Proper waste handling fosters employment and improves community health standards

Kenya is poised to become the next success story in green job creation, with the right mix of political will, private sector dynamism, and international support. One such sector that holds great potential is waste management.

The green economy offers a win-win solution for Kenya. Investing in waste collection, recycling, and treatment infrastructure can transform environmental liabilities into economic assets. This is a strategy that has proven successful in Ghana, where the Jospong Group of Companies has built an integrated waste management ecosystem with 38 waste management infrastructure facilities.

The Jospong Group, headquartered in Ghana, is a case study in how strategic investments in waste management can tackle unemployment, enhance public health, and drive green industrialization. Dr Agyepong, the founder and Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, has spearheaded this effort by creating dignified jobs and solving critical environmental problems through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

In Ghana, the strategy is to create jobs by addressing environmental issues. For instance, the group's waste management facilities employ thousands of youth across the value chain and have established training academies to equip young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills.

Kenya generates over 22,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with Nairobi alone accounting for more than 2,400 tonnes. Much of this waste goes uncollected or is dumped indiscriminately, posing serious public health and environmental risks. This is where the private sector comes in, fostering job creation across the waste management value chain, from waste collectors to engineers.

Across Africa, the conversation around youth unemployment and environmental sustainability is urgent. Africa's challenges can be opportunities, as demonstrated by the Jospong Group's success in waste management. The group's strategy in Ghana has not gone unnoticed, with international organisations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) contributing expertise in waste management infrastructure development in Kenya. Projects like those by S&M Services GmbH also support cost-effective water purification technologies and training for youth.

International cooperation extends to institutions like the German Environment Agency (UBA) and CIPSEM, which provide training and knowledge transfer in sustainable environmental technologies. Such partnerships offer training and entrepreneurship opportunities, uplifting communities and enhancing environmental outcomes.

As Kenya positions itself to take advantage of its demographic dividend, looking beyond traditional job creation models to sectors that align economic growth with environmental protection, the Jospong Group's success story in waste management serves as a beacon of hope. The future of Kenya's green job creation lies in strategic partnerships and investments in sustainable waste management.

Proper waste handling fosters employment and improves community health standards