EU Support to the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy -Informal Sector Integration and Awareness Raising

The Government of Jordan approved the National Solid Waste Management Strategy (NSWMS) in 2015, particularly approved by the Regional Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan for Jordan’s Northern Region. An EU-funded programme “EU Support to the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy” supports the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA) to implement the NSWMS with four specific objectives (SO). EU-ISAR supports two of the overall SO which are particularly related to informal sector integration in the waste sector (SO3) and awareness raising on solid waste issues (SO4). So, it contributes towards achieving the overall objective of the EU programme “to improve overall health, environmental conditions and quality of life of the population by developing environmentally and financially sustainable systems for solid waste management.” 

The action is co-financed by the EU and by the Federal Republic of Germany. The German contribution is undertaken through its programme "Waste to (positive) Energy ''. For that program’s implementation, GIZ has been commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ.

The core problem of informal workers in the informal recycling sector is their poor working conditions. They suffer from a low socio-economic and health status due to an unstable income, a lack of social security, social marginalisation and constant exposure to health and safety risks without proper protection. Simultaneously, the level of awareness for solid waste management is low and littering is widespread, causing health risks for the population as well as a huge negative impact on the environment. Weak mandates and the lack of public authorities’ capacities aggravate the problem at the national, regional, and local levels.

Accordingly, and in cooperation with Action Against Hunger (ACF), a democratically run Participatory Body has been established.  This group provides long-term advocacy for informal waste workers to improve working conditions and secure sustainable livelihood opportunities and to support the informal workers with personal protective equipment and immediate capital investments in the informal recycling sector. And, in collaboration with Future Pioneer for Empowering Communities (FPEC), innovative approaches that lead to behavioural change are elaborated, such as establishing an Eco-Theatre, environmental mobile vehicle, eco-neighbourhoods and clean-up days, door-to-door discussions, environmental art competitions in schools, and an anti-littering campaign for drivers. 

Additionally, different awareness measures are to be designed and implemented directly by GIZ, to support spreading the awareness on SWM issues among the population and residents at different locations at the national level, to create and disseminate additional awareness material to pave the way toward changing behaviour toward SWM handling practices. The lessons learned out of the successful interventions and measures will later support the process of designing a concept for a national awareness campaign.

Context specific measures covering the entire service chain from collection to transfer and disposal will be developed and implemented to integrate the informal sector into Jordan’s SWM system. Furthermore, the Action will support communities in designing and implementing practical solutions to improve the waste situation in municipalities by reducing littering and waste generation, and/or improving waste separation at source. So, The Action has two outcomes:

·       Outcome 1: Improved socio-economic well-being and health status of waste workers working both in landfills and transfer stations that are targeted by the action and of informal recyclers in selected municipalities.

·       Outcome 2: Improved awareness, understanding and knowledge about key municipal solid waste management issues amongst concerned segments of the society.

The focus will be placed on selected locations within the northern and middle regions of Jordan. Specifically, focus will be put on works in transfer stations (TS) and disposal infrastructure sites that are targeted by the EU programme, to be implemented by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), as well as in selected municipalities at the catchment areas of these sites. The targeted outcomes are planned to be achieved through the following outputs:

·   Output 1: A compliance mechanism for working conditions in infrastructure sites, and support measures for informal sector integration are implemented by Joint Service Councils and municipalities, respectively.

·   Output 2: Pilot awareness initiatives on solid waste issues are implemented by communities in selected municipalities, and elements for a national awareness campaign are designed. 

Informal workers (waste pickers).

Actors (youth)

Community members 

Volunteers