[2025] Eastern Africa Workshop on Waste Management and the Circular Economy

Documents

Concept Note and Agenda (updated as of 16 June 2025)

Final Report (updated as of 16 June 2025)

Background

Humanity currently generates approximately 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year and waste generation rates could increase by more than 73% by the end of 2050. Waste volumes continue to increase across the globe amid rapid urbanization and production and consumption trends centered on a take, make, waste model. With five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the circularity of solid waste, which is itself a resource, can ensure progress towards sustainable development while achieving innovation, greater productivity, and economic opportunities. While sustainable waste management and the transition to a circular economy directly contribute to the achievement of SDG targets 11, 12 and 14, they can also positively impact progress in all 17 SDGs.

A key challenge is the open dumping and burning of waste, often linked to informal and unregulated activities. Only 55% of MSW generated is managed in controlled facilities worldwide and low-income countries discard approximately 90% of waste in large, unregulated dumpsters or landfills that can burn openly, affect air quality and leach into waterways. Informality in the waste sector increases the vulnerability of workers and their communities. It is estimated that more than 400,000 people in developing countries die each year from diseases resulting from poorly managed waste systems requiring multilevel governance and multilateral action to address this challenge.

A recent UN report shows that SDG 11, which includes most of the indicators on solid waste, has the largest gap in data availability. Similarly, SDG 12.5, measured from data on national recycling rates and tons of recycled material, has accumulated limited data for most countries globally. These data are essential to compare progress on a global scale and to measure the shift towards a circular economy.

Every two years countries are invited to report solid waste data, with national responses to the United Nations Statistics Division/United Nations Environment Programme Questionnaire on Environment Statistics (UNSD/UNEP Questionnaire). However, the reported data reveals significant disparities in waste management reporting among Eastern African countries. Approximately 29% of the countries in the region have provided recent data to the UNSD/UNEP waste questionnaires, with submissions primarily from 2020 to 2022. This reflects a moderate level of engagement and suggests relatively stable waste data systems and institutional capacities within these nations. However, about 14% of the countries have data that is over a decade old, suggesting challenges in maintaining up-to-date reporting mechanisms or a lower prioritisation of waste data management in these contexts.

Notably, 57% of the countries, including some Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), have no reported data in the questionnaires. This lack of information highlights gaps likely influenced by structural challenges, limited technical capacity, or competing national priorities. Overall, while some progress is evident, significant efforts are required to improve and standardise reporting practices across the region, ensuring reliable data to inform sustainable waste management policies.

In parts of the Eastern Africa region, waste management faces challenges, including high levels of uncollected waste, improper disposal practices such as open dumping and burning, and an over-reliance on linear economic models. Organic waste makes up a significant portion of the waste stream but remains underutilised, and in many of the countries, recycling rates are very low due to limited infrastructure and a largely informal sector. These issues not only hinder progress toward circularity, but also exacerbate environmental and public health concerns.

To drive progress, it will be vital to identify gaps and opportunities within waste management and align them with circular economy principles. The African Union is committed to promoting the development of circular economy across the continent as testified by the adoption in 2023 of the African Union Action Plan for the Circular Economy (2024-2034) and emphasizes the importance of member states developing tailored regional and national action plans that align with their specific needs. As part of circular economy priorities, effective strategies include designing policies to improve waste collection and treatment systems, investing in recycling and composting infrastructure, and promoting awareness and behaviour change to reduce waste generation. Moreover, integrating the informal waste sector into formal systems can enhance resource recovery, and create jobs.

Creating evidence-based policies requires support for data generation and the implementation of local-level strategies. In this context, the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), which serves as the policy support arm of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), has developed the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS) that aims to address data gaps, technology needs and capacity gaps to achieve resource circularity in solid waste management. This work builds on UN DESA's commitment to zero waste through the International Partnership for Scaling Up Local Authority Waste Management Services (IPLA) from 2011 to 2015. Measuring and managing waste will surely be integral to achieving goals tied to circular economy analysis, and for this purpose, countries are encouraged to prioritise coordinated responses to the UNSD/UNEP Questionnaire on Environment Statistics (especially the waste section), and to include consideration of this questionnaire on inter-institutional task forces.

This sub-regional workshop seeks to enhance foundational knowledge on waste management and resource circularity, while promoting evidence-based practices and tools to address critical barriers in the region. By fostering regional collaboration through the exchange of case studies and best practices, the workshop aims to strengthen policy learning and multi-stakeholder engagement. Through action-oriented dialogue and tailored recommendations, it will support the design and implementation of sustainable waste management systems, enabling coherent, impact-driven strategies that advance circular economy initiatives across Eastern Africa.

Objectives

The Africa region workshop of the fourth phase will contribute 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 testing and refining the Waste Management Policy Support System (WMPSS) - a diagnostic tool for governments to assess comprehensive progress on waste - to enhance data-driven policy for waste
3. Support the Development of National Task Forces for Data and Policy Leadership Encourage participant countries to establish national task forces comprising inter-ministerial 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 Eastern Africa

Timeline and Venue

The workshop is scheduled for 1-3 April 2025 in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar

Methodology

The workshop followed a structured three-day format, combining expert-led presentations with targeted opportunities for engagement. While open-ended discussion time was limited due to a dense agenda, significant time was allocated for participant feedback, particularly in relation to the Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS). Countries engaged in breakout sessions and tool walkthroughs to reflect on WMPSS’s usability, relevance, and adaptability to national contexts. Country case studies and partner inputs further anchored technical sessions in real-world policy challenges.

Participants

The workshop includes government representatives from Eastern Africa: Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Participants will also include invited experts from the United Nations, international organizations, civil society representatives, and private sector focused on resource circularity, circular economy, data management, and material flow management, as well as national to local MSW policies and practices.

Organizers

The sub-regional workshop is jointly organised by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and the Statistics Division, DESA, United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Madagascar, the Government of the Republic of Madagascar (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, MEDD), the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Programme and Agenda

Day 1 (1 April)

Opening and Keynote Remarks

• Mrs. Harilala Ramanantsoa, Mayor of Antananarivo
• Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head, Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
• Mr. Charles Boliko, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim, United Nations Madagascar
• H.E. Ms. Ji-hyun Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Madagascar
• H.E. Mr. Lalaina Nirina Andrianamelasoa, Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
• H.E. Mr. Naina Andriatsitohaina, Minister of Decentralisation and Regional Planning
•  H.E. Mr. Fontaine Andoniriana, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD)

Introductory Session

Moderator: Faratsianontaniana Andriamiarina, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD)

• Why We Are Here: Context and Workshop Vision, Ms. Emily Carroll, Policy Expert, UNOSD
• Hosting with Purpose: Madagascar’s Waste Management Realities and Aspirations, Mr. Rivosoa Rabenandrianina, Director-General of Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD)

Session I: Foundational concepts in waste management and resource circularity

Moderator: Mr. Rila Albani Rakotomanana, Director of Pollution and Waste Management and Environmental Integration, MEDD 

• Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office

Session II: Progress and state of waste management and resource circularity in Eastern Africa

Moderator: Mr. Ewald Van Den Auwelant, Associate Expert, UNEP

TUNISIA

• Eastern Africa’s Waste and Circularity Landscape: Progress, Challenges, and Regional Priorities, Ms. Honita Cowaloosur, Economic Affairs Officer, ECA Subregional Office for East Africa (virtual)
• Advancing Resource Circularity in Eastern Africa: Regional Trends, Policies, and Opportunities, Mr. Ewald Van Den Auwelant, Associate Expert, UNEP.
• The State of Eritrea, Ms. Lidia Teclehaimanot Isack, Unit Head of Waste Management unit, Ministry of Land, Water and Environment
• The Republic of South Sudan, Mr. Diseremo Sebit John Amin, Director for Environmental Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment

Session III: Regional policy coordination for waste management and the circular economy, and island waste management challenges and opportunities

Moderator: Ms. Tiana Eva Razafindrakoto, International Technical Expert, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

• Harmonizing Waste Management Policies and Advancing Regional Collaboration in the Indian Ocean, Ms. Tiana Eva Razafindrakoto, International Technical Expert, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)
• Strengthening Waste Governance in Eastern Africa: COMESA’s Initiatives for Policy and Practice, Mr. Lwembe Mwale, Project Officer, COMESA (virtual)
• The Republic of Seychelles, Ms. Camille Mondon, Principal Waste Manager Officer, Landscape and Waste Management Agency 
• The Union of the Comoros, Mr. Oussoufa Mze, Executive Director of the National Agency for Waste Management, Ministry of Environment in charge of Tourism

Day 2 (2 April)  

Session IV: Measuring what we waste - progress and gaps in solid waste management data

Moderator: Mr. Marcus Newbury, Statistician, Statistics Division, UN DESA

• Questionnaire on Environment Statistics (Waste) and Eastern Africa Trends and Data Gaps, Mr. Marcus Newbury, Statistician, Statistics Division, UN DESA
• Africa Clean Cities Platform (ACCP), Ms. Jinno Shiho, Associate Programme Management Officer, UN-Habitat
• Overview of the Allbaro System for digital waste data and e-tracking, Mr. Chun Kyoo Park, Head of Office, UNOSD
• The Republic of Kenya, Mr. Simon Maundu John, Statistician, Environment and Natural Resources Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
• The United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Stephano Cosmas, Principal Statistician, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

Session V: Presentation: Waste Management and Circular Economy Policy Support System (WMPSS)

Moderator: Ms. Emily Carroll, Policy Expert, UNOSD

• What is the WMPSS? How It Strengthens Policy & Data Systems
• Video Demonstration: How the WMPSS Works, Mr. Gianguglielmo Calvi, Senior Knowledge Management Systems Expert, GGKP

Session VI: Groupwork (WMPSS) – Reviewing Solid Waste Management Data Collection and PSS Components

Facilitator: UNOSD, UNSD and GGKP

• Data Collection for Solid Waste Management: Country Data Collection Exercise and Discussion
• Group division for the review of a questionnaire for the generation of data
• Review of the WMPSS questionnaire Capacity, Public Governance, Monitoring and Status components in groups

Session VI continued: Groupwork (WMPSS) – Reviewing Solid Waste Management Data Collection and PSS Components

Facilitator: UNOSD, UNSD and GGKP

• Plenary discussion and group discussions

Session VII: Inclusive and Equitable Waste Management: Integrating Youth, Gender, and the Informal Sector

Moderator: MEDD

• Circular Economy in Action: ACEA’s Work on Waste Management in Eastern Africa, Hanitriniaina Andrianalizaha, ACEA

Session VII continued: Inclusive and Equitable Waste Management: Integrating Youth, Gender, and the Informal Sector

• Country case study
  • The Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Halimo Abdi Dirie Garad Abdullahi Ali, Head of Marine Environment Unit, National Focal Point for Blue Economy, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
  • The Republic of Burundi, Mr. Josee Nzosabimana, Chief of Environmental Research Service, Burundi Office of Environmental Protection (OBPE)
• Host country case studies
  • Madagascar (e.g. Private recycling company/NGO on integrating youth, gender and informal sector)
• Groupwork
  • Review of the WMPSS questionnaire Engagement component in groups
  • Plenary discussion and group presentations

Day 3 (3 April)

Session VIII: Interactive Group Exercise: Bridging Data, Policy and Implementation Gaps

Moderator: Mr. Marcus Newbury, Statistician, Statistics Division, UN DESA

Facilitators: UNOSD/UNSD/GGKP/MEDD

• Groupwork to discuss regional challenges and propose actionable solutions for improving policy support systems including how to develop and implement National Data Task Forces for coordination on data collection and reporting
• Plenary discussion and group presentations

Session IX: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Systems

Moderator: MEDD - ANDRIAMIHAMINA Ony, Chef de service de l’économie verte etNIRINA Harisoa Raymonde Chef de service de l’économie circulaire

• EPR Systems and the Role of Data, Ewald Van Den Auwelant, Associate Expert, UNEP
• The Korean EPR Model, K-Eco, Ms. Jung Sumi, Deputy General Manager, Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco)
• The Republic of Rwanda, Mr. Jean de Dieu Niyirera, Pollution and Waste policy specialist, Ministry of Environment of Rwanda (virtual)
• Felipe Dall’Orsoletta, Programme Management Officer, International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), UNEP (virtual)

Session X: Financing Circular Economy & Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for Waste Management

Moderator: MEDD - Zo Hanitry Ny Ala ANDRIAMBALOHERY, Directeur du Mécanisme de Financement Durable

• Options for the development and financing of investment projects, Mr. Jérôme Fakhry, Regional Technical Lead Africa, GGGI (virtual)
• The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Hundaol Gemechu Geleta, Head of Circular Economy Department, Environmental Protection Authority of Ethiopia
• The Republic of Uganda, Mr. Dan Kibuuka Kiguli, Senior Environment Inspector-waste management, National Environment Management Authority
• The United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Stephano Cosmas, Principal Statistician, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

Session X continued: Financing Circular Economy & Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for Waste Management

• Review of the WMPSS questionnaire Finance component in groups
• Plenary discussion and group presentations

Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

• Summary of key insights and next steps

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