Description of the Project:

One of the tasks of the CWG (the Collaborative Working Group on Solid Waste Management in Low- and Middle-income Countries) is to address the need for capacity development and advocacy. Situations and needs related to solid waste management in low- and middle-income countries vary widely between countries, and between cities and towns. In the majority of countries, the most urgent needs are  institutional reform, better financial management and capacity development. Municipal authorities, private sector operators, the informal sector and academic and research institutions often lack the tools and the resources to deal with the challenges posed by solid waste management. The lack of awareness among the population with regard to solid waste management is another area of concern.

Therefore, the CWG organised and conducted a workshop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in December 2008 to bring together a spectrum of participants from the South and North to exchange experience about successful responses to existing capacity gaps that constitute a barrier to the improvement of solid waste management in low- and middle-income countries. Since the workshop, a report and a manual with guidance on the subject is now being compiled and will be disseminated soon.

It is expected that by sharing and proposing practical capacity development solutions, the workshop and the resulting knowledge products will contribute to improving the way solid waste is managed in low- and middle-income countries. Better solid waste management will result in better environmental conditions and improved livelihoods, particularly for the urban poor.