From Governance Panorama to Management Discord on Waste Management Practices in African Communities, Damaged Reputation! African Experience[S]

Abstract

Waste management is one discipline, that, African leadership takes for granted and is somehow positioned at the tail of African priorities. It is thus treated as the ‘other business.  The purpose of this study is to interrogate governance and management of solid waste in Africa. The major research question is: To what degree is governance and management of waste idealized, prioritized and practiced in African communities? A qualitative research methodology was employed to obtain data for the study. The major finding of the study is that the current governance structure and systems perpetuate the continued ineffective and inefficient ways of waste management, making Africa one continent with a fragmented waste management system. The study recommends the adoption of an African waste governance and management model fused with western models. The study is not in itself a prescription for waste management but, is a dossier to governance systems.  There is need for further research on how to involve communities from household levels on waste management practices.