GCCA+ in the news: GCCA+ Gambia: Appreciating the value of “what people call waste”

A GCCA+ pilot project increasing climate resilience by educating vendors to be separating food waste in public markets found a new life by being handed over to Kanifing Municipal Council through the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Project (KETP).

Women gardeners have been trained to turn the organic products into useful materials that could reduce climate emissions as well as build climate resilience. Ingrid Henrys, Project Coordinator for Waste Aid, the association who managed the pilot phase, said 30 women gardeners have benefited from the project, adding that they have been trained on how to make compost and biodegradables.

"This project was a one-year pilot project but it has brought a lot of opportunities in The Gambia, particularly in Kanifing. People have really seen the value of 'what people call waste' and is not waste as you can value it," she said.

Talib Ahmed Bensuda, Mayor for Kanifing Municipal Council said the project has effectively produced de-compost for the targeted individuals and now women are feeling the benefits. He assured that the municipality would use its agricultural budgets to provide machineries to women gardeners to ease their work as well as enable them to produce more products.

"Today we are pleased to receive compost and biodegradables that were made from this waste management project," he said, noting that his office attaches great significant to the project sustainability. Representing the EU Ambassador to The Gambia, Luca Palazzotto thanked the Mayor and KETP for demonstrating high commitment towards the waste management project.

Read the article

• Gambia: Waste Aid Hands Over Waste Management Project to Ketp

Links

• Women tackling The Gambia’s waste problem