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By Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) has launched the Africa Zero Waste Academy, the first Academy from the GAIA/BFFP Africa Team.
The Africa Zero Waste Academy is a capacity-building program, with its roots stemming from the Asia Pacific region, aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement zero-waste solutions in their communities.
It also aims to empower both existing and aspiring Zero Waste Implementers by providing them with the concepts and resources necessary to create or improve Zero Waste systems in their cities and countries.
During the opening ceremony of the academy, Niven Reddy, GAIA/BFFP Africa Coordinator, emphasised that no community or individual is disposable. He noted that the academy was established to bridge the knowledge gap among Zero Waste experts in the region.
“The Africa Zero Waste Academy is driven by our vision for a cleaner, healthier planet, and we are excited to see the impact our collective efforts can make. At GAIA, we are committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration among participants from various backgrounds,” he stated.
The concept of “Zero Waste” aims to minimise waste generation and maximise resource recovery, ultimately eliminating waste sent to landfills, incinerators, and the environment.
It emphasises the redesigning of production and consumption systems to mimic natural cycles where waste is minimised, and resources are continuously reused.
For the 2025 Africa Zero Waste Academy, over 500 Zero Waste and climate practitioners from across Africa applied, with each submission reviewed to ensure balanced representation in terms of gender and geographic diversity, according to Ama Asiedu, GAIA Africa Zero Waste and Climate Program Associate.
“We hope that the insights and knowledge exchanged will be instrumental in driving significant change towards achieving a zero-waste Africa. We believe that each participant has a vital role to play in shaping sustainable practices and policies within their communities,” she added.
The Africa Zero Waste Academy 2025, in collaboration with GroundWork, a South African-based non-profit environmental justice organisation, will take place from July 7 to 11, 2025.
Participants will take part in a week-long series of sessions covering all aspects of zero waste. The program includes a site visit to the Zero Waste Project in Durban, hosted in partnership with groundWork.
Attendees of the Zero Waste Academy have already completed a series of virtual sessions, where they explored key topics such as movement building, waste characterisation, selecting appropriate waste management approaches, developing effective collection strategies, and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
