Successfully implementing partnership projects on waste management

The construction of a waste management facility is a complex, multi-year undertaking and is less suitable as an entry-level project. Therefore, the project partners should definitely make sure of some basic requirements:

• Joint project experience
  Mutual knowledge and trustful cooperation between the partners are decisive success factors for project implementation.
• Waste management expertise
  Strong technical expertise is absolutely essential. We advise municipalities to involve their own waste management utilities or external experts in the project.
• Location for the facility
  Identify a site, including the clarification of (municipal) ownership and usage rights, is usually very time-consuming. All questions regarding the site conditions should be discussed and all legal issues clarified before the project starts.

• Select projects according to needs, and follow a participatory approach
  The project can only be successful if it really meets the needs of the partner municipality. These should be identified in advance through delegation trips and expert missions. A participatory participation process on site strengthens project preparation.
• Analysing processes, structures, framework conditions and responsibilities
  A stakeholder and process analysis is essential for the project concept. It should be clarified which tasks will be allocated across the two partner municipalities and whether the necessary capacities are available.
• Collect data on the waste situation
  Knowledge of the waste quantities and composition is crucial for the plant design.
• Use funding and delegation trips
  Delegation trips in project preparation are useful for data research, process and structure analysis and other preparatory tasks. The SKEW supports delegation trips, for example, through the Small-Scale Projects Fund (KPF).
• Procurement of machinery, equipment and building materials
  Ordering and delivery requires time and organisation. The technical specifications, prices and procurement options in the partner region should be clarified before the project proposal is submitted.
• Approval procedure
  Approval procedures can lead to delays. A forward-looking assessment of the effort based on the knowledge possessed by the municipality in the Global South.
• Carry out preparatory and planning steps before launching the project
  In order to minimize delays, as many preparatory and planning steps as possible should be carried out before the project is launched.

• Including the waste management value chain
  The jointly developed project concept should pursue a systemic approach that takes into account not only plant construction, but also upstream and downstream phases of the value chain. This enables climate and development policy effects.
• Build on existing structures
  The feasibility of projects increases when existing structures and value chains can be used. The integration of actors from informal or voluntary initiatives supports the success of the project.
• Avoid making behavioural changes of citizens a key factor
  Projects should not be based on the assumption that the population's behaviour will change. The functionality of the facilities should not depend on this.
• Integrate training activities
  Training measures for personnel are crucial for the operation and maintenance of the system.
• Consider the informal sector
  Projects should analyse the informal sector and integrate it into planning in order to achieve positive developmental effects.
• Determine the form of organisation for operating the facility
  A sustainable form of business organisation should be adapted to the local conditions and administrative capacities. The partner municipality can provide advice and support.
• Plan the economic viability and cost coverage of the system
  Projects should aim to ensure that plant costs are covered through the successful marketing of recyclable materials in order to secure long-term operation.
• In the technical design of the facility, consider the factors of complexity and capacity versus feasibility
  The technical implementation should take into account the planned capacity and cost-effectiveness, with a choice of the simpler implementation variant favouring feasibility.
• Formulate specific objectives in the proposal and specify indicators with target values
  Objectives in applications should be clear and specific, based on SMART criteria and contain indicators with target values in order to be able to check and evaluate project implementation.

• If possible, procure machinery in the project country or neighbouring regions
  The amount of consulting and support required varies depending on the project partnership and the technical complexity of the plant. Close support is more likely for innovative plant concepts, especially during construction and plant commissioning.
• Procure machinery early
  Delays in machine deliveries occur, so it is advisable to order early in the first year of the project.
• Pay attention and react to the development of market prices
  Market prices influence financial sustainability, storage at fluctuating prices and sufficient storage space are recommended.
• Promote the long-term functionality of installed machinery and equipment
  Training of plant personnel, provision for spare parts and financial reserves are critical. Local sourcing and technical redundancy can mitigate risks.
• Plan for longer-term cooperation on the project within the municipal partnership
  The realisation of complex projects requires long-term cooperation beyond the end of the funding period in order to overcome challenges and achieve the objectives.