Waste Management Micro-Enterprise Program
fund@mayorsmigrationcouncil.org
Related Sustainable Development Goals and Global Compact for Migration Objectives
Key objective
Freetown was selected as a recipient of the inaugural Global Cities Fund for Inclusive Pandemic Response, a $1,000,000 initiative to respond to the unmet needs of cities as they support migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people (IDPs) during Covid-19. Freetown is using the funds to expand its Waste Management Micro-Enterprise program to ensure more youth living in informal settlements, many of whom are rural migrants, access the opportunity to jointly improve their livelihoods and the public health of their communities now and in the future. The objective of the project is to use the Global Cities Fund to expand its Waste Management Micro-Enterprise program in Freetown to ensure more youth living in informal settlements, many of whom are rural migrants, access the opportunity to jointly improve their livelihoods and the public health of their communities now and in the future.
Main activities
Freetown is using the funds to expand its Waste Management Micro-Enterprise Program to 40 new enterprises to deliver waste collection services within informal settlements and to other Freetown residents. Through this program expansion, the city ensures that more youth living in informal settlements, many of whom are rural migrants, access the opportunity to jointly improve their livelihoods and improve public health outcomes for many communities and the city. Successful applicants are provided with initial business investment support that includes a motorized tricycle cart, sanitation tools, business registration, training and business development mentoring. The income generated from the waste collection helps the entrepreneurs pay back 80 percent of the cost of equipment over the course of a year, which will in turn unlock funds for a new set of youth to participate in the program next year. The program builds on gains made by 80 existing waste management micro-enterprises who, through Freetown’s support over the last year, are providing waste collection services to almost 30,000 households.
Beneficiaries
Youth living in informal settlements
