As conversations and dialogues regarding proper waste management in Kenya, continue to take center stage in meetings in Kenya and Globally, more so now where plastic pollution is becoming a nightmare to dealing with every day, inclusivity of gender mainstreaming is also vital in combating waste management.
In this regard the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenya through its knowledge center, the Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K), launched the “Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit in Waste Management” days ago after the world marked this year’s World Environment Day, which is celebrated every 5th June.
The toolkit which is supported by Climate KIC, a leading climate innovation agency and community in partnership with Irish Aid, aims to empower women within the waste sector by providing them with essential skills and knowledge, enabling them to overcome gender biases and advance in their careers effectively.
According to Karin Boomsma, the Project Director at Sustainable Inclusive Business Kenya (SIB-K), said they are delighted to share this toolkit with the public to promote gender equality and inclusivity throughout all aspects of waste management. By applying a gender lens, the toolkit addresses women’s and men’s unique needs, roles, and contributions to waste management, ensuring equitable access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making processes.
She adds that various stakeholders, including women directly dealing with waste, business leaders in the waste value chain, and policymakers, were engaged during the toolkit’s development. In the process, substantial disparities were identified between men and women in aspects ranging from education and training to access to healthcare to political representation and workforce engagement. For example, men control decision-making and higher-income activities such as recycling in Kenya’s waste management, while women dominate the bottom-of-the-pyramid practices such as waste picking and segregation, receiving unfair compensation.
“Our vision is lasting change within the waste sector, where women are celebrated as leaders and agents of progress. A waste sector where diversity is the norm, gender equity flourishes, and waste is harnessed for environmental sustainability and value creation,” she expressed.
With World Environmental Day 2024 focusing on land restoration, stopping desertification, and building drought resilience, SIB-K acknowledges women’s critical role in driving sustainability through strengthening climate action efforts and waste management practices, among other things. In Mombasa, for instance, women have remained at the forefront of sustainable practices due to their experience managing domestic waste in their daily chores. Recognizing the knowledge and expertise of women in waste management and advocating for their inclusion in Kenya’s waste value chain will significantly lead to effective and sustainable waste management services.
Women’s engagement in waste management prevents the leakage of pollutants into fragile ecosystems, improving the environmental and health quality of the local communities. Their involvement also allows them to use income-generating activities to improve their household nutrition, healthcare, and educational pursuits. This improves their livelihoods and drives their community’s economic progress.
However, gender disparities persist within this sector, with women often marginalized and underrepresented in decision-making processes and access to resources. Inequality remains a significant societal issue with substantial implications for long-term productivity and the well-being of future generations.
According to James Odongo, the CEO of the Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organization (KEPRO), women are also underrepresented in leadership roles and face barriers to entry into specific waste management sectors.
“Occupational health and safety concerns also disproportionately affect women, particularly in informal wastecollection and recycling activities where they may face higher risks of injury or exposure to hazardous materials; thus, their roles are often limited in comparison to their male counterparts. Furthermore, women’s unpaid or underpaid work in waste management, such as informal recycling and waste picking, may not be recognized or valued, exacerbating economic inequalities,” he states.
Therefore, the toolkit is a valuable resource for women in waste management and also benefits county governments and waste-to-value practitioners. It has been developed in close collaboration with experts and professionals in the waste sector, drawing from research, questionnaires, expert interviews, and real-life case studies to enrich it with practical content.
It emphasizes the importance of considering gender differences in waste management policies and programs to create a more inclusive and effective sector. Through the toolkit, SIB-K calls for prioritizing gender equity and inclusivity in the workplace to foster a diverse and respectful environment, leading to increased productivity, better social and economic growth, women’s empowerment, and sustainable waste management practices.
