CityLinks Mali final report

With unprecedented urban population growth and poverty, the city of Bamako is confronted with an urban infrastructure that is deteriorating; thereby causing continuous erosion in already limited public services. From the on-the-ground diagnostic analysis appeared that 1) there was trash collection only from a limited number of households and business; 2) trash was deposited in undesignated public areas; 3) landfill was unreliable in providing final disposal services; 4) Bamako's solid waste management system was not functioning; 5) the solid waste management system did not provide for clear responsibilities and roles; 6) collection was inefficient; 7) outreach to residents was non-existent and 8) there was a need for tangible results, not another report.
Before the impossibility to provide for a solid waste management system within the framework of the project two specific pilot areas were selected that could be replicated to a greater area of Bamako. The pilot project created a learning laboratory for solid waste management in the city of Bamako. The education campaign raised an awareness within the community, resulting in improved participation of citizens willing to pay for garbage collection, increased customers and revenues for garbage collection firms, less unauthorised dumping within the project area, and the creation of monthly clean-up days within the communes.
Project funds spent on physical construction at the dumpsite and on equipment, such as shovels and tractors had multiple benefits. The equipment created additional capacity within the project area, improved participation in clean-up days by community organizations, and a controlled designated area to dispose of garbage.