The 20th regular session of the African ministerial conference on the environment (AMCEN) in Nairobi, Kenya, has officially endorsed a new regional roadmap for transformative action on the open burning of waste in Africa. This landmark roadmap sets out a comprehensive framework to eliminate open waste burning by 2040 and achieve a reduction of 60% by 2030, serving as a vehicle to implement AMCEN resolution 18/1(b).
AMCEN took note of the follow-up work done by the multi stakeholder partnership for the elimination of open waste burning from Africa, hosted and supported by Engineering X. It also urged member states to prioritise and implement transformative actions on open dumping and burning of waste, as outlined in the regional roadmap to eliminate open waste burning that is developed through the multistakeholder partnership.
Open burning of waste is a critical environmental and public health challenge across Africa. Approximately 180 million tonnes of waste are generated daily in sub-Saharan Africa, with up to 90% disposed of in uncontrolled landfills or open dumpsites, contributing to harmful emissions that accelerate climate change and impact human health.
The endorsed roadmap, developed through a multi-stakeholder partnership and consultation with over 250 stakeholders over the course of a year, addresses this urgent issue through a comprehensive approach:
- The why: understanding the current state of waste management, its health and environmental impacts, and the challenges of financing effective solutions.
- The what: identifying core strategies and actions necessary to transform waste management systems.
- The how: providing practical guidelines for developing context-specific, transformative action plans at the local government level.
National governments are called upon to establish the foundational policy and financing conditions, while local governments and municipalities are expected to implement operational actions, ranging from preventing open burning through community awareness to promoting improved collection services and a circular economy. The roadmap provides a systematic guideline that assists national and local governments in developing and implementing a transformative action plan based on the framework of the regional roadmap.
The roadmap was piloted in Kisumu city in Kenya and has led to the creation of a city action plan on tackling open burning of waste, consisting of no-cost, low-cost and investment actions that were developed through a multistakeholder committee. Actions are already underway, including mobilising landlords and households to separate their waste and take up collection services.
This pioneering effort is the result of extensive collaboration between Engineering X, a growing collaboration founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Lloyd's Register Foundation, Practical Action, the UN environment programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), and numerous stakeholders from national and local governments, financing institutions, and civil society.
Fatou Ndoye, deputy director UNEP Africa office, said: “As Africa faces the mounting health and environmental risks posed by open waste burning, the endorsement of this roadmap marks a decisive step forward towards implementation.”
Benard Otieno Ojwang, head of city environment & natural resource management, Kisumu city, said: “With this roadmap, there is a clear opportunity to catalyse investments that promote innovative, sustainable waste management. By aligning financing with local and national strategies, we can support Africa’s vision for a healthier environment and resilient economies. We are proud to have piloted in Kisumu and to be on the road to improving waste management for our communities.”
Gisore Nyabuti Brian, secretary general Kenya national waste pickers welfare association, said: “Ending open waste burning is vital to protecting the health and dignity of communities across Africa. This roadmap represents hope and a call to action for all stakeholders, including waste pickers, who are at the frontline of waste management in Africa and feel the effects of open burning on their health and communities.”
The roadmap now offers a vital tool for local authorities to develop and implement transformative action plans tailored to their communities, empowering them to eliminate open burning and improve public health and environmental outcomes. Stakeholders are urged to join forces to mobilise resources, expertise, and political will to ensure the successful implementation of this roadmap and realise Africa’s vision of a cleaner, healthier future.
This initiative is part of the overall project funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to create the conditions for ending open waste burning through regional roadmaps and city pilot projects. The CCAC supports efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants to improve air quality and climate resilience.