Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA Africa) and the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) have commenced the in-person phase of the Africa Zero Waste Academy 2026, strengthening efforts to equip a new generation of African climate and waste practitioners with the skills to develop inclusive, locally driven solutions to the continent’s growing waste crisis.
The Academy, now in its second year, follows the completion of a five-week virtual learning programme and brings selected participants together in Ghana for expert-led sessions and practical visits to zero-waste initiatives in Accra.
More than 700 climate and waste practitioners from across Africa applied for the programme. Participants were selected with consideration for gender balance and geographical representation, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to inclusive leadership and cross-regional collaboration.
The initiative comes at a time when the global waste crisis is intensifying. More than 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated worldwide each year, with poor waste management contributing to greenhouse-gas emissions, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and public-health risks.
GAIA Africa and GAYO say locally adapted approaches, including organic waste management, waste separation at source and circular-economy systems can help reduce emissions while creating green jobs and supporting healthier communities.
“This is not just about managing waste better; it’s about rethinking systems for climate resilience, green jobs and community health,” said Ama Asiedu, GAIA Africa’s Zero Waste and Climate Programme Associate.
The Academy places climate justice at the centre of waste governance, recognising that waste systems affect people differently, particularly waste pickers, informal waste workers and communities living near dumpsites and other waste facilities.
According to the organisers, a just transition towards zero waste must protect human rights, safeguard livelihoods and prevent environmental and social harm at the design stage of waste-management systems.
Fathia Selasi Charway-Glover, Project Coordinator for Zero Waste Cities at GAYO, described zero waste as a broader systems-transformation agenda rather than simply an approach to waste disposal.
“Zero waste is a systems transformation agenda that challenges us to rethink and redesign the economic and material systems that generate waste,” Charway-Glover said.
She noted that achieving zero waste requires deliberate investment in people, knowledge, coherent policies and inclusive infrastructure that treats waste as a resource rather than a liability.
“The Academy represents a critical investment in that transformation by building the technical capacity and cross-sector collaboration needed to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy,” she added.
The 2026 programme includes training on movement building, waste characterisation and monitoring frameworks. The in-person segment is expected to deepen participants’ understanding through practical engagement with zero-waste projects and opportunities to exchange experiences across countries.
The Academy’s activities also align with growing recognition of African cities as important centres for innovative waste solutions. In March 2026, Accra was named by the United Nations as one of 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste, highlighting the city’s progress in advancing sustainable and community-centred waste-management models.
GAYO’s award-winning Zero Waste Accra Project contributed to this progress by supporting efforts to prevent organic, plastic and electronic waste from reaching landfills while helping to reduce methane emissions. Asiedu said the Academy views participants as key actors in advancing sustainable practices and influencing policies within their communities.
“We believe each participant has a vital role to play in shaping sustainable practices and policies within their communities,” she said. “The insights and knowledge exchanged here will drive significant change towards achieving a Zero Waste Africa.”
Through capacity building, practical learning and collaboration, the Africa Zero Waste Academy aims to strengthen local leadership and support African communities in reducing waste, cutting emissions and building sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative reflects a growing understanding that addressing the waste crisis is not only an environmental responsibility but also a climate-justice priority, one that requires inclusive policies, investment in people and solutions designed around the needs of communities most affected by environmental harm.
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