On June 17, 2025, Athena Infonomics, in collaboration with FSM Network and ITN-BUET, convened a focused learning session in Dhaka to introduce EquiServe: a web-based CWIS-aligned planning tool developed with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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The session brought together 33 participants representing government bodies, utilities, technical experts, and development partners to explore how data-led planning can transform Bangladesh’s urban sanitation investments. With over 20 global deployments and more than USD 810M in guided sanitation planning, EquiServe has become a trusted tool for aligning public investment with equity, sustainability, and service viability.

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The Session at a Glance

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The session began with an overview of common pitfalls in sanitation investments – fragmented mandates, low service viability, and disjointed infrastructure rollouts, and demonstrated how EquiServe supports smarter, equity-focused investment decision-making.

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Participants engaged in hands-on activities with the tool, while discussions explored how planning tools can:

• Build more bankable investment pipelines
• Incentivize private participation
• Improve targeting for low-income communities
• Strengthen accountability and monitoring in project implementation
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What We Heard?

Key Reflections from the Panel

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• Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz, Director, ITN-BUET: Emphasized the importance of planning capacity in attracting development finance, noting that EquiServe and IMIS offer complementary roles across design and operations.
• Engr. Ehteshamul Russell Khan, DPHE: Called for EquiServe’s expansion to all towns under the Ten-Town Project, citing its proven impact in Lakshmipur.
• Engr. Md Julfiqar Ahmed, Lakshmipur Pourashava: Shared how community engagement, baseline data, and targeted subsidies were integrated with EquiServe’s insights to reach 80% safely managed sanitation coverage.
• Engr. Md. Shafiqul Hassan, Project Director, DPHE: Highlighted that structured planning tools make development finance more bankable, even when direct returns are low, by emphasizing long-term social value.
• Engr. Dilruba Farzana, DPHE: Stressed the value of integrating equity-focused insights early in project design to ensure implementation is both inclusive and accountable.
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What’s Next?

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Participants left with not just information on new, relevant tools, but a mindset shift – planning rooted in real data, community realities, and financial strategy. The session underscored the role of EquiServe in not just improving systems but in rethinking how cities invest in them.

As Bangladesh looks to scale Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), EquiServe will continue to play a catalytic role bridging evidence and execution.