On 3 February 2026, the Mahidol University Waste Management Team from the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, led by Prof. Chettiyappan Visvanathan, Asst. Prof. Nawatch Surinkul, Dr. Sri Shalini Sathyanarayanan, and research associates Ms. Humm Kham Zan Zan Aung and Ms. Kanitthika Santhaweesuk, met with the UN-Habitat team under the Water, Waste and Sanitation Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) – Phase II Project.

The UN-Habitat team was represented by Mr. Srinivasa Popuri, Chief of the Bangkok Multi- Country Programme Office, Mr. Riccardo Maroso, Programme Manager and Mr. Sovanarith Sieng, Urban Development Expert, together with Ms. Patthiya Gitpot, Local Project Coordinator, and Dr. Jutamas Kaewsuk, National Programme Officer.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration to support city-level assessments, capacity development, and regional knowledge production related to water, waste, and sanitation in ASEAN cities, contributing to more sustainable and resilient urban development.

During the discussion, both teams reviewed the implementation plan and expected outputs of the ASUS Phase II Project. Key outputs include the preparation of inception and technical reports, post-disaster solid waste management assessments, the development of water, waste and sanitation training modules, technical support to selected ASEAN secondary cities, and the production of regional issue papers to support evidence-based urban planning. These outputs aim to strengthen city-level capacity, inform recovery and investment planning, and enhance sustainable water, waste, and sanitation management across the ASEAN region.