Waste pickers, mostly women collect aluminium cans from shopping centres and homes and sell them to small-scale smelters based in home industries in Mbizo, Amaveni and other suburbs in Kwekwe. The aluminium scrap sells for between 45-50c (US$) per kilogram. The aluminium is moulded into useful traditional pots for local sale. Depending on their sizes, the pots sell for between US$10 to US$90. This is one of the ‘waste-to-asset’ recycling activities in Kwekwe City described in this brief. Harnessing treated wastewater for crop irrigation recycles nutrients and protects the environment. The food produced, sold and consumed locally in urban agriculture alleviates poverty, and promotes food security and health. Community participation, partnerships and collective decision-making in waste management applies local knowledge and assets for environmental protection and climate justice. Using solar energy protects urban environments, reducing dependence on polluting fossil fuels, and reducing the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and its negative impacts. Circular economic activities promote climate-proofing and inclusive economic development
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This study in Malawi aimed to assess the experiences of 15–24-year-old youth with regard to mental health problems, to evaluate the management of mental health issues and the responses to the issues they face, as well as to recommend interventions to address young people’s mental health challenges. The study employed a mixed methods approach. The 7% prevalence of depression identified in the study seems low compared to the 11–14% in youth in several other studies in Africa. Challenges identified relating to access to mental health services indicate the need for improved availability and accessibility of mental health services for young people faced with mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic further impacted youth by increased losses in education, income, employment and food security, as well as increased gender-based violence and sexual abuse. Based on the findings, recommendations are made on areas of primary health care, community, multisectoral, and youth interventions to better support mental health promotion, mental illness prevention, detection, counselling, care and wider responses for young people in Malawi. Although the sample size was small, these may also be relevant across other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Waste management is a critical issue facing cities globally, particularly in low-income countries with limited resources. Responding to this challenge, the Abdullah Dzinamarira Foundation (ADF) and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) implemented a comprehensive waste management programme promoting the promote the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle- in Rimuka, a densely populated low-income suburb in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. Waste reduction strategies can be low-cost and high-impact. They call for increased education and awareness on how waste management can create new industries and jobs. This work in Kadoma set up forums and interventions to involve local people and involved stakeholders to build awareness of the opportunities that waste reuse and recycling provides for jobs and inputs to local food and product. The programme generated interventions linking waste recycling to food production, plastic waste collection to incomes and renewal energy to improved urban conditions. Climate change affects health and is creating health inequalities. City efforts to reuse, recycle and reduce contribute to improved health climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (NUHDSS) was the first African urban health and demographic site surveillance (HDSS) based in a slum. It seeks to address the health and social needs of urban slum dwellers. NUHDSS has generated the information and evidence needed, to strengthen and inform action and change on healthy food systems and green spaces, promoting equity, poverty reduction and climate justice; facilitating the circular economy through reduced use, reuse, and recycling of waste. The NUHDSS data and nested studies were used to assess the impacts of interventions, to inform local and national policy-making and programmes to improve community health locally, in Kenya and in other African countries. As a tool for community voice and to support governance approaches and collective learning, the NUHDSS platform and process has strengthened the voice and involvement of residents of Viwandhani and Korogocho slums in their health and socioeconomic development bringing community voice in a ‘whole of society’ approach that recognizes and engages all stakeholders.
Rapid urbanisation in Uganda especially in cities like Kampala and Mbale is reshaping the urban food systems, altering demand and introducing food related challenges. Despite the positive aspects of urban development, there is an increase in unregulated activities that lead to unsafe food practices. The Good Food for Cities programme recognizes these challenges as opportunities to establish more sustainable, fair and healthy food systems in Mbale and Kampala. The programme aims to forge coalitions involving businesses, consumers, local authorities and other food system actors to ensure inclusive, resilient and healthy food environments for all citizens. Two crucial mechanisms of the Good Food Council and the Good Food Parliament serve as platforms for consultation, dialogue, accountability and collective decision making. The programme adopts a three-tier intervention strategy of promoting sustainable production, inclusive urban food markets and an enabling environment. These areas give emphasis to regenerative agriculture, and multi stakeholder participation, addressing climate change, and urban inequalities and food insecurity.
Poor waste disposal and management is an overwhelming environmental issue in Kibuye informal settlements. There are no designated communal garbage collection points, as land owners are unwilling to give land for it, citing poor maintenance of the sites. The littered waste clogs the existing drainage channels, gullies and wetlands exposing Kibuye slums to frequent flooding. The small-scale urban farming initiative by SCINE Uganda is providing a foundation for urban food security and sustainable management of the environment in Kibuye I Parish.
Health impact assessment (HIA) is a structured process that helps to identify where changes to project design or operation provide health benefits and mitigate health risks, While HIA is being more widely practiced, in ESA countries HIA is sometimes implemented in a more limited manner as a part of environmental impact assessment. The lack of a specific process and legal requirement for HIA leaves the region with inadequate capacities, practice and evidence on health impacts of policies and activities, at a time when new health challenges, changes in trade policy and production systems make it even more necessary. EQUINET is thus, in association with regional and international partners, convening training in 12 online sessions in February to May 2024, including mentored case work to build HIA capacities in different actors in ESA countries. The course is being held free of any fee cost for participants. Applicants for the call should be from an ESA country, should be from state, non- state, labour, professional or academic institutions, and have roles in or an intention to implement HIA. We encourage applicants to apply as a team of up to 4 people from these groups from a country or setting, but will also consider individual applicants and if selected include them within the teams for their country. Further information is available on the EQUINET website, including the information applicants for the call are asked to provide before the closing date. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application before or by 1 November 2023 and be provided with further course information and materials.
Food and waste management systems are key entry points to foster innovation, collaboration, accountability, literacy and system-wide change to support healthy people, healthy ecosystems (including green spaces, energy and water) and an inclusive, productive, regenerative and circular urban economy. This document outlines a conceptual framework and features of key elements for urban systems to achieve this, organised within 5 key areas for such systems to provide affordable, safe, nutritious foods in healthy urban food neighbourhoods and green spaces, in ways that respect and protect ecosystems and provide an inclusive, poverty-reducing and equity oriented circular economy, that reduces, recycles and reuses urban food and other waste to support other needs and benefits, including for water, energy and green spaces. This framework is being applied in ongoing case studies and work in EQUINET.
In 2023 – 24 EQUINET is organising a series of online dialogues to share knowledge and perspectives from community/local, national and international level on the impact of climate trends, the intersect with the other drivers/ determinants of inequity, the implications for policy and action that links climate to health equity and vice versa, and the . proposals for policy, practice, research, and action. This brief reports on the issues raised in the first webinar in the series on climate justice and health rights, convened by the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), and EQUINET steering committee member. The full webinar is available on the EQUINET site. This brief summarises key points raised by speakers and participants on how climate features are impacting on the right to health; the actions that need to be taken to address these issues at local, national and regional level and in international/ global level processes and forums from a regional lens; and issues raised to be further discussed in the other thematic webinars. The brief is shared to draw further comment and input on the issue.
Kibera, an informal settlement in Nairobi, is situated alongside Ngong River, running along its southern edge. The dam water became hazardous for consumption due to pollutants accumulated during the course of the river, spreading diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera, and illnesses caused by chemical effluents pumped into the river from industries. Together with New Nairobi Dam Community, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) conducted a series of workshops with community members and the local administration to identify the challenges, with a series of workshops planning and designing solutions to the pressing issues they had raised, including flood protection, improved sanitation, opportunities for youth, and income generation. Planting, landscaping-driven engineering, solid waste management activities carried out from 2006 to date and improved sanitation services were coupled with community-led site operations and maintenance. The activities changes polluted unhealthy conditions into green, clean environments and improved health for community members living near the river and dam. Beyond these environment and health infrastructures, the community set up childcare services, a school feeding program, and a greenhouse for urban agriculture. The transformation demonstrates the power of co- designing solutions with communities that prioritise a combination of social, ecological, and health benefits.