(RAED) implemented the Regional Solid Waste Management Programme RCSWMP in four Arab countries (Morocco – Tunisia – Egypt – Lebanon), where it contributed to many projects that provided job opportunities for young people of both genders as a contribution to solving the problem of unemployment and reducing the spread of poverty.

Overall goal

Addressing the issue of solid waste management through research, analysis, confronting the negative environmental practices that caused solid waste problems, and training people to adopt sound environmental practices and behaviors through the specific objectives set by the project, which are:

– Raising and spreading environmental awareness in general and the problem of solid waste in particular.

– Disseminating the concepts of solid waste management and proper and safe handling of solid waste.

– Increasing efficiency in dealing with the solid waste management system

– Activating the role of women, children and youth and strengthening their sense of responsibility towards the issue of solid waste.

– Developing the spirit of participation and activating the role of families in guiding society.

– Achieving the concept of partnership between government sectors, civil society organizations, and families.

Brief description of the project

Since waste management is a major problem facing the southern Mediterranean countries, the project organizers prepared research and studies to confront this problem, by selecting areas that are not prioritized by municipalities and do not have a garbage collection system. Then hold workshops and training courses for the people of these areas on the concepts of solid waste management and the proper and safe handling of them, provided that women and youth are targeted in these trainings to activate their role and strengthen their sense of responsibility towards the issue, although the targeting is greater for women as they are a major partner in achieving the desired result from Training is sound environmental behavior, and this is because of the vital role it plays in family management. This is to raise and spread environmental awareness in general and solid waste in particular, and to increase efficiency in dealing with the solid waste management system, also to achieve the concept of partnership between stakeholders.

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Implementation site

Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon

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Partners

Enda Morocco Association-Morocco,  Kairouan Environmental Protection Association-Tunisia,  Lebanese Authority for Environment and Development-Lebanon,  Dutch Taumelio Foundation-which is the European partner.

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Donor

European Union

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Duration of the project

The project began in 2000 and continued until 2003.

Project results

– Selection of 500 housing units as an indicative model in the participating countries

– Selecting and interviewing more than 120 young men and women from the people of the targeted areas in the four countries to work in the project.

– Producing awareness tools to disseminate the program’s messages to beneficiaries (posters, brochures, posters, and website). In addition to producing a documentary film about the experiences of partners from the four countries participating in the program to convey the lessons learned and provide opportunities to replicate the activities whether in the participating countries or other countries. Also, conducting activities to raise public awareness of the environment and awareness of solid waste management in many areas (schools – universities – youth centers – places of worship).

– Specialized training for two from each of the four partner associations participating in the project on the concepts of dialogue and communication, the basic elements of solid waste, and how to manage it from the technical and financial aspects, through the European partner of the project and local experts.