Integrated Waste Management Peri-Urban Assessment in Lilongwe, Malawi

Completed

WASTE Malawi formed a consortium with WASTE and United Purpose for this project to increase access to faecal sludge and solid waste services for the peri-urban areas of Lilongwe funded by UNICEF. (November 2021 – January 2023)

This project is supporting the design and piloting of combined faecal sludge and solid waste management models for improving access to services in the peri-urban areas of Lilongwe. The project seeks to support implementation of a circular economy model, with combined solid waste and sludge resource recovery. Simultaneously, the project aims to support the formalization of private sector participation in the city’s waste management system and enhance small and women-led businesses. It will also strengthen the institutional foundations for a more structured, effective, and regulated urban sanitation service context. The project is building upon the assignment for the Lilongwe assessment done in 2021, also by WASTE Malawi in collaboration with WASTE in the Netherlands.

Our goals

Increase access to integrated waste services in Lilongwe

Addressing the complete municipal waste management system to develop sustainable solutions for peri-urban communities.

Technical support for the implementation and roll-out of the municipal faecal sludge management business plan

Through a well-designed capacity-building model, including the possibility of piloting innovative tools (i.e. ICT-based solutions) and private sector participation for improving efficiency of service delivery.

Develop a framework aimed at integrating faecal sludge & solid waste services

Analyzing possible overlaps and synergies across related service chains and business models and support its implementation.

Develop a plan and tools to promote gender equality and inclusion

Supporting and empowering women and youths to engage in faecal sludge and solid waste management businesses.

Our activities

The main activities for WASTE are around the development of the faecal sludge and solid waste management frameworks for the Lilongwe City Council to endorse. To do so, WASTE performed a ‘Smart Qualitative Urban Assessment Tool’ (SQUAT) analysis. This was used to assess the waste sectors in Lilongwe to set up a series of knowledge documents to support the City Council to improve their total waste management systems. WASTE is intervening in 2 pilot projects:

Introducing plastic valorisation as an economic activity. For this purpose a plastic shredder and plastic moulding machine have been ordered by WASTE Malawi and will be used for training and demonstration purposes.
Separation at source from market waste, two markets will separate their organic waste.

"I thank WASTE for their great training, we have learnt a lot about plastic recycling and new business opportunities. WASTE brings the right public to the table to really have an impact.” Modou Fall, director Expertises et Solutions International

Sustainability

During this project WASTE has been able to test the SQUAT tool again. And with this outcome, WASTE will offer the municipality insights in where they can combine their faecal sludge and solid waste management sectors in order to improve the overall performance of the city. WASTE’s experiences with the Diamond Model will be deployed to support the realisation of frameworks necessary to set goals in the municipalities’ waste management policies. The pilot projects regarding separation at source will provide insight into opportunities and willingness of the community to do so. The workshops provide an opportunity to further develop our training modules.

This project is funded by UNICEF

With the following partners involved:

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