Youth trained to tackle Africa’s waste crisis
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA Africa), in partnership with the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), has begun the in-person segment of the 2026 Africa Zero Waste Academy to equip young people with practical skills to become zero waste practitioners and tackle Africa’s growing waste and climate challenges.
The initiative, now in its second year, follows the successful completion of a five-week virtual training programme held last month. It is aimed at strengthening participants’ capacity to develop localised zero waste systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs and promote healthier communities.
In a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, GAIA said about 1,200 climate and waste practitioners from across Africa had applied for the academy, with participants selected to ensure gender balance and broad geographical representation.
It said the initiative came at a time when more than 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste were generated globally each year, making sustainable waste management practices, including waste separation at source and organic waste management, essential to tackling climate change.
The Zero Waste and Climate Programme Associate at GAIA Africa, Madam Ama Asiedu, said the academy sought to transform the way communities viewed and managed waste.
“This is not just about managing waste better; it is about rethinking systems for climate resilience, green jobs, and community health,” she stated.
She stressed that zero waste systems should uphold human rights, safeguard the livelihoods of waste pickers and waste workers, and prevent environmental harm from the outset.
The Project Coordinator for Zero Waste Cities at GAYO, Ms Fathia Selasi Charway-Glover, described zero waste as a systems transformation agenda that required investment in people, technical knowledge, supportive policies and inclusive infrastructure.
She said the academy would strengthen technical capacity and promote the cross-sector collaboration needed to accelerate Africa’s transition towards a circular economy.
Participants are undertaking expert-led presentations and field visits to zero waste projects in Accra, following the completion of virtual sessions on movement building, waste characterisation and monitoring frameworks.
BY PRINCE ADDO FRIMPONG
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