On September 13th, 2021, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), signed a USD 2.25million project grant with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to strengthen the solid waste and fecal sludge management capacity of the greater Kampala metropolitan area (GKMA), a project that will run from 2022 to 2023 (Two years) with the objective of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction, green jobs creation, increase access to sustainable services, contribute to improved air quality, and enhanced adaptation to climate change. This project development was done by GGGI while using a collaborative approach in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment to support the project’s aims.
The official launch of the project commenced on 18th August 2022 at Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz, Naguru, in attendance was the Country Representative of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Ms. Dagmar Zwebe, Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr. Kim Tae-young, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Mr. Alfred Okot Okidi, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Park Sung-soo as the Chief Guests of the project launch.
The Country Representative of GGGI, Ms. Dagmar Zwebe, emphasized the importance of partnerships and concerted efforts to turn a challenge into a project. “All these interwoven relationships and partnerships, and the serious commitments of these two countries towards a world that moves forward in a greener than business as usual scenario have been solidified in this partnership in Uganda. A partnership that we all hope is the beginning of a long-term relationship between the three institutions.”
The launch represented an important step towards ensuring inclusive, sustainable green growth in Uganda with its ‘Vision 2040’ and National Development Plan (NDP) III currently, GGGI in collaboration with the National Planning Authority are working on the Uganda Green Growth
Development Strategy 2017/18 – 2030/31. Accessed at: The Uganda-Green-Growth-Development-Strategy-UGGDS
The Kampala metropolitan area consumes a large number of resources including food, water, and raw materials among others which in turn generates huge quantities of waste products. However, the uncontrolled disposal of this waste leads to pollution, waterway clogs, and flooding and because there is limited knowledge about converting waste to resources, it becomes a challenge. In addition, it is estimated about 90% of the population in Kampala relies on the use of the onsite sanitation facilities which include pit latrines and septic tanks, however, some of these pit latrines are filled with solid waste through which some end up being emptied directly into the environment posing both health and environmental problems to people and the city. In addition, both solid waste and fecal sludge value chains are linear and not circular.
To address these challenges, this project looks at developing solid waste and fecal sludge management strategy and enhancing the fecal sludge treatment plant and solid waste management through developing waste collection centers to be used for sorting and diversion which will be in a selected municipality respectively. Benefits to be achieved through this project include; 1) Improved access to waste and sanitation 2) Ability to transition from waste to resource, and 3) Transition from linear to a circular economy.
The Permanent Secretary of Water and Environment, Mr. Alfred Okot Okidi, said, “The Ministry of Water and Environment is working with other government ministries and relevant stakeholders to address this issue and we will ensure that this project provides guidance to appropriate solutions to the environment and sanitation services that are aligned with and deliver on Uganda’s Vision 2040.”
The launch of this project represents an important step towards creating a circular economy with green growth development thus enabling economic development, environmental sustainability, and inclusiveness.
Furthermore, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Park Sung-soo also expressed that Korea is
looking forward to further cooperation with Uganda. “We Koreans want to do something together with Uganda in a mutually beneficial way. Korea is ready, willing and able to be a good and sustainable partner to Uganda that is striving to achieve social and economic transformation.”
About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
Based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, GGGI is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting developing country governments to transition to an inclusive economic growth model that is both sustainable and environmentally conscious. GGGI is present in more than 40 countries including Uganda under the sector of ‘Making cities and communities sustainable, livable and resilient, supported through green jobs, services and green infrastructure capital markets innovations.
Learn more at: https://gggi.org/country/uganda/
https://gggi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/GGGI_glance_2022Q1_ENG.pdf.
Project Information: https://gggi.org/project/ug17-strengthening-solid-waste-and-feacalsludge-management-capacity-of-the-greater-kampala-metropolitan-area-phase-1/
About Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
KOICA was established in 1991 to support the economic and social development of the partner countries. KOICA is a leading global development cooperation organization that conducts bilateral programs (project/development consulting), training programs (invitational training, scholarship), volunteering programs, multilateral cooperation, public-private partnership program, development innovation program, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and global disease eradication fund. KOICA Uganda office has been in cooperation with the government of Uganda since its opening in 2010.
For more information about KOICA, please visit: http://koica.go.kr
http://www.koica.go.kr/sites/uga_en/index.do
https://www.facebook.com/KOICA.Uganda/