Togo National Roadmap for Reducing SLCP Emissions in Solid Waste – Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

Report on Togo’s Strategic Framework for Sustainable Solid Waste Management

Introduction: A National Strategy Aligned with Global Goals

The Republic of Togo has developed a comprehensive strategic framework to overhaul its Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems. This framework consists of two complementary documents: a National Roadmap addressing country-wide needs, including small towns and rural areas, and a specific Action Plan for the Greater Lomé metropolitan area. This dual approach ensures that SWM improvements contribute directly to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by enhancing municipal services in both urban and non-urban settings. The core of this strategy is a significant focus on organic waste management to advance national environmental and socio-economic objectives.

Core Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The primary goal of the initiative is to mitigate Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), particularly methane, while simultaneously strengthening the entire SWM value chain. The strategies are designed to deliver integrated benefits across multiple SDGs:

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The prioritization of interventions is based on their potential to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) and SLCP emissions, directly addressing climate change targets.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The vision to transform waste into a valuable resource fosters a circular economy, contributing to sustainable production patterns and waste reduction.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The framework includes targeted policies to promote women’s economic inclusion, improve working conditions, and formalize informal waste sector activities through financial support, training, and institutional backing.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The plans aim to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities by improving waste management infrastructure and practices.

Methodology: A Participatory and Analytical Approach

The development of the Roadmap and Action Plan was rooted in a collaborative process, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This involved extensive local stakeholder engagement to ensure the strategies are contextually relevant and widely supported.

Phased Development Process

1. Stakeholder Engagement: A series of consultations, workshops, and trainings were conducted to gather input from national and local constituents.
2. Needs and Gap Analysis: Existing SWM challenges were identified, and a comprehensive analysis of current policies, practices, and projects was performed to pinpoint discrepancies between the current state and desired outcomes.
3. Strategic Prioritization: Key objectives and pillars of change were defined, with interventions prioritized based on their SLCP mitigation potential, feasibility, and alignment with existing national policies.
4. Validation: The proposed strategies were validated through final consultations with key stakeholders to ensure consensus and viability.

A Holistic Renewed Vision for the Waste Sector

In early 2024, stakeholders collectively established a unified vision to guide the initiative. This vision statement encapsulates the project’s commitment to transforming the waste sector into a driver of sustainable development.

Vision Statement

“The Republic of Togo will transform its waste management sector, investing in proper management for waste to be transformed into a valuable resource contributing to economic growth, public well-being and improved air quality. This transformation will promote job creation and the development of sustainable products, fostering a circular economy that benefits both the environment and society. As a result, Togo can emerge as a model of waste management in West Africa.”

Challenges and Recommendations for Organic Waste Management

While the framework is comprehensive, specific focus is placed on organic waste, which is a primary source of methane emissions in landfills. The successful implementation of the National Roadmap and the Greater Lomé Action Plan is expected to substantially improve SWM practices, reduce GHG emissions, and achieve long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article’s primary focus is on improving Solid Waste Management (SWM) through a “National Roadmap” and a “Greater Lomé Action Plan.” This directly addresses the need to make cities and human settlements sustainable by managing waste effectively.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article explicitly states that the strategies “prioritize methane mitigation” and aim to “reduce GHG and SLCP emissions.” This shows a direct commitment to combating climate change and its impacts.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The vision for Togo is to transform waste “into a valuable resource” and foster a “circular economy.” This aligns with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article highlights that the policies “recognizing the gender disparities in SWM” and “seek to promote women’s economic inclusion, improve working conditions” through “financial support, training and institutional backing.” This is a clear effort to empower women in the waste sector.

5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The initiative aims to transform the waste sector to contribute to “economic growth” and “promote job creation.” It also focuses on improving “working conditions and dignify daily, informal waste-related activities,” which relates to providing decent work.

6. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • By improving SWM and reducing emissions, the plan aims to enhance “public well-being and improved air quality,” which are crucial components of good health.

7. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The development of the reports involved a “thorough local stakeholder engagement process, including a series of consultations, virtual and in-person workshops, trainings and webinars,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership approach to achieve the goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.6 (under SDG 11)

   • By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The entire article is centered on this target, detailing Togo’s plans for nationwide SWM improvements and enhancing air quality.

2. Target 13.2 (under SDG 13)

   • Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The National Roadmap and Greater Lomé Action Plan, with their strong emphasis on “methane mitigation” and GHG reduction, are perfect examples of integrating climate action into national and municipal planning.

3. Target 12.5 (under SDG 12)

   • By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. This is reflected in the vision to transform waste into a “valuable resource” and foster a “circular economy.”

4. Target 5.a (under SDG 5)

   • Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources… The article directly mentions policies that “promote women’s economic inclusion” through “financial support, training and institutional backing.”

5. Target 8.3 (under SDG 8)

   • Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation… The vision explicitly includes promoting “job creation” and contributing to “economic growth” through the waste sector.

6. Target 3.9 (under SDG 3)

   • By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The goal of achieving “improved air quality” by mitigating SLCPs directly contributes to this target.

7. Target 17.17 (under SDG 17)

   • Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The project’s methodology, based on a “participatory approach” with “national and local stakeholders collaboratively” defining the vision, exemplifies this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Reduction in GHG and SLCP Emissions

   • The article’s stated goal to “reduce GHG and SLCP emissions” implies that a key indicator for success will be the measured decrease in these emissions from the waste sector, directly tracking progress towards Target 13.2.

2. Improvement in Air Quality

   • The objective of “improved air quality” suggests that progress can be measured by monitoring levels of air pollutants, particularly those related to waste management, which connects to Target 11.6 and 3.9.

3. Number of Jobs Created

   • The vision to “promote job creation” implies that an indicator of success for Target 8.3 will be the number of new, formal jobs created within the transformed waste management sector.

4. Level of Women’s Economic Inclusion

   • The plan to provide “financial support, training and institutional backing” for women suggests that progress towards Target 5.a can be measured by the number of women who receive these benefits and are formally integrated into the waste economy.

5. Amount of Waste Transformed into a Resource

   • The goal of creating a “circular economy” where waste is a “valuable resource” implies that progress towards Target 12.5 could be measured by the tonnage or percentage of waste that is recycled, composted, or otherwise repurposed instead of being sent to landfills.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ccacoalition.org