EuropeAID – Bissau Limpu
The Context
Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, is home to about a quarter of the country’s total population, with an estimated 520,000 inhabitants. The city is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by a massive rural exodus, which is causing a significant increase in solid waste production.
The current waste collection, management, and disposal system, already precarious, is under increasing pressure, leading to harmful practices such as uncontrolled incineration, dumping in illegal landfills, and littering. This situation has serious consequences not only for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems but also for public health and the quality of life of Bissau’s residents. The project is part of the European Union’s broader “Green and Inclusive Cities” program and aims to improve the living conditions of Bissau’s urban population through the adoption of a sustainable waste management system.
EuropeAID – Bissau Limpu
The objectives
Overall Objective:
- Contribute to improving solid waste management in Bissau by promoting its recovery through the circular economy.
Specific objective:
- To improve Bissau’s waste management system by incorporating the principles of the circular economy, building the capacity of key stakeholders, and raising community awareness to create a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
The project aligns with and contributes to the achievement of Goals 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
In particular, EStà is tasked with training teachers and students to conduct a participatory field survey and produce an up-to-date overview of the current situation and opportunities for sustainable development and employment.
EuropeAID – Bissau Limpu
The activities of the entire project
Promotion of waste reduction and recycling in households.
Qualitative survey to analyze behaviors and potential circular economy initiatives;
Assessment of the management of the most hazardous waste and identification of sustainable management solutions;
Support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises involved in waste recovery and recycling through the Third-Party Support mechanism;
Support for informal groups involved in waste collection and recycling activities;
Construction or upgrading of key urban infrastructure for waste management in pilot neighborhoods;
Maintenance of the Bissau Municipal Council’s current waste collection vehicles and contribution toward the purchase of new ones;
Training program for managers and technicians from national authorities;
Awareness campaigns and initiatives targeting youth—environmental education in schools, creativity contests, recycling competitions.
EuropeAID – Bissau Limpu
EStà’s role in the project
The Method: Civic Technology and Participation
EStà’s activities follow a methodology that has already been tested in African contexts such as Casamance in Senegal. It is a civic technology program structured around four main phases, each supported by specific digital and methodological tools:
1. Mapping and participatory survey
The students—aged 13 to 16—are participating in an environmental education program that involves them in collecting data in their neighborhoods using smartphones or tablets and an app designed for offline use.
With the support of teachers and older mentors, the students administer a questionnaire to families and small businesses, gathering information on behaviors related to waste generation and disposal.
This phase not only yields valuable data but also has a significant educational and awareness-raising impact, both on the students involved and on their families and communities.
2. Calculation and Scenario Planning
Una volta raccolti i dati, EStà li analizza attraverso un sistema di calcolo che consente di:
- Once the data has been collected, EStà analyzes it using a computational system that makes it possible to:
- measure the volume of waste generated, broken down by type and destination,
- estimate the current economic value of waste management,
- assess the environmental impact (in terms of CO₂ equivalent),
- identify the economic and employment potential with a view to increasing recycling and reuse.
3. Facilitation and dialogue with decision-makers
The results of the analysis are summarized in clear and visually effective infographics to facilitate dialogue with public decision-makers.
EStà helps organize participatory roundtables involving administrators, technical experts, and local stakeholders, where participants discuss the results, the opportunities that have emerged, and the obstacles to be addressed in order to improve the system.
4. Connecting circular economy stakeholders
With the support of EStà, local partners are conducting a field survey to identify and connect the key players in the recycling supply chains (organic waste, hard plastics, aluminum).
Through interviews and mapping, they are building a snapshot of the current situation and the potential for development, with the aim of strengthening the connections between the entities involved in the collection, sorting, and processing of materials.
