On the occasion of International Zero Waste Day, celebrated annually on March 30, the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) reaffirms its commitment to promoting sustainable public governance models based on sound resource management and significant waste reduction.

Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, this international day provides a key platform for raising awareness and mobilizing action around the challenges related to waste prevention, reduction, and recovery. It is fully aligned with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to responsible consumption and production, environmental protection, and ecosystem preservation.

In the African context, marked by sustained population growth, rapid urbanization, and intensified economic activity, waste management has become a major challenge for public authorities. The accumulation of solid waste, the lack of suitable infrastructure, and the still limited recycling and recovery practices are all factors likely to affect public health, environmental quality, and the sustainability of economic systems.

Faced with these challenges, a structural transformation of public policies is essential. This transformation relies on the adoption of integrated and innovative approaches, structured around several strategic axes, including:

• strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks for waste management;
• integrating the principles of the circular economy and eco-design into national development strategies;
• promoting appropriate and sustainable technological solutions;
• developing multi-sectoral partnerships involving public, private, and civil society actors;
• building the capacities of state and local government administrations;
• raising public awareness of eco-responsibility; and
• prioritizing waste management as a tool for combating climate change. As a pan-African institution dedicated to strengthening administrative capacities, CAFRAD plays a central role in supporting African states in the design and implementation of effective and innovative public policies. Through its training programs, research activities, and platforms for sharing experiences, it contributes to the dissemination of best practices and the emergence of solutions adapted to the realities of the continent.

The celebration of International Zero Waste Day thus provides an opportune moment to reaffirm the need for collective and coordinated mobilization to promote sustainable modes of production and consumption. It also calls for placing waste management at the heart of public policy priorities, as a strategic lever for sustainable development, the creation of green jobs, and the resilience of territories.

On this occasion, CAFRAD reiterates its commitment to working alongside its member states and international partners to strengthen high-performing, accountable, and resolutely sustainable public administrations, in line with the aspirations of African peoples and the requirements of international development agendas.