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AFRICA: Afri-Plastics Challenge to reduce plastic pollution at sea

AFRICA: Afri-Plastics Challenge to reduce plastic pollution at sea©Stephane Bidouze/Shutterstock

Reducing the impact of plastics on the marine environment in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the objective of Nesta Challenges which has just launched the Afri-Plastics Challenge. For this competition, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must submit their applications by September 15th, 2021.

Nesta Challenges is looking for SMEs and NGOs that propose sustainable and scalable solutions to plastic waste management (waste reduction, recycling or reuse). In most coastal countries in sub-Saharan Africa, plastic pollution in the sea is causing the death of animals and the drastic reduction of people’s livelihoods. Countries affected include Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Sudan and Tanzania.

Read Also –  AFRICA: The continent is tackling the tide of waste that fouls the environment

The best innovators will receive a total value of $14.54 million, as well as technical support for the development of their solutions. “The Government of Canada is supporting the initiative as part of the $100 million Marine Litter Mitigation Fund, announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in the municipality of Charlevoix in June 2018,” says Nesta Challenges. This centre of expertise on prizes and competitions, founded in 2012, is headed by Tris Dyson.

By encouraging NGOs and SMEs to innovate in waste management, Nesta Challenges hopes to contribute to the preservation of water resources. The centre also aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information on the competition, please visit this link.

Inès Magoum

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