Following an accelerated municipalisation programme implemented by the State, secondary cities in the Republic of Congo are facing issues around the governance of waste management and waste water management.
Nkayi and Owando are secondary cities with respective populations of approximately 85,000 and 25,000 people. Both cities are encountering difficulties with funding and operation of waste management services, and are struggling to deal with waste water management. Civil society organisations (CSOs), in particular women’s and youth organisations, have little or no involvement in the governance of sanitation services. A significant proportion of households in these two cities do not have access to improved latrines, and there is no affordable sanitary equipment on offer to residents.
The “Civil society, waste water and waste management” component of the Republic of Congo Resilient cities programme, implemented by GRET, is strengthening communities’ participation and contribution to local governance of sanitation services. It is building sustainable solutions that are suited to the economic and socio-anthropological contexts and realities in Nkayi and Owando.
The project intends to create spaces for consultation and participation in neighbourhoods and at municipal level, within which local stakeholders can engage in dialogue, take decisions and implement sustainable solutions to improve practices in terms of hygiene and sanitation, waste management, wastewater management, etc.
To do this, GRET is working with two local associations (Action against poverty in Owando and the Women’s association for the development of Bouenza in the Nkayi district) and with international NGO Initiative Développement.
Improve living conditions and sanitation for residents in Nkayi and Owando, through inclusive, gender-sensitive local governance.
Improve populations’ hygiene and sanitation practices via implementation of sustainable sanitation services.
Strengthen civil society’s capabilities and participation in local governance, in particular women’s and youth organisations.
Support 10 local entrepreneurs to bring sanitary facilities up to standard for 3,000 households in two towns.
Construction of sanitary facilities in 20 schools in the two towns.
A sustainable waste management service making it possible to evacuate and bury 90 tons of waste per month, and to valorise 10 tons of waste in the two towns.
100 % of unauthorised dumps eliminated.
79 % of households have wastewater sanitary equipment that is brought up to standard.
