The project aims at empowering women, and in particular women from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, as well as people living with disabilities, by offering them continuous employment and a guaranteed salary. In order not to disregard those already involved in SWM in the informal sector (the so-called rag pickers), they will get first priority in the employment process. There will also be opportunities for the start-up of micro-enterprises in fuel-briquette making. Primarily, women will be employed in the briquette-making enterprise. The income-generating potential offered by briquette-making enterprise will empower women and girls who drop out of secondary schools to become economically independent. Girls dropping out of school due to pregnancy will be targeted because these groups usually suffer greatly from stigma and discrimination in the community, which impedes their ability to provide a living for themselves. Training will be provided to vulnerable women to acquire the knowledge in making charcoal briquettes. Also, training will be provided to local craftsmen to adopt and develop stoves suitable for the briquettes and charcoal kilns. Additionally, there will be opportunities in the recycling enterprise, e.g. packaging and selling of compost etc. Advocate + will here use existing organisational capacities to train Self Help Group members and assist them in setting up and expanding micro-enterprises. Advocate + will also establish and support community based neighbourhood composts initiatives. The importance of economic empowerment should not be understated. As the individual is able to contribute to the household income, his/her self-esteem is regained and the decision-making powers are altered. Economic empowerment is hence a prerequisite for actual equality. Good working conditions, continuous training, and the adoption of scientific and professional ways of handling waste will minimise health risks and other occupational hazards that are common in the informal settings.

The project will be sustainable at several levels. At the provincial level, the project will compliment the council plan to reduce, recycle and reuse valuable materials in order to reduce indiscriminate waste disposal, and the mounting demand for firewood. Further refinement of the project focuses on identifying market and operational risks and means to mitigate them to ensure sustainability. The fuel-briquette making component of the project ensures that the recycled materials are utilized and that output materials are improved to ensure market acceptability. Further, the project includes public information and awareness raising activities. International experience in recycling programs, organic agriculture and fuel-briquette making clearly shows that technical schemes in the sectors, such as the ones under this project can succeed only with active support and community involvement. The consideration of market, social land operational risks and their mitigation will ensure greater sustainability of the project. Finally, in order for success stories to be shared and replicated in other parts of the country and the sub-region in general, public information and awareness raising activities will be organized. Moreover, success stories will be published in the national news paper and also published on the organization?s website. Documentaries will also be created to establish bench marks and share best practices.

There will also be opportunities for the start-up of micro-enterprises in fuel-briquette making. Primarily, women will be employed in the briquette-making enterprise. The income-generating potential offered by briquette-making enterprise will empower women and girls who drop out of secondary schools to become economically independent. Girls dropping out of school due to pregnancy will be targeted because these groups usually suffer greatly from stigma and discrimination in the community, which impedes their ability to provide a living for themselves.

Training will be provided to vulnerable women to acquire the knowledge in making charcoal briquettes. Also, training will be provided to local craftsmen to adopt and develop stoves suitable for the briquettes and charcoal kilns. Advocate + will also use existing organisational capacities to train Self Help Group members and assist them in setting up and expanding micro-enterprises.

the project will contribute to the development of a sustainable waste management plan for the local council and communities that will serve as an incident command system for on-site and off-site waste-related hazards and generally, waste minimization.