Introduction
In emerging markets, waste management businesses face challenges such as limited capital access, infrastructure gaps, and societal biases, particularly against women in the sector. A study by the William Davidson Institute (WDI) and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), co-authored by John F. Akwetey, Senior Evaluation Specialist at Cloneshouse, and funded by the IKEA Foundation, explored how three Kenyan waste management companies—Junky Bins, Mega Gas Alternative Energy, and Organic Kenya Limited—are overcoming these barriers while driving financial and social impact.
Key Takeaways from the Study:
Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Participation
- Junky Bins, Mega Gas, and Organic Kenya Limited actively challenge gender-based obstacles, such as stigma and job insecurity, by ensuring fair wages, providing protective gear, and creating flexible work schedules to accommodate women’s caregiving responsibilities.
- Education and advocacy efforts help shift perceptions of women’s roles in waste management, with initiatives such as community training, social media campaigns, and male allyship programs.
2. Women and Youth as Drivers of Business Efficiency
- Mega Gas’ community kitchens provide affordable, clean cooking solutions while creating new customer networks.
- Organic Kenya Limited’s women-led distribution model enhances sales and market penetration, particularly among women farmers.
- Junky Bins engages community members in waste sorting and collection, optimizing logistics and reducing costs.
3. Fostering Community Engagement
- Strong local partnerships and trust-building efforts are central to the success of waste management businesses.
- Companies leverage relationships with community leaders, government offices, and grassroots organizations to enhance their impact and encourage broader participation.
4. Measuring Social and Business Impact
- While tracking social impact is resource-intensive, these businesses use methods such as attendance tracking, customer feedback collection, and financial data analysis to gauge success.
- WDI has developed training materials to help waste management enterprises improve impact measurement.
The study demonstrates that integrating women’s empowerment and community engagement into business strategies not only strengthens waste management operations but also fosters economic growth and social progress.
Reference: The full article, “Disrupting Waste Management in Emerging Markets: Four Lessons for Strengthening Businesses While Empowering Women and Communities,” was published by NextBillion. Read the original piece [here].
