Partnering with Stakeholders

When dealing with businesses in sanitation and waste management, WASTE applies the so-called Diamond Approach

WASTE developed this approach in the field, in its projects on sanitation and business. It shows very clearly how the various stakeholders in sanitation interact.

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WASTE connects all these stakeholders so that they can work together to build a viable system:

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• Customers (such as households) are willing to pay for sanitation and waste

• Businesses (small and big) see business opportunities in waste and sanitation

• Financing institutions offer credit products to customers and businesses

• (Local) governments are responsible for setting rules and regulations

WASTE only facilitates the improvement of stakeholder interaction, it does not become part of the system itself. By establishing these diamonds, the interactions can continue after the project stops and the interference by WASTE and any additional partners ends, thus achieving sustainability.

Unique to Malawi is WASTE’s approach to validated research of commercial opportunities for waste management businesses. The economic environment in Malawi remains a challenge and businesses struggle to take risk. Waste reuse carries an even larger risk component to traditional businesses due to lack of environmental awareness and enforcement. To reduce this risk, WASTE aims to demonstrate the viability of a particular waste business, before inviting the private sector to take the risk.