AIT signs five new partnerships to strengthen water, sanitation, and digital municipal services during IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition 2025
Asian Institute of Technology
(11 December 2025) The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has deepened its commitment to cleaner water, better sanitation, and smarter cities by signing five new Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with international partners from the USA, Europe, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The MoUs were signed on 11 December 2025 during the IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand. All activities under the Agreements will be carried out through AIT's Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC).
Welcoming the delegates, GWSC’s Chief Operating Officer Mr. Agus Nugroho briefed about the objectives of the Agreements whereas Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director of Office of International Affairs, welcomed all five new partners in AIT's ecosystem of partnerships working in the areas of water and sanitation.
GWSC's Co-Directors, Prof. Sangam Shrestha and Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, highlighted that since the establishment of the Global Water & Sanitation Center (GWSC) at AIT, the Center's vision has been to create a strong collaborative platform that brings together governments, academia, development partners, innovators, and practitioners to accelerate the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) agenda across the region. They emphasized that partnerships are fundamental to realizing this vision.
The MoUs signed on this occasion demonstrate the diversity and strength of the growing GWSC ecosystem, encompassing digital innovation, applied research, capacity development, systems strengthening, and global thought leadership—collectively reinforcing GWSC's role as a regional hub for transformative WASH solutions.
The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, AIT BoT member and who also played a role of catalyst in these partnerships, expressed his happiness to see all the partners collaborating for a common goal of trying to solve water and sanitation issues together.
The five new partners are Athena Infonomics (USA), IRC Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC WASH, The Netherlands), the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI, India), Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. (ISPL, Nepal), and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET, Bangladesh). Together, these partnerships aim to strengthen WASH systems, support digital innovation, and improve municipal governance across Asia and beyond.
Working with Athena Infonomics: Data, Digital Tools, and Real-World Impact
AIT’s partnership with Athena Infonomics focuses on using data, research, and digital tools to improve WASH and waste management services.
Through this MoU, AIT and Athena will work together on implementation and technical support, with Athena providing specialized expertise in monitoring, evaluation, systems strengthening, and digital innovation in WASH and waste management. The two institutions will jointly conduct research and knowledge generation to produce evidence-based insights that can shape policies and programs at regional and global levels. They will also co-design training programs, workshops, and mentorship activities to build the skills of students and professionals working in WASH and digital infrastructure.
In addition, AIT and Athena plan to develop and bid for projects together, combining AIT's academic and research strengths with Athena's strong field presence in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. A joint coordination committee between GWSC and Athena will guide the collaboration and track progress.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Ms. Deepa Karthykeyan, Co-Founder & Partner, Athena Infonomics.
Partnering with IRC WASH: Building Stronger WASH Systems
The MoU with IRC Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC WASH) brings together AIT's regional presence and IRC's long-standing experience in systems thinking for WASH.
Through this partnership, AIT and IRC WASH will co-design and deliver capacity development activities, including training programs, workshops, technical exchanges, and advisory support. They will create and share knowledge resources such as case studies, learning materials, and tools that help governments and practitioners strengthen WASH systems, while also engaging in joint policy dialogue and advocacy by participating in key national, regional, and global forums and networks. The partners will exchange technical expertise and work together on projects, research, and field implementation wherever there is mutual interest.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. Patrick Moriarty, CEO, IRC WASH.
Collaboration with ASCI: Innovation and Capacity Building for WASH and Beyond
AIT's agreement with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) creates a framework for collaboration on research, training, and innovation in WASH and related areas such as solid waste management, climate resilience, marine plastic waste, and digital solutions.
Under this MoU, AIT and ASCI plan to conduct joint research and knowledge development on Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and other shared priority topics, including climate resilience and digital WASH tools like IMIS. They will co-develop and deliver capacity-building programs, adapting and contextualizing training modules for local governments, international financial institutions, and communities. The collaboration will also promote WASH innovation through incubation of technology solutions, mentorship, learning events, and innovation roadshows. In addition, the partners will explore regional replication of the WASH Innovation Hub model, working with local partners to bring successful approaches to more cities and regions, and will facilitate the exchange of experts and trainers to support joint initiatives and advisory work.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. B. Janardhan Reddy, IAS (Retd.), Centre Director of CEUG&ID, ASCI.
Partnering with ISPL in Nepal: Scaling Digital Transformation in Municipal Governance
The MoU with Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. (ISPL) in Nepal focuses on the establishment and growth of an Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) Lab. This lab will act as a space for testing, refining, and scaling digital tools for municipal management.
Through this partnership, AIT and ISPL will work together to promote innovation, capacity building, and digital transformation in municipal governance through the IMIS platform. They will support research, development, and deployment of IMIS solutions tailored to the needs and realities of municipalities, while strengthening institutional arrangements to ensure sustained technical support and effective knowledge management. The collaboration will further aim to expand the regional footprint of IMIS by building partnerships that help more cities benefit from data-driven decision-making.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT and Dr. Bhusan Raj Shrestha, Managing Director of ISPL.
Partnering with ITN-BUET in Bangladesh: Advancing Digital Sanitation Governance
AIT's partnership with BUET through ITN-BUET operationalizes a strategic collaboration to advance Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and strengthen digital governance in urban sanitation. The Agreement focuses on enhancing the capacity of municipal and sectoral stakeholders in Bangladesh by supporting the deployment, localization, and integration of the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS) for digital service delivery, monitoring, and alignment with national platforms.
Building on GWSC's regional expertise and ITN-BUET's national leadership in capacity building, the partnership will promote IMIS adoption, deliver targeted training and knowledge exchange, and co-develop contextualized knowledge products to inform decision-making and urban sanitation planning.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, AIT, and Prof. Dr. Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, Vice Chancellor, BUET.
The signing was witnessed by Prof. Sangam Shrestha and Prof. Thammarat Koottatep, Co-Directors of GWSC. These five MoUs showcase AIT's commitment to working with practitioners, innovators, and policymakers to turn research and digital innovation into safer water, better sanitation, and more resilient services for all.
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