Waste Management organisations join efforts to advocate for Waste Pickers' inclusion

  Tanzania Ajira Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Allen Kimambo, Speaking to Journalist during the launch a ‘Global Waste Pickers Day Programme’ held at National Museum, Dar es Salaam

 

Dar es Salaam - Tanzania:  Ahead of the Global Waste Pickers Day to be celebrated on March 9th 2023, TakaNiAjira Foundation and Nipe Fagio have joined hands to launch a ‘Global Waste Pickers Day Programme’ that is designed to honour and recognize Waste Pickers and their contribution to the waste management sector in the country.

 

The programme has been developed to celebrate Global Waste Pickers Day in a meaningful way by creating a series of events that will increase public attention and awareness towards Waste Pickers, waste cooperatives and waste workers.

 

Speaking during the launch TakaNiAjira Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Allen Kimambo said: “We are happy to work together with Nipe Fagio in launching this special programme to honour Waste Pickers and their contribution to waste recovery in Tanzania.”

 

Mr. Kimambo highlighted that Global Waste Pickers Day will also bring attention to the challenges faced by Waste Pickers and the demands of Waste Pickers and waste cooperatives across the country.

 

He said that although the contribution of Waste Pickers to solid waste management is essential, waste pickers face a multitude of challenges and threats to their livelihoods. “Waste pickers are one of the vulnerable groups that face the most stigmatisation and lack of support in the country” he reiterated.

 

He noted that the programme will include waste pickers pilot registration through Zaidi App and a research study to assess the current situation of waste pickers and to identify the challenges they face.

“We will conduct  pilot registration and a research study on the current situation of waste pickers and workers in 10 regions of the country to determine the challenges they face. With this information, we can support these groups accordingly. Our goal is to reach at least 3,000 waste pickers and workers” he added. The 10 selected regions are Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Ruvuma and Tabora.

 

On her part, Nipe Fagio Executive Director, while explaining the series of events that will be included in the Global Waste Pickers Day Programme, Ms Ana Le Rocha said: “Apart from the Global Waste Pickers Summit, which is the day when we celebrate our achievements together with waste pickers, waste cooperatives, waste workers and key stakeholders in the waste management sector, there will be a series of events, including a community service day to provide Waste Pickers with services that they usually cannot access.”

 

The Global Waste Pickers Summit will bring together waste pickers, informal waste workers, waste management stakeholders, service providers, media, and the public in one place to share success stories, challenges, research results and a series of initiatives to ensure long-term recognition of these important waste management actors.

 

After the Global Waste Pickers Day, the team will conduct a Waste Pickers forum in Dodoma to engage the relevant stakeholders in discussing the outcomes of the program up to that point and the way forward.