Recycling Matters is a three-year initiative to improve the prosperity and social cohesion of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors, while fostering sustainable community recycling systems. This locally-led initiative consists of two awards focusing on: 1) Gračanica/Graçanicë and 2) Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje. By facilitating sustainable recycling models, these two awards will increase the amount of recyclable waste that enters the circular economy while increasing the socio-economic cohesion among community members. This initiative contributes to USAID’s overall goal of increasing opportunities for inclusive democratic and economic participation.
Activities
- Augment livelihood opportunities among Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors by increasing the volume of recyclable materials they can access and sell for profit.
- Vertically integrate the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors within the public and private sector waste management systems through established cross-sectoral partnerships.
- Develop sustainable recycling models by encouraging separation-at-source practices across all community levels, increasing awareness of recycling and environmental protection, and establishing a waste separation center.
- Increase social cohesion among majority and non-majority communities through the collaboration of informal waste collectors, local leadership, and municipal officials.
- Improve the work conditions and safety of informal waste collectors.
Expected Results
- Increased job opportunities and wages for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors engaged in the recycling sector.
- Establishment of a Resource Center to support Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors.
- Establishment of a Waste Separation Center.
- Enhanced skills of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors through training in novel recycling approaches.
- Improved work conditions and enhanced safety standards for participating Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian informal waste collectors.
- Increased recyclable waste separated at source and processed at the Waste Separation Center.
- Increased amount of municipal solid waste diverted from landfills.
- Sustainable recycling processes established in participating municipalities that can be replicated in other localities.
Additional Information
PROJECT FUNDING
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Kosovo)
PROJECT DURATION
August 2022 – August 2025
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
Democracy Plus (Gracanica)
European Center for Minority Issues (Fushe Kosove)
TOTAL FUNDING
$4,000,000 ($2,000,000 per award)
KEY COUNTERPARTS
Municipalities of Gračanica/Graçanicë and Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Informal Waste Collectors, Communications for Social Development, Roma Versitas Kosovo
WHERE WE WORK
Gračanica/Graçanicë
Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje
CONTACTS
Marina Dimitrijević and Flora Arifi, Project Management Specialists
Democracy Plus for USAID Kosovo