First AEHPMP Regional Dialogue, Mombasa, Kenya

This meeting was the first in the series of Regional Dialogue to be organized in AEHPMP participating countries to provide an idea exchange forum, inform national and regional policies and strategies on e-waste management, and increase awareness on approaches to reduce environmental health risks. Focus was on sharing best practices, risks, cost-effectiveness, and sound management of toxic chemicals and waste.

Second Regional Dialogue

Third Regional Dialogue

Here are take aways from the first Regional Dialogue

1. Challenges: countries highlighted that inadequate financial support, lack of data, poor technical support, and lack of infrastructure are barriers to improved e-waste management.
2. Private Sector Engagement: there is an urgent need to engage regional and global private sector companies to access the finance and technologies needed to establish e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities in the countries.
3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): countries would like to explore EPR as a policy option for e-waste management and would request World Bank support to conduct feasibility studies.
4. Collaborative Approach: a collaborative approach across governmental, development partners, NGOs, CSOs, and industries is crucial to success.
5. Easy Steps: countries can use easy approaches such as building awareness of the health risks of e-waste and uPOPs pollution (e.g., by training health practitioners), providing PPE to workers, and assessing the environmental impact of the uPOPs pollution (e.g., by testing eggs for chemicals as they have the laboratory capacity).
6. E-waste Recycling Hub in Africa: collaboration with the ICT industry could help mobilize support from the private sector and explore the possibility of establishing a regional e-waste recycling hub in Africa. Given the large volume of e-waste, it will not be viable for every country to set up facilities to process different materials and fractions.