| Overview : Background The overall goal of this project is to improve waste management and recycling practices in urban and peri-urban settings in Lusaka and Ndola while creating opportunities and employment for women and youth led enterprises. Poor waste management is identified as a major cause of environmental degradation in Zambia, and while national figures do not exist, in Lusaka in 2017, Lusaka City Council estimated that the City of Lusaka generates approximately one million tons of waste annually but that only about 30-40% of that is collected and taken to a dumpsite. A 2017 study on six of the largest urban centres in Zambia also concluded that only a small proportion of solid waste is disposed at dumpsites, with the remainder being buried or burned both having negative impacts on the environment. Currently, Zambia does not have the capacity to effectively handle this waste, there are no engineered landfills, instead there are informal dumpsites that are frequented by waste pickers, further, recycling is carried out at a very low and informal levels. The complex structure of solid waste management at the policy and governance level, together with the lack of reliable data worsen the situation. Citizens and businesses are not generally aware of the negative impacts improper waste management causes to human health, in addition to soil, air and water pollution; which calls for investment in education and information sharing on waste management and recycling. This initiative is aimed at improving livelihoods for young people, especially young women, through sound waste management and recycling practices in low income communities and health care facilities. It is led by the vision that productive sectors expand income-earning opportunities that are decent and sustainable, especially for youth and women in the poorest areas. This project will support impactful entrepreneurship and business acceleration opportunities of young people through a socialized model of waste management, targeting urban and peri-urban areas. This will include provision of skills development, technical support, assistance and advisory support to access financial education and resources and mentorship to youth-led start-up companies and MSMEs, with a focus on innovative business models that empower people and deliver sustainable solutions |
