Women economic empowerment along the plastic value chain in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, one of the fastest growing cities in the world, is facing a constant struggle managing the ever-growing amount of waste produced across the city. Most of it is dumped on a landfill, which already exceeded its capacity years ago. This results in the pollution of water and soils, causing serious environmental and public health risks. The Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa aims at addressing this issue. By jointly developing solutions for better waste management, private companies, public authorities and civil society organisations are protecting the environment, promoting economic development along the plastic value chain, and empowering communities. Women are an integral, yet one of the most vulnerable parts of the plastic value chain. Therefore, the partnership aims at strengthening their decision-making power and economic empowerment in the city's waste management. The partnership organised trainings for 100 women on enhanced waste management, business skills and diversified income strategies. In addition, the female waste collectors received training on how to upcycle plastic straps out of recycled PET plastic into baskets that can be sold on local markets. This increases their income opportunities, enhances their resilience towards price fluctuations of plastic waste, and strengthens their voice as important actors along the plastic value chain. This video was produced with financial support from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Copyright: GIZ