Eastern Africa Waste is Wealth Conference

6 - 8 June 2023. The conference, themed "Promoting Effective Waste Management Practices for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation," is a three-day event held on the margins of the UN-Habitat General Assembly meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Africa Waste is Wealth Series (AWWS) is a series of high-level regional conferences convened by Taka Taka Ni Mali, the East African Business Council, and the Alliance for Science. The series is informed by Taka Taka ni Mali’s program under Transform (FCDO, Unilever, and Ernst and Young), accelerated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Accelerator Lab.

• This first conference united government institutions, private sector actors, development partners, and finance organizations to develop the necessary regional commitments to scale best-practice sustainable waste management models. 
• It also explored the potential of waste management as a driver for economic empowerment and job creation while advancing circular economy principles of eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials at their highest value, and regenerating nature.
• A key outcome of this meeting will be to identify commercial opportunities for environmental conservation and climate mitigation.

The conference was held over two days of discussions, including keynote speeches, plenary sessions, and breakout sessions, followed by a full day of exhibitions showcasing innovations in sustainable waste management

06/06 Highlights of Day 1 

Panel Session 1: Co-Created with Kenya Association of Manufacturers: Green Transition and the Circular Economy

Panel Session 2: The Role of Technology in Waste Management

07/06 Highlights of Day 2 Program

Keynote Speeches:

• Simon Kaheru – Vice Chairperson EABC
• Jackson Kiplagat, Head Of Conservation Programmes, WWF Kenya
• Mamo Boru Mamo, Director General, National Environment Management Authority, Kenya.
• Abubakr Hassan Abubakr, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Kenya

A Case Study on South-to-South Material recovery facility

• Raghavan Madhubala Nivedha CEO /Founder TRASHCON - https://trashcon.in/
• Moderator: Joyce Gachugi Waweru, CEO of Packaging Producer Responsibility Organization (PAKPRO).

Study Findings: The State of Waste Management Policy, Circular Economy, and Green
Finance in East Africa.

• Michael Kalo, Research Consultant, Taka Taka Ni Mali and Alliance for Science.

High-level policy panel: The status of waste management policies across East Africa

• Moderator: Ebenezer Amadi - Program Manager KEPSA
• 
  Setting the Scene: Phyllis Wakiaga, Senior Development Adviser, Tony Blair Institute for Global
• John Bosco Kalisa (see picture), CEO of East Africa Business Council
• Dipesh Pabari, Project Leader, The FlipFlopi
• Beatrice Nyabira, DLA Piper Africa
• Victor Ogola-Deputy CEO KEPSA
• Miriam Bomet - KAM

Parallel Session 3: Financing for Circular Economy

• Moderator: Judy Mulwa, Insights Manager, Climate Tech –GSMA
• Setting the Scene: Grace Cramer , Tech and Innovation Theme Leader, Transform – FCDO
• Mary Njuguna, Principal Specialist, Capital Markets, Financial Services Deepening (FSD)
• Eric Naivasha, Associate Director, Equity Group Foundation
• Sandeep Main, Associate Director, KPMG East Africa
• Eric Wambua, Snr VP, Head Of Corporate, SBM
• Charlotte Ludi Obado, Group Sustainability Manager , KCB

Parallel Session 4: Implementation Approaches to the Kenyan Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations.

• Moderator: Eric Ogalo, Danish Embassy
• Setting the Scene: David Ongare, Director Compliance, NEEMA
• Dr. Ayub Macharia, Director of Environment, Education and Awareness, Ministry of Environment.
• Sonia Orwa, C.E.O, Mr Green Africa · KEPRO
• Nicholas Jackson Ambwene, Country Co-Ordinator, PETpro Tanzania
• Joyce Gachugi Waweru, Country Manager, PETCO Kenya

08/06 Highlights of Day 3 

Setting the Scene for Sustainability, Sustainability Reporting, and Carbon Credits

• Dr. Pacifica Ogolla, Director, Directorate for Climate Change – Ministry of Environment Topic: Policy and Regulatory Landscape regarding carbon markets and financing 
• Ms. Judith Odhiambo, Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, KCB Group Topic: Green financing and the integration of carbon credits within the banking sector. 
• Mr. Abraham Serem, Ag. CEO, KenGen Topic: Case Study of successful carbon credit projects in Kenya Ms. 
• Rosalind Rwaru, EHS & Sustainability Lead, Bio Foods Limited Topic: What Climate action and financing means for SMEs 
• Mr. Joseph Murabula, CEO, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) Topic: Role of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving climate financing

International trade and economic development opportunities for Kenyan businesses with a focus on Clean Development Mechanism projects.

• Hon. Moses Kuria, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry