Introduction

Cities seeking to strengthen their solid waste management systems often face a common challenge: translating system assessments into concrete investments. Recent experience from Nairobi, Kenya illustrates how baseline data and structured frameworks can support this transition.

In Nairobi, the Waste Wise Korogocho Chapter is being implemented by UN-Habitat with funding from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and in collaboration with the Kenyan Government. The initiative was officially launched during the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly and forms part of a broader set of environmental and urban development investments in the city.

Baseline Data to Targeted Investment

As part of the Waste Wise Circular Water Chapter, the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT) and Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) were used to establish a baseline understanding of municipal solid waste generation, collection, and recovery. These assessments highlighted the need for improved waste sorting and recovery infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.

Based on this evidence, AICS funded UN-Habitat to develop a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s informal settlements. The project is currently ongoing and represents a targeted response to gaps identified through system-level data.

Linking Data, Policy and Financing

The initiative is implemented within the framework of the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) framework developed by the Nairobi County Government, helping to align investment with local policy and planning priorities.

The Waste Wise Circular Water Chapter is part of a wider package of interventions in Korogocho supported through the Italian Cooperation’s debt conversion programme, with a total value of approximately €46 million. Within this context, the waste management component is positioned as a pilot initiative, with potential for replication.

Why This Matters

This example demonstrates how WaCT and WFD assessments can help:

• Translate baseline data into bankable infrastructure investments
• Support alignment between donor funding and local government frameworks
• Identify priority interventions such as sorting and recovery facilities
• Provide a structured foundation for pilot projects with scaling potential

For cities looking to strengthen their waste management systems, Nairobi’s experience highlights the value of combining standardised data tools, local governance frameworks, and targeted financing to move from analysis to implementation.

References

1. AICS Nairobi (2023) Kenya, Italy at the forefront of the environmental sector: the ‘Waste Wise’ initiative is underway with UN HABITAT and the Kenyan government, 7 June. Available at: Link