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Summary: The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has issued an RFP for a project in which a research team incorporates equity and social dimensions into community climate adaptation and watershed management, to help utilities identify issues that have a particular impact on socially vulnerable populations. The research team will conduct a comprehensive literature review including a review of WRF’s research efforts to date in related areas and evaluate the state-of-the-practice and advancement in the field of climate adaption planning and holistic watershed management, as well as triple bottom line (TBL) analyses that include social and equity components. Grants are up to $150,000. Applications are due by November 22, 2022. An overview and links to the RFP are below. Please forward this notice to any faculty who may have interest.
RFP: Incorporating Equity and Social Dimensions into Community Climate Adaptation Planning and Watershed Management
The research approach in this project includes three main components: (1) inter-disciplinary literature and case study review of processes and practices for incorporating equity and social vulnerability considerations into utility climate adaption planning and watershed management; (2) a national survey through a network of utilities and municipalities, as well as collaborating partners; (3) preparation of a utility-facing guidance document including expanding TBL analysis framework from previous WRF efforts (e.g., WRF projects 3125, 4570, and 4852) to further incorporate social and equitable considerations into the quantification of community benefits. The guidance document should include case studies of best practices and applications that span different-sized water utilities and geographic regions.
The research team will conduct a comprehensive literature review including a review of WRF’s research efforts to date in related areas. In addition, the research team will evaluate the state-of-the-practice and advancement in the field of climate adaption planning and holistic watershed management, as well as TBL analyses that include social and equity components. In addition, the research team will conduct an online survey at a national scale, focusing on the perspective from utilities and municipalities, with a goal to synthesize case studies from different-sized utilities and municipalities, as well as different climate regions. Furthermore, the research team will reach out to related national organizations (e.g., U.S. Water Alliance) and selected community-based organizations (e.g., non-government organizations at regional levels) for information gathering, which are critical to understanding how to bring their perspectives into this process.
Project Objectives: The outcome of this research will help outline the essential features of a holistic, equity-informed approach to community climate adaptation planning and watershed management that effectively incorporates equity and social dimensions. Many utilities seeking to incorporate equity and social dimensions can benefit from, as examples, a set of starting questions such as:
- “What is our social baseline?”
- “Where are we now?”
- “What are existing structural and institutional barriers to equity?”
- “What strategies can we use to achieve more equitable outcomes?”
- “How can community voices be engaged and considered effectively in the development and selection of holistic watershed management approaches?”
- “What application of TBL analysis would help ensure that ‘who benefits and who pays’ factors into the analysis?”
Expected Deliverables
- A stand-alone literature review synthesis document, including annotations for the list of publications and resources used.
- One invitation-only virtual workshop, along with workshop planning and all supporting materials (e.g., agenda, presentations, meeting notes, and workshop summary).
- An interactive utility-facing document
- This document will include case studies and a decision support framework that can identify major attributes of communities across different climate regions and how to measure success. o In addition, this document will include a chapter and supporting technical appendix that summarizes the knowledge gaps, research needs, and preliminary project concepts for recommended research projects.
- Broader outreach:
- Webcast and public outreach materials (e.g., infographics that can help communicate research findings to utilities, municipalities, and general public).
- Submitting at least one open access peer-reviewed journal paper and additional outreach products as applicable.
The anticipated period of performance for this project is 24 months from the contract start date.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The online proposal system allows submission of your documents until the date and time stated in this RFP. To avoid the risk of the system closing before you press the submit button, do not wait until the last minute to complete your submission. Submit your proposal at: https://forms.waterrf.org/222616939029866.
The maximum funding available from WRF for this project is $150,000. The applicant must contribute additional resources (which could be in-kind) equivalent to at least 33 percent of the project award. For example, if an applicant requests $100,000 from WRF, an additional $33,000 or more must be contributed by the applicant.
DEADLINE: Applications due by: November 22, 2022 before 3:00 pm MT.
CONTACTS: Questions to clarify the intent of this RFP and WRF’s administrative, cost, and financial requirements may be addressed to the WRF project contact: Harry Zhang, PhD, PE, at (571)384-2098 Email: hzhang@waterrf.org.
Questions related to proposal submittal through the online system may be addressed to: Caroline Bruck at (303) 347-6118 Email: cbruck@waterrf.org.
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