Uganda Archive - Page 5 of 6

First partnership meeting of the Integrated Flood Resilience Partnership Kampala

First Partnership Meeting of the Greater Kampala Integrated Flood Resilience Partnership

Written by m.t.eiblmeier on 17. September 2021. Posted in Countries, Uganda.

The Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda’s economic powerhouse, is faced with destructive flash floods that pose severe socio-economic challenges to both businesses and residents of Greater Kampala.

Flooding in Industrial Area — Flooding in Kampala Central Industrial Area. Copyrihgt: KCCA/Joan Magayane

To mitigate and adapt to the current flooding challenges, government, private actors, and communities are coming together, to work collaboratively in the Greater Kampala Flood Resilience Partnership, under the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme in Uganda. This multi-stakeholder partnership brings together the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), private sector actors, civil society organisations and other government institutions with the goal to jointly develop and promote blue-green, innovative infrastructure and inclusive solutions for improved urban resilience towards flooding in Greater Kampala. More information on what the partnership aims to achieve.

First partnership meeting in Kampala and virtually

On the 1^st of September 2021, the partners kicked-off the partnership in a first meeting, which was held partially online and in person at Royal Suites Hotel, Bugolobi, Kampala. The objective of the meeting was to initiate discussions on the partner interests, partnership opportunities and agreement on the next steps in formalizing the partnership.

During the meeting, the private sector through Uganda Manufacturers Association and Britannia Allied Industries Limited gave some insight into the flash flood challenge affecting businesses, specifically manufacturing industries. For example, a study conducted in 2019 by UMA under the Water Security Action & Investment Plan Project on water security revealed that out of 469 companies surveyed in Greater Kampala, 47 mentioned that they experienced damaging floods more than twice in every rainy season. Concrete impacts on businesses include: overflowing water ending up in production areas, resulting in damages to production materials, collapse of building infrastructure and halt of production.

Addressing the flooding challenge through a catchment-based approach was presented by the Ministry of Water and Environment, where emphasis was made on consideration of hydrological boundaries (catchment) rather than city administrative boundaries. Innovative models and solutions for flood management were presented by a civil society partner, namely RAIN foundation. Those include blue-green infrastructure solutions such as rain gardens, permeable pavements and bioswales, and case studies of similar implementation in other parts of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.

New ideas and solutions for flood mitigation in Kampala

In a brainstorming session, the partners were split up according to sectors (public, private, and civil society) and discussed their strategic interest in the partnership and possible interventions for the following four thematic areas: (A) Policy (B) Blue-green infrastructure solutions and investment (C) Behavioural change & stakeholder empowerment (D) cross cutting thematic areas, or any other thematic area.

Man presenting on a whiteboard — Mr. Joseph Kyalimpa (Training and Projects Manager, UMA) presenting the outcomes of the brainstorm session on the private sector’s strategic interest in the partnership and possible interventions for the four thematic areas. Copyright: GIZ/Elena Barth

The responses across sectors were very similar in the thematic areas which indicated a good start for synergy and collaboration amongst actors.

Moving ahead, partners agreed on next steps in their partnership, such as: Formalizing the partnership and partners’ commitment by submitting a letter of intent; Supporting the preliminary scoping study; Submitting their preferred activities under the partnership for the Partnership Action Plan; To meet monthly during the inception period before the official launch slated for January 2022.

Other partners in attendance included representatives from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, ACTogether and Vivo Energy Uganda.

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Plastic banks in Gulu City for increased recycling

Written by m.t.eiblmeier on 4. August 2021. Posted in Uncategorized.

Innovative solutions for increased community participation in plastic waste recycling

Gulu is a plastic waste sink – plastic comes in but never gets out, because recycling options are limited. Since the city is a six-hour drive from the nearest recycling plant, the high transportation costs make it economically unattractive to send low-value plastic waste there for recycling. Hence, the plastic is either buried in an unlined landfill, burned or littered on the street, where it blocks drainage channels, pollutes water sources, and forms stagnant waters which are a threat to public health.

The Gulu Integrated Catchment Management Partnership aims at reducing the amount of solid waste entering the environment and securing the quality and quantity of the city’s main water source. Takataka Plastics as the main private sector partner upcycles waste, both organic and plastics, into high-quality, affordable products. The company contributes to reducing the amount of waste in the streets of Gulu, while creating jobs, as well as safeguarding and stimulating investments.

Increased community participation in plastic recycling

Among the innovative solutions for increased community participation in plastic recycling, Takataka, with support from the KFW’s Integrated Programme to Improve the Living Conditions in Gulu, has come up with a low-cost sustainable solution: the bottle banks. The barred boxes offer an opportunity for community members to easily sort plastic from other waste categories. People simply deposit plastics they would have otherwise thrown away with other waste into the banks.

plastic bank in Gulu — Plastic bank at Gulu’s main market.
Copyright: Takataka Plastics/Peter Okwoko

The banks are mostly placed in public places like schools, hospitals, police stations and markets. A cart belongs to each of them. When the banks are full, young people empty them and use the carts to deliver the plastic to Takataka Plastics in exchange for cash. The youths are paid according to the kilograms they deliver. Currently, there are only six plastic banks in the city. Throughout the course of the partnership, more mechanisms like the banks will be implemented. Increased community participation in solid waste management is essential to reduce pollution in Gulu and protect the city’s water sources.

Man carrying cart to transport plastic waste — Carts making transportation of plastic waste from the collection centres to the recycling plant easier.
Copyright: Takataka Plastics/Ochan Clifford

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PET bottles collected for recycling in Kampala, Uganda

Exploring PET plastic waste flows in Greater Kampala

Written by m.t.eiblmeier on 19. July 2021. Posted in Uganda.

A baseline study conducted under the GKMA PET Plastic Recycling Partnership

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic pollution is on the rise in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), Uganda’s most populated area. GKMA has experienced rapid urbanisation and population growth, as well as fast economic development, over the last 35 years. As one consequence of this development, PET is used in increasing quantities, largely in packaging of food and beverages.

This generates a significant amount of plastic waste and pollution in Greater Kampala and environs. Poor consumer behaviour such as littering and the creation of illegal dumpsites further accelerate pollution. This results not only in increasing amounts of PET plastic in the environment, but has also negative impacts like degradation of landscapes and blockage of urban canals and rivers. Increased risk of flooding and the emergence of waterborne diseases in stagnant waters are ultimate consequences.

plastic waste in channel in Kampla — PET plastic waste accumulating in a drainage channel in GKMA
Copyright: NatuReS Uganda

Although PET plastic pollution in GKMA being a very visible problem, it has previously never been quantified. The exact amount of PET plastic waste generated, collected, recycled, disposed in landfills, and leaked into the environment in GKMA has so far not been examined. However, such information is crucial for better planning and management of PET plastic waste.

To close this knowledge gap, the GKMA PET plastic waste recycling partnership conducted a baseline study on PET plastic waste flows in GKMA. The study identifies key stakeholders in the PET recycling value chain and compiles the relevant policies and legislations that affect plastic waste management in GKMA. Furthermore, it highlights the main challenges and opportunities for the management of PET waste in GKMA. The findings helped the partners to make informed decisions on priority intervention areas under the partnership. They also suggested practical mechanisms to improve management of this waste stream across the PET plastics recycling value chain.

Key findings on the PET waste flow

8.6 million pieces of pre-form PET bottles are imported into Uganda per day, of which 40% (3.4 million pieces) are commercialized in GKMA every day. This equals an amount of 62.9 tons/day.
57% of the PET plastic waste this generates is collected.
Out of this, 17% ends up at gazetted disposal site(s),
35% is transported to recovery facilities, where it is processed for exportation, while
5% is leaked during collection and transportation services.
43% of all PET waste is NOT collected. This corresponds to 9.948 tons of uncollected plastic per year. This faction may end up in drains, land and water bodies.

PET waste flows baseline study in Kampala, Uganda — PET waste flows in GKMA visualized using a Sankey diagram

The informal sector plays a crucial role in recovering PET materials for recycling. In fact, informal waste collectors recover all the PET waste, of which 57% is delivered to formal recyclers, who in turn process it as preparation for exportation.

There is only limited capacity to make new products from PET waste either within Uganda or neighbouring countries in East Africa. Therefore, once the formal recyclers process the PET waste into small flakes, they are packaged and exported to various countries, among which the US, India and Indonesia, for further processing.

Every month, up to 660 tons of flakes PET waste, worth USD 232.654 (USD 2.8 million per year), are exported from GKMA to the international market. This number underlines the importance of the recycling sector for the economy in GKMA and the potential it could unfold if further processing and up-cycling was to be established in the country

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

Written by m.t.eiblmeier on 7. June 2021. Posted in Uganda.

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 15^th July 2021.

For further information call +256 777229945

Disclaimer: This is not a procurement request for services.

Tag: Uganda