic purposes and economic activities including urban agriculture, while green spaces increase local amenity.

RISE researchers are examining the impact of the WSC approach – before, during and after the intervention. This is being done through a randomised control trial (RCT) whereby half the settlements receive the intervention initially and the other half are control settlements, to receive the intervention after the first period. Key human health, well-being and environmental dimensions are measured quarterly to provide the evidence base that a localised, WSC approach to upgrading informal settlements can deliver sustainable, cost-effective improvements in health and the environment.

Community-led and socially inclusive, RISE is applying a co-design process for each site, working closely with local communities, governments, leaders and in-country partner institutions. RISE has made significant progress since launch in August 2017. Strong partnerships have been forged with local and international institutions, and government partners in both locations have committed their full support. RISE’s unique interdisciplinary nature is one of its key strengths, with highly experienced local teams and global partnerships ensuring the program is well positioned to achieve its objectives.

RISE is part of the prestigious Wellcome Trust’s ‘Our Planet Our Health’ funding program, with support from the Asian Development Bank.

Led by the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, RISE brings together global expertise from five Monash University Faculties (Art, Design and ArchitectureBusiness and EconomicsEngineeringMedicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Science), Monash University MalaysiaCRC for Water Sensitive CitiesStanford UniversityEmory UniversityThe University of MelbourneUniversity of CambridgeFiji National UniversityHasanuddin UniversityThe University of the South PacificUnited Nations UniversityMelbourne WaterSouth East WaterOxfamWaterAid, and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

collaborating organisations

related projects

Achieving gender balance in water utilities by Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)
Renewable Energy in the Water Industry by Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)
Applying SDGs – Determining Socio-Economic Indicators ... by Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victoria
Australian Marine Debris Initiative by Tangaroa Blue Foundation
Strong Women. Strong Business by Indigenous Business Australia
International Legal Training Program by McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer
Transforming Australia: SDG Progress Report by National Sustainable Development Council
The ocean, our future: an Ocean Decade program by Australian National Maritime Museum
Barangaroo South by Lendlease
Wanzauni Livelihoods Improvement Project by Anglican Board of Mission
National Youth Summit by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Australia/Pacific
creating the capacity for people to invest space with meanin... by Place Agency at the University of Melbourne
Getting started with the SDGs in Universities by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Australia/Pacific
Fighting hunger in australia by Foodbank Australia
E.S. P. Wool production by Kia Ora Merino
Green Star by Green Building Council of Australia
Vision Initiative by Vision 2020 Australia
17 SDGs in 2018 – a year of awareness raising activiti... by United Nations Association Victoria and Deakin University
Delivering sustainable development through infrastructure by Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA)
Women in MBA (WiMBA) by Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong
It’s Our Place – Bellambi by Australian Social Investment Trust
Blue by Blue The Film
ANZ SDG Bond by Australia New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ)
Cities Power Partnership by Cities Power Partnership
ICT for Social Impact Project in India by Swinburne Business School
Environmental Sustainability and Innovation by Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia Pty Ltd
Spatial data infrastructure to help monitor and evaluate Aus... by AURIN – Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network
Green Star – Communities by Green Building Council of Australia
Tropical Sustainable Design by Tropical Urbanism and Design Lab (TUDLab), James Cook University
Pathways to Politics Program for Women by University of Melbourne
Applying SDGs – Determining Socio-Economic Indicators ... by Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Victoria
Economic independence on traditional land by Indigenous Business Australia
Addressing the social determinants of injury by The George Institute for Global Health
The Individual Deprivation Measure Global Program by Individual Deprivation Measure
Thriving Communities Partnership by Thriving Communities Partnership
SDG National Forum by Fatouma TOURE
The Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership by The George Institute for Global Health
We’re all in this Together by Healthy Cities Illawarra (HCI) and University of Wollongong (UOW)
The Bogie Bulk Buy by Strathbogie Shire Council
Day At The Zoo by City West Water
Kwale Cotton Project by Business for Development
Cooling the planet to feed the World by PundaZoie Company Pty. Ltd.
Willing to Work by Australian Human rights Commission
My Blue Sky by Anti-Slavery Australia
University Commitment to the SDGs by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Australia/Pacific
SDG Toolkit for Systems Thinking and Collaborative Approache... by Australian Council for International Development
Raising awareness of energy and sustainability in heritage c... by Australia ICOMOS National Scientific Committee on Heritage & Sustainability
Global goals for local communities by Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)
Northconnex by Transurban
Adult literacy schools in PNG by Anglican Board of Mission
Promoting the Advancement of Women Everywhere by Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia Pty Ltd
World Summit Awards (WSA) – Australia by World Summit Awards (WSA) – Australia
Fair food farm by Green Connect
LiveGAPS by CSIRO
Financial Inclusion Action Plan by Good Shepherd Microfinance
My Green Butler by Crystal Creek Meadows
Solar my School by Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils
Strengthening the Effectiveness and Extent of Medical Physic... by Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
Sustainable Fashion by Restyle Closet
#SeaToSource by Conservation Volunteers Australia
ChildFund Pass It Back by ChildFund Australia
Strengthening Multi-stakeholder partnering by The Partnership Brokers Group
Anti-Racism: It Stops with me campaign by Australian Human Rights Commission
Business & Sustainability Forum Series by United Nations Association of Australia (WA)
Feeding the Performance of Regional Communities by International Convention Centre Sydney
Economic empowerment for women in Tanzania by Australian Volunteers program

Does your organisation have a project to include?