Cameroon – Scaling investment for organic waste management

RATIONALE

This project responds to a request made by the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development of Cameroon for support to scale up investment for organic waste management. By targeting SLCPs, especially methane emissions from landfills, the project aims to deliver immediate health and environmental benefits while supporting global climate objectives.

Improvement of organic waste management is vital for tackling Cameroon’s pressing environmental challenges and to reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) emissions. Urbanization and population growth have led to increased waste generation in Cameroon, resulting in approximately 9 000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), which translates into 3 million tons per year.  Around 81.4% of it is inadequately managed, often leading to open burning of waste.  

This project seeks to develop a comprehensive organic waste management roadmap for Cameroon. Based on the roadmap, the project will implement capacity-building programs tailored for government officials, especially local authorities responsible for waste management in Cameroon, private waste sector actors, and civil society organizations. These programs will include training modules, workshops, and awareness campaigns to ensure effective adoption and implementation of adequate organic waste mitigation technologies and best practices. This collaborative approach is crucial for fostering a circular economy that minimizes waste and maximizes resource recovery.

This project also aims to identify sources of external funding to implement identified emissions reductions pathways for the waste sector. By developing robust proposals that align with global SLCP reduction goals, Cameroon aims to attract initial investment from international and national funding sources in order to put in place a robust and self-sustaining organic waste management system.  

A key outcome of this initiative is the establishment of clear, actionable targets within Cameroon’s policy framework.

The project outputs will result in:

• A roadmap to put in place an adequate organic waste management system
• Strengthened capacity on integrated Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework tailored to the organic waste sector in support of long-term methane reduction tracking.  
• A financing framework to secure external funding to scale sustainable organic waste management.  

Activities

Outcome 1: The Government of Cameroon endorses a roadmap to reduce methane and black carbon emissions from organic waste by the end of the project.  

Indicator: Number of action plans, roadmaps, strategies, or other future plans with SLCP targets or mitigation measures formally adopted, endorsed and/or implemented  

• Output 1.1: Mitigation assessment of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) from organic waste in Cameroon and priority mitigation measures in the short, medium, and long term. This should include:  
  • Evaluation of potential measures and policies to mitigate SLCPs from organic waste.  
  • Prioritization of policy actions based on speed and impact, for immediate and long-term implementation, taking into account the following:  
    • Short- and long-term priorities based on speed and impact
    • Recommended policy interventions  
    • Estimated cost
    • Responsible parties and collaboration mechanisms established between local authorities, private sector, and community actors for waste valorization
    • Progress indicators and monitoring approaches  
• A resource mobilization plan identifying possible international and national funding sources to effectively implement the national organic waste management strategy.  
• Output 1.2: Policy dialogues with relevant ministries, local authorities and stakeholders to advocate for inclusion of SLCP targets related to waste management in its NDCs.

Outcome 2: The Government of Cameroon has increased capacity to reduce SLCPs from the waste sector through organic waste valorization by the end of the project.  

Indicator: Number of government entities with a demonstrated improved capacity for SLCP action  

• Output 2.1: Training needs assessment of local level authorities, especially for Douala and Yaoundé, on organic waste treatment
• Output 2.2: Training modules and materials covering the actions highlighted in the roadmap, including enforcement procedures, developed for relevant authorities  
• Output 2.3: Training delivered to national government and local level authorities  

Outcome 3: The Government of Cameroon has increased capacity in tracking and reporting organic waste generation and SLCP emissions through an improved MVR system by the end of the project.  

Indicator: Number of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems developed or updated that include SLCPs  

• Output 3.1: Organic waste reporting system developed and deployed to monitor generation across key sources.  
• Output 3.2: SLCP data from organic waste integrated into the national MVR system.  
• Output 3.3: Capacity-building conducted for national and local officials on data collection, reporting, and inventory improvements for the waste sector.  

Outcome 4: The Government of Cameroon endorses a financing framework to support sustainable organic waste management by the end of the project.  

Indicator: Amount of external funding ("catalysed funding") for SLCP actions 

• Output 4.1: Investment roadmap outlining domestic and international funding sources
• Output 4.2: A scalable model for waste value chain management developed and tested in two local authorities, Douala and Yaoundé, including composting and recycling approaches
• Output 4.3: Recommendations for adequate financial instruments and funding mechanisms (ex. blended finance instruments, public-private partnerships, etc.)  
• Output 4.4: Workshop delivered to key stakeholders, from the financial sector, local and national governments, private sector to identify ways to make financial instruments available to finance organic waste management projects.  
• Output 4.5: Engagement with development finance institutions and potential co-financiers.   

Reference number: [CM-25-003] Cameroon –Scaling investment for organic waste management