The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA Africa) and the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) have launched the in-person phase of the Africa Zero Waste Academy 2026 at Kpong, Eastern Region, to equip a new generation of climate and waste practitioners with practical skills to tackle Africa’s growing waste and climate challenges.
The training follows the successful completion of a five-week virtual programme and brings together selected participants from across the continent for expert-led sessions and field visits to zero waste projects in Accra.
According to the organisers, more than 700 climate and waste practitioners from across Africa applied for the programme, with participants selected to ensure gender balance and broad geographic representation.
The Academy, now in its second year, seeks to build technical capacity for designing localized zero waste systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs and improve public health.
Speaking at the opening of the programme, GAIA Africa Zero Waste and Climate Programme Associate, Ama Asiedu, said the initiative goes beyond improving waste management practices.
“This is not just about managing waste better; it’s about rethinking systems for climate resilience, green jobs, and community health,” she said.
She explained that the Academy promotes an approach that recognizes the close relationship between waste management and human wellbeing by advocating systems that uphold human rights, protect the livelihoods of waste pickers and waste workers, and prevent environmental harm at its source.
The organisers noted that the programme comes at a time when the world generates more than 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, making localized interventions such as separating waste at source and managing organic waste increasingly important in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and declining livelihoods.
They also highlighted Accra’s recognition by the United Nations in March this year as one of 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste, describing it as evidence of growing global support for sustainable waste management models.
According to the statement, GAYO’s award-winning Zero Waste Accra Project contributed significantly to the city’s selection by diverting organic, plastic and electronic waste from landfills while reducing methane emissions.
Project Coordinator for Zero Waste Cities at GAYO, Fathia Selasi Charway-Glover, described zero waste as a transformational agenda that requires changes to economic and production systems.
“Zero waste is a systems transformation agenda that challenges us to rethink and redesign the economic and material systems that generate waste,” she said.
She stressed that achieving zero waste would require sustained investment in people, technical knowledge, supportive policies and inclusive infrastructure that treats waste as a valuable resource rather than a burden.
According to her, the Academy represents a strategic investment in building the technical expertise and cross-sector partnerships needed to accelerate Africa’s transition to a circular economy.
Participants completed online modules on movement building, waste characterization and monitoring frameworks before attending the in-person training, which includes presentations by experts and visits to operational zero waste projects in Accra.
Ms Asiedu expressed confidence that participants would apply the knowledge gained to influence policies and promote sustainable waste management practices in their respective countries.
“We believe each participant has a vital role to play in shaping sustainable practices and policies within their communities. The insights and knowledge exchanged here will drive significant change towards achieving a Zero Waste Africa,” she said.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
