Waste is an idea whose time has come, now we must give it legs: experts

AIMING to turn waste into value, the Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives Programme (Zeri) has presented a number of income-generating strategies to potential donors in Windhoek over the last two days.

With the first phase on identifying ways of using the continent’s waste resources to uplift and empower Africans having ended, the project is now looking for financial aid to implement the ideas. The United Nations Development Programme has funded the project over the years.Zeri aims to promote sustainable use of Africa’s bio-resources (including waste) through science and technology to generate new value-added and marketable products from what was previously ignored.The processing of seaweed at Lüderitz by a private company and a community project at Henties Bay, which collects kelp to be used as fertiliser, are realisations of the Zeri initiative in Namibia.The regional project in Africa has included work on seaweed, mushrooms and water hyacinths in eight countries across the continent.Zeri began in 1994:the key concept is transforming organic waste into higher value products.With the assistance of the United Nations University, the Zeri Foundation was established in 1996 with the aim of further developing the Zeri vision and translating ideas and research results into action.Soon afterwards, Zeri initiatives began in Namibia and the project has been resident at Unam since 2001, where it’s director, Professor Mshigeni, experiments with the potential of mushrooms.Addressing the conference in Windhoek on Wednesday, President Sam Nujoma – an avid supporter of the project – impressed on delegates the importance of the project for the continent.The President said the transformation of resources into new products would generate more income for many countries and create much-needed employment opportunities.He added that it would particularly benefit rural women and the youth in many African societies.”In my view, the vision of the Zeri regional project and its related activities are important and hold a bright promise of taking forward Africa’s quest for sustainable socio-economic development,” he said.”This project will certainly be part of our regional integration process as it can easily be implemented through SADC National Committees.”Apart from Namibia, SADC countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia all participated in the pilot phase from 2000-2003, along with Senegal and Gambia.Three new SADC member states – Botswana, DRC and Mozambique – are expected to join the initiative, as are Cameroon and Uganda.The SADC Deputy Executive Secretary said it was a challenge for donors to support the hope Zeri brought to the poor, unemployed, undernourished and other vulnerable members of African society.Abdoulie Janneh, the Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP in Africa, said the full realisation of Zeri’s potential had been constrained by a lack of innovative approaches, inadequate policy and institutional frameworks as well as by a lack of sustained political commitment.The UNDP says that in light of the ever-increasing competitive global economic environment, the transformation of Africa’s indigenous resources into competitive products is the key to enhancing its participation in international trade and in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.The conference ended yesterday.The United Nations Development Programme has funded the project over the years.Zeri aims to promote sustainable use of Africa’s bio-resources (including waste) through science and technology to generate new value-added and marketable products from what was previously ignored.The processing of seaweed at Lüderitz by a private company and a community project at Henties Bay, which collects kelp to be used as fertiliser, are realisations of the Zeri initiative in Namibia.The regional project in Africa has included work on seaweed, mushrooms and water hyacinths in eight countries across the continent.Zeri began in 1994:the key concept is transforming organic waste into higher value products.With the assistance of the United Nations University, the Zeri Foundation was established in 1996 with the aim of further developing the Zeri vision and translating ideas and research results into action.Soon afterwards, Zeri initiatives began in Namibia and the project has been resident at Unam since 2001, where it’s director, Professor Mshigeni, experiments with the potential of mushrooms.Addressing the conference in Windhoek on Wednesday, President Sam Nujoma – an avid supporter of the project – impressed on delegates the importance of the project for the continent.The President said the transformation of resources into new products would generate more income for many countries and create much-needed employment opportunities.He added that it would particularly benefit rural women and the youth in many African societies.”In my view, the vision of the Zeri regional project and its related activities are important and hold a bright promise of taking forward Africa’s quest for sustainable socio-economic development,” he said.”This project will certainly be part of our regional integration process as it can easily be implemented through SADC National Committees.”Apart from Namibia, SADC countries like Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zambia all participated in the pilot phase from 2000-2003, along with Senegal and Gambia.Three new SADC member states – Botswana, DRC and Mozambique – are expected to join the initiative, as are Cameroon and Uganda.The SADC Deputy Executive Secretary said it was a challenge for donors to support the hope Zeri brought to the poor, unemployed, undernourished and other vulnerable members of African society.Abdoulie Janneh, the Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP in Africa, said the full realisation of Zeri’s potential had been constrained by a lack of innovative approaches, inadequate policy and institutional frameworks as well as by a lack of sustained political commitment.The UNDP says that in light of the ever-increasing competitive global economic environment, the transformation of Africa’s indigenous resources into competitive products is the key to enhancing its participation in international trade and in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.The conference ended yesterday.