Transformative action on open dumping and burning of waste in Africa

The unchecked open burning of waste in Africa is harming health, causing premature deaths and accelerating climate change. In 2022, the United Nations High Level Champions on Climate Change and Engineering X1 produced the report titled ‘Open Waste Burning in Africa: challenges and opportunities’2. The report underlined the importance of addressing the systemic deficiencies in waste management in Africa and the potential to achieve multiple economic, social and environmental benefits through the promotion of waste to resource conversion. Based on this, the 18th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN)held in Dakar, Senegal in September 2022 passed a resolution on eliminating open waste burning from Africa. A Multistakeholder Partnership was launched at COP 27 on climate change in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022 to support the implementation of this resolution.

One of the supporting activities carried out under this partnership is the development of a ‘Regional Roadmap for Transformative action on open dumping and burning of waste in Africa’. The Regional Roadmap has been developed by Engineering X in partnership with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)3 and Practical Action4 based on wide stakeholder consultation and piloting at a city level. The Regional Roadmap is submitted for endorsement by the 18th Session of AMCEN as a guiding tool for the goals set by AMCEN resolution on eliminating open waste burning from Africa.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved appreciation about the need for transformational action on open dumping and burning of waste to effectively implement AMCEN resolution.
• Better clarity on the foundational and operational pillars of the transformational actions that need to be taken by African countries and cities.
• Practical insights and lessons shared from the pilot action plan developed for Kisumu city with a focus on no cost, low-cost and investment actions that need to be taken by cities.