Deadline: 19-May-2026
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam is seeking a consultancy firm or organization to design and implement a pilot wastewater reuse initiative in the Mekong River Delta. The project supports Vietnam’s circular economy transition by assessing wastewater reuse potential, improving SME water management practices, and testing nano-filtration technologies.
This UNDP initiative focuses on advancing circular economy practices through wastewater reuse solutions in the Mekong River Delta. The assignment combines feasibility assessment, stakeholder engagement, and pilot implementation of innovative water treatment technologies.
It aims to promote sustainable industrial water use and reduce environmental impacts through scalable and practical solutions.
Strategic Context
Vietnam is actively transitioning toward a circular economy through key national frameworks, including:
- Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021–2030)
- Law on Environmental Protection (2020)
- Decree 08/2022/ND-CP
- Circular Economy Master Plan (2022)
- National Action Plan on Circular Economy (2025)
These policies focus on resource efficiency, waste reduction, green growth, and sustainable production systems.
Programme Framework
The initiative is part of the UNDP-supported “Accelerate Circular Economy for Business (ACE-Biz)” project, funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
The ACE-Biz project aims to:
- Promote low-carbon development
- Support circular business models
- Strengthen SME capacity
- Enable technology transfer
- Encourage sustainable industrial practices
Key Objectives of the Assignment
The consultancy will focus on:
- Assessing demand for wastewater treatment and reuse systems
- Reviewing regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements
- Identifying circular economy opportunities in SMEs and industries
- Improving water and wastewater management practices
- Piloting nano-filtration and advanced treatment technologies
- Evaluating feasibility of scalable reuse systems
Scope of Work
The selected consultant will:
- Conduct technical and regulatory feasibility assessments
- Engage enterprises and industrial stakeholders
- Identify suitable pilot locations in the Mekong River Delta
- Design and implement wastewater reuse pilot systems
- Test portable nano-filtration technologies
- Monitor and evaluate pilot performance
- Provide recommendations for scaling up solutions
Target Focus Areas
The initiative focuses on:
- Industrial water reuse systems
- SME wastewater management improvements
- Circular water resource utilization
- Technology-driven treatment solutions
- Sustainable industrial zones
- Environmental compliance and efficiency
Expected Outcomes
The assignment is expected to deliver:
- Improved understanding of wastewater reuse potential
- Successful pilot testing of nano-filtration systems
- Enhanced SME capacity in water management
- Identification of scalable circular economy solutions
- Evidence-based recommendations for policy and industry adoption
- Increased wastewater reuse in industrial processes
Evaluation Process
Proposals will be assessed based on:
- Technical expertise and methodology
- Relevant experience in wastewater and circular economy projects
- Capacity to implement pilot technologies
- Financial competitiveness
- Compliance with UNDP procurement standards
- Quality of proposed stakeholder engagement approach
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be qualified consultancy firms, institutes, or organizations
- Demonstrate experience in water management or environmental engineering
- Show capacity to implement pilot and technical projects
- Comply with UNDP policies and procurement procedures
- Provide evidence of relevant technical and operational expertise
Importance of the Initiative
This project is important because it:
- Supports Vietnam’s circular economy transition
- Reduces industrial water pollution and waste
- Promotes sustainable use of water resources
- Enhances SME competitiveness through cleaner production
- Encourages innovation in wastewater treatment technologies
- Strengthens environmental sustainability in the Mekong Delta
Conclusion
The UNDP Vietnam wastewater reuse initiative is a key step toward advancing circular economy practices in the Mekong River Delta. By combining policy alignment, SME engagement, and innovative technology testing, the project aims to create scalable solutions for sustainable water management and long-term environmental resilience.
For more information, visit UNDP.