Regional Technical Workshop on Strengthening Integrated Solid Waste Management Policies and the Circular Economy in Africa Region

The United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), together with its partners are organizing the African Regional Technical Workshop on Strengthening Integrated Solid Waste Management Policies and Circular Economy, which will take place from 25 to 27 August 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. To raise awareness and prepare for the workshop, UNOSD held the webinar From Insight to Impact: Using the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System to Accelerate Circular and Evidence-Based Waste Management in Africa on 7 May 2026.

A central component of the workshop is the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS) developed by UNOSD, in partnership with the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and the UN DESA Statistics Division. It was developed based on multiple country and expert consultations, which began in November 2023. The WMPSS is a practical tool designed to support governments in assessing the performance of their waste management systems, identifying data, policy, and capacity gaps, and developing prioritized, time-bound action plans.

The methodology complements broader UN efforts to strengthen ‘fit-for-policy’ evidence, while remaining practical for administrations that must act despite limited data. It emphasizes simple indicator sets, clear governance roles (such as national waste-data task forces) and the progressive use of digital tools to improve data quality and decision-making over time. Additional information on the WMPSS can be found here: https://wastepolicysupport.org/

Workshop Objectives

The proposed workshop aims to assess progress and challenges in integrated waste management and circular economy among participating countries and to jointly define areas for continued cooperation and support. This workshop builds on previous regional workshops, including the sub-regional workshops held in Madagascar and Ghana in 2025.

The African Regional Workshop aims to:

1. Enhance knowledge on waste management and resource circularity: Strengthen foundational understanding of waste management and circular economy concepts and frameworks.

2. Strengthen data collection, monitoring, and evidence-based decision making: Promote effective data collection tools and methodologies to overcome legal, financial, and capacity barriers. Support countries in utilizing the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS), a diagnostic tool for governments to assess comprehensive progress on waste, thereby enhancing data-driven policy.

3. Support the development of national task forces for data and policy leadership: Encourage participant countries to establish national task forces comprising interministerial representatives and national statistics offices to lead and ensure coordinated data collection, reporting, and policy implementation in waste management and resource circularity.

4. Facilitate policy learning and adaptation: Share policy support tools, including the WMPSS and circular economy frameworks, to bridge information gaps and improve evidence-based decision-making in waste management.

5. Promote regional collaboration: Provide a platform for countries to exchange best practices, lessons learned, and challenges in implementing circular waste management systems, fostering mutual learning and cooperation.

6. Drive action-oriented dialogue and recommendations: Facilitate discussions to gather actionable insights, feedback, and innovative recommendations that guide the design and operation of sustainable waste management systems in Africa.

Organisers

Participants and Target Audience

Technical level government officials from the African region responsible for waste management and/or circular economy at the national level. Participants must be able to present, on behalf of their country, the current state of waste management and the circular economy at the national level during the event. This includes the results of applying the WMPSS tool. Participants will also include invited experts from the United Nations, international organisations, civil society representatives, and the private sector.

Methodology and Preparations

The workshop will take place in a structured three-day format, combining expert-led presentations and technical sessions. To ensure participation that supports the workshop’s objectives, it is essential that participating countries complete the preliminary assessment on the WMPSS. The results will inform the national presentations and peer learning. Please confirm the name and contact details of the national focal point to grant access to the system. We are available to assist you in completing the questionnaire and preparing the national results presentations to be delivered during the workshop.

Contact

For more information, contact Ms. Nicole Codd (nicole.codd@un.org), Policy Development and Coordination Expert, and Mr. Simon Gilby (simon.gilby@un.org), Sustainable Development Officer.

Language

The workshop will be held in English with French interpretation.