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Managing industrial wastewater in Tanzania: Challenges and solutions

Industrialization is one of the key strategic objectives within the Tanzanian National Development Plan. However, with often water-intensive production expanding, the treatment of increasing amounts of wastewater poses a major challenge. This is especially the case in the country’s economic centre Dar es Salaam. Untreated discharge not only has a negative effect on the ecosystem and the health of communities using the water, but also on foreign investment.

Complexity of discharge permit process as obstacle to investment

Industries, especially those exporting to the US and Europe, increasingly adhere to strict compliance on international environmental standards. A significant challenge these industries face is the complexity of the process to obtain official permits for the disposal of wastewater. With multiple regulating agencies involved and industries requiring various types of permits, the result is a complex and lengthy process to safely dispose of wastewater.  

Wastewater treatment plant in Dar es Salaam
Tooku Garment LTD pre-treatment plant at the Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone, Dar es Salaam
Copyright: EPZA

NatuReS, in collaboration with stakeholders of the partnership including the Tanzania Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), aims at addressing this issue. First, by establishing and facilitating a continuous dialogue between regulators and the private sector. Additionally, by supporting the development and implementation of ‘Industrial Wastewater Management Guidelines’ for the EPZA. These represent an important step to formalize and standardize this process.

With a growing industrial sector, there is an increasing need for an integrated, predictable and modern permit management system.

Videos to visualize processes and regulators

The following video visualizes both the processes and the regulators involved in industrial wastewater management, showcasing the example of an imaginary factory in the Benjamin William Mkapa Special Economic Zone.

This animated video was produced by GIZ NatuReS in collaboration with the Tanzania Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA), National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), the Confederation of Tanzanian Industries (CTI) and Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBWB).

A second video includes testimonies from the regulators, explaining their roles and responsibilities in managing industrial wastewater. The Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) on behalf of the private sector highlights the persisting challenge to environmental compliance by industries and why it is important to have a coordinated approach in managing industrial wastewater.

This video was produced by GIZ NatuReS in collaboration with the Tanzania Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA), National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), the Confederation of Tanzanian Industries (CTI) and Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBWB).

Better WASH services in schools: Menstrual Hygiene Day and COVID-19

Handwashing demonstration by the District Commissioner of Lusaka
Copyright: NatuReS Zambia

Lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene services such as hand washing facilities can be an obstacle for girls to attend and participate in school. With the global COVID-19 pandemic, the need for hygiene and hand wash facilities in schools has been further enforced to prevent its spread.
To address this need, NatuReS Zambia, in collaboration with Lusaka Water Security Initiative, Lusaka City Council, the District Education Board, the Zambian Ministry of Health and Water Aid Zambia, officially handed over Jumbo Hand wash facilities to 58 schools under the Safe Back to School Campaign.

These Jumbo Wash stations allow many pupils to wash their hands at once, meeting the demand for handwashing facilities especially in overly populated schools in Lusaka’s most vulnerable communities. The stations contribute to a better provision with water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Water storage tanks awarded to schools with strong engagement on improved WASH facilities
Copyright: NatuReS Zambia

The handover event took place on the 27th of May at Kasamba Combined school in Matero, Lusaka, as part of the world menstrual hygiene day commemoration. On this day, hygiene in general and the access for girls and women particularly to safe and clean hygiene facilities, is in the global focus. During the hand-over, five schools evaluated as best performers on WASH in schools guidelines, were awarded certificates. Each of these schools received a 10000-litre capacity water tank, chlorine, cleaning agents and materials, hand washing soap, sanitisers and face masks.

By improving access to sanitation in schools, the hurdle for pupils, especially girls, to regularly participate in class, is lowered. Creating safe and clean learning environments hence plays an important role in Zambia’s development.

Author: Sonile Mutafya, NatuReS Advisor Zambia

Workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility- Join for Free!

Free virtual workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility
Copyright: Vanessa Tyaba

The NatuReS Zambia team and LuWSI, in collaboration with a team of specialists from BlackForest Solutions (BFS), Landbell AG and Cleanhub will be conducting a free online workshop on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The purpose of the workshop is to introduce the concept of EPR, using the EPR toolbox and the concept of offsetting certificates for plastic waste, which can be seen as the first step towards EPR.

The workshop will be held on the 17th of June from 10:00 – 12:30 CAT.

Interested? Then get in touch with the LuWSI Secretariat at luwsisecretariat@gmail.com or directly join the meeting on your computer or mobile app (Click here to join the meeting)

Call for Expression of Interest to experts or firms to support NatuReS Uganda

Kampala Central Business District
Experts or firms can apply to support NatuReS Uganda on different thematic areas by July 15th
Copyright: Vivian Chales

Background

The Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) enables public-private-civil-society partnerships to sustainably manage the natural resources they need for improved livelihoods and continued economic development. NatuReS Uganda is structured around these thematic areas: solid waste management and recycling, urban catchment management, land use and wetland management, water security, integrated urban planning, flood risk management, eco-industrial parks, knowledge and policy support, business development, green growth, and behavioural change.

Having in mind a continuous need for the involvement of experts, GIZ NatuReS invites experts or firms to submit their applications for inclusion in a roster of external experts to support the programme. The expert areas of interest include:

Expert area 1: Knowledge and Policy Support

  • Masters or PhD in Environmental Economics, Development Economics, Urban Development, etc.
  • Minimum 10 years of practical post graduate experience in policy analysis in relation to green growth, integrated urban planning, circular economy, water and environment, among other things.
  • Experience in policy analysis and preparation of policy recommendations to suit  all actors
  • Expertise in economic and cost benefit analyses, costing of interventions, and developing proof of concepts focusing cross most of NatuReS thematic areas.
  • Proven policy dialogue and integrative skills – engaging in policy discussions, integrating divergent viewpoints into coherent strategies, and translating broad policy objectives into concrete development actions.

Expert area 2: Capacity Building and Training

  • Master’s degree in communication, Psychology, Mediation, International Relations and/or development, Sociology, Organizational Development, Development Politics, etc.
  • Minimum 8 years’ experience in facilitation, moderation, and conducting and/or coordinating trainings, workshops, and retreats of small and large groups
  • Proven experience in developing training materials, coaching, and enabling rolling out of tools.

Expertise Area 3: Business Development:

  • Masters or PhD degree in business development, administration or management, etc.
  • Minimum 12 years of experience in supporting private sector business development. Experience in either waste recycling or natural resources is essential
  • Proven expertise in Inclusive Business Practices, Value Chains Development, SME Development, etc.
  • Proven experience in advising businesses and industries at local, regional, and international level

Expert area 4: Urban Catchment Management

  • Masters or PhD in integrated water resources management, civil, water, and/or environmental engineering, hydrology, environmental and/or earth sciences, etc.
  • Minimum 12 years of experience in implementing catchment management plans, source protection plans, and integrated planning for effective management of environment resources, etc.
  • Profound experience and knowledge in promoting ecosystem-based adaptation practises and multi-stakeholder participatory processes to address water and environment risks in urban catchments
  • Proven expertise in designing interventions to support livelihood enhancement and management of urban catchments

Expertise area 5: Urban Flood Risk management

  • Masters or PhD in water security, hydrology or hydro-engineering, flood risk management, water resources engineering, sustainable urban drainage management, or related field
  • Minimum 8 years of experience in integrated urban flood risk management. This includes preparation of flood risk management plans incorporating blue green infrastructure solutions and mainstreaming of green infrastructure solutions in urban flood risk management strategies.
  • Demonstrated technical knowledge and skills in flood risk assessments, mapping and modelling floods at micro scale and application of hydraulic modelling for flood hazard management

Expertise area 6: Land Use and Wetland Management

  • Masters or PhD in land use planning/management, ecosystem/wetland management, etc.
  • Minimum 12 years of experience in developing and implementing wetland management plans, land use plans, or ecosystem management plans in urban settings
  • Expertise in spatial mapping, land-use change analysis, and ecosystem change and analysis
  • Extensive knowledge and experience in wetland management, ecosystem management, sustainable landscape management, and or biodiversity conservation in the context of urban development

Expertise area 7: Solid Waste Management and Recycling

  • Master’s degree in Solid Waste Management, Recycling, Engineering, Pollution Control, or related field
  • Minimum 10 years of experience related to management and operations of solid waste management systems – a focus on recycling of organic waste or plastics is desirable
  • Proven expertise in designing solid waste collection hubs, waste flow models and developing business and financial models and value chains to enhance recycling of plastics and or organic waste
  • Extensive knowledge of waste to wealth solutions and experience advising private sector, development organisations and governments
  • Proven expertise in PPD mechanisms, PPP mechanisms, multi-stakeholder partnerships and platforms including experience in design, facilitation, and operation of PPDs, PPPs and other platforms
  • Proven experience in brokering business deals between private sector and government or DPs.

Expertise area 8: Eco-Industrial Parks

  • Master’s degree in Environmental Systems, Engineering, Pollution Control, or related field
  • Minimum 12 years of experience in any of the following fields: cleaner production and resource use efficiency, green industrial practices, industrial symbiosis, among others.
  • Extensive knowledge of best practices regarding the implementation of eco-industrial park concept
  • Experience in mainstreaming green practices and circular solutions into industrial development policies

Expertise area 9: Behavioural Change

  • Masters or PhD degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Community Education, etc.
  • Minimum 15 years of experience in implementing Behavioural Change Programs related to sustainable natural resource use and waste management in urban settings
  • Proven expertise in leading, designing and implementing Behavioural Change Strategies and Campaigns including identifying innovative approaches, measuring change results, developing communication materials, training modules and guidance documents.
  • Proven experience in roll-outing Behavioural Change Campaigns and Interventions and facilitating the uptake of effective Behavioural Change Practices – fostering long-term, normative shifts in behaviour.

Interested experts or firms should submit a one paged cover letter and curriculum vitae to secretariat.giz-uganda@giz.de with “NatuReS Expert – Area of Expertise” as subject by 15th July 2021.

For further information call +256 777229945

Disclaimer: This is not a procurement request for services.