Webinar Series on Understanding Ewaste Value Chain in Humanitarian Settings

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Access to safe, affordable and sustainable energy is key for human development. In line with this goal, many humanitarian initiatives focus on meeting the energy demands of the displaced population using off-grid solutions such as solar lanterns, solar home systems, and electronic cookstoves. These solutions are cost effective and environmentally friendly compared to diesel powered generators. However, when these products near their end-of-life, the critical question of what happens once they stop working or are beyond repair, remains. For example, it is estimated that only 1% of electronic waste (e-waste) is recycled while the rest ends up being burnt, informally disposed of or hibernated in displacement settings. Furthermore, the lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries used in off-grid solutions contain toxic substances which can cause environmental pollution and damage human health, if not properly disposed of towards their end-of-life. Thus, there is a need to better understand the e-waste value chain as well as the opportunities and costs involved with e-waste management in humanitarian settings.

This series of two webinars aims to shed light on the rising issue of e-waste in humanitarian settings as well as the complexity of e-waste management. The first webinar in the series will set the scene by introducing the challenge of e-waste management in the humanitarian context. The second webinar will then dive deeper and invite practitioners from different parts of the world to share their experiences in a panel discussion.

This webinar series is organized jointly by GIZ Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings program and GPA Coordination Unit.

• Webinar 1: Understanding E-waste
• Webinar 2: Policy Landscape

Webinar 1: Understanding E-waste in Humanitarian Contexts

The first webinar in the series provides an introduction to the issue of e-waste in humanitarian contexts. A joint presentation by UNITAR/GPA and GIZ ESDS will capture the scale and complexity of the issue, along with introducing the e-waste value chain in the humanitarian context. A presentation by the University of Edinburgh will then focus on the technical aspects of e-waste management. This will be followed by a presentation from IOM on the E-waste Project in Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda. The webinar will close with a Q&A with the audience.

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• Understanding E-waste in humanitarian settings

Webinar 2: Navigating the policy landscape for e-waste management in the humanitarian context

Second in the series, this webinar dives deeper into the policy landscape for e-waste management in displacement contexts. A detailed presentation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) followed by a panel discussion on sharing concrete policy examples from the ground will be shared. Practitioners from different countries will also showcase their experiences and learnings, along with an open Q&A session with the audience.

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Navigating the policy landscape for e-waste management in the humanitarian context

Further Readings

• Humanitarian E-Waste Network: cross-organizational technical working group on E-waste Reduction in Displacement Settings.
• What is e-waste?

Publications/Resources from Displacement Settings

• GIZ Energy Solutions in Displacement Settings (ESDS) (2021). Baseline Assessment on Electronic Waste Management and Extended Producer Responsibility in Displacement Settings in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda
• GPA & NORCAP (2021). Electronic Waste (E-waste) Management for Off-grid Solar Solutions in Displacement Settings
• GIZ ESDS (2020). Solar E-Waste Reduction in Displacement Settings
• MEI (2019). Energy and Displacement in Eight Objects: Insights from Sub-Saharan Africa
• IOM: E-Waste Management Project in Uganda

Regulatory Framework

• E-waste Policy Handbook
• E-Waste Legislative Framework Map
• GOGLA's webinar on E-waste Policy and Regulation
• CLASP (2022): Bending Toward Circular: Using Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes to Transition to Appliance Circular Economy
• List of policy and regulatory framework for e-waste in Southern and East Africa.
• Regulatory framework for e-waste management in Ghana

Toolkits

• GOGLA: E-waste Toolkit and Business Blueprints for E-waste Management
• EEP Africa E-waste Toolkit
• ITU (2021). E-waste Policy Toolkit
• ACE (2019). E-waste Policy Handbook
• GIZ (2019). E-Waste Training Manual
• Step Initiative. E-waste Business Plan Calculation Tool
• Innovation Norway. Innovation-friendly Procurement Tools for the Humanitarian Sector
• EforA. Practical Guidance for Designing & Implementing Field Testing for Appliances & Productive Use Equipment
• UN Global E-Waste Monitor
• Picosolar Repair Guide
• PREVENT Waste Alliance. EPR Toolbox

Battery

• End-of-Life Management of Batteries in the Off-Grid Solar Sector
• Case study from Uganda and Senegal
• Sofies. Operational Guidelines for Handling Used Batteries in the Off-grid Solar Sector
• WEF (2021). Battery Value Chain in Africa
• Shell Foundation (2018). Energy Storage Trends for Off-grid Services in Emerging Markets
• Lead-Acid Battery Recycling in Africa

E-waste Management

• ITU (2022). Global and complementary actions for electronics extended producer responsibility
• Munro,P; Samrakoon, S. et.al. (2022). Towards a repair research agenda for off-grid solar e-waste in the Global South
• CDC (2021). How are Off-grid Solar Customers in Kenya Managing their Electronic Waste?
• ACE (2021). E-Waste Guide for Stand-Alone Solar in Nigeria
• Efficiency for Action (2021). Innovations and Lessons in Solar E-waste Management
• Rabaia, M, Abdelkareem, M. et.al (2021). Environmental Impacts of Solar Energy Systems: A Review
• ICRC (2021). Sustainable Management of ICRC’s Garage Waste
• Spear, Rowan, Cross, Jamie, Tait, Jeremy, Goyal, Richa., 2020. Pathway to Repair in the Global Off-grid Solar Sector
• EforA (2019). Solar E-Waste Management Best Practices for the Off-Grid Renewable Energy Sector Workshop Report
• CLASP (2019). Solar E-waste Market Scoping Report
• Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, Life Cycle Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Microgrid Systems in Off-Grid Communities
• DFID (2016). Case Studies from Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda on e-waste Impact and Mitigation Options
• DFID (2016). Cost Benefit Analysis and Capacity Assessment for the Management of Electronic Waste (E-Waste) In the Off-grid Renewable Energy Sector in Kenya
• Duke University. Off-Grid Solar E-Waste: Impacts & Solutions in East Africa
• Off-grid solar waste in sub-Saharan Africa: Market dynamics, barriers to sustainability, and circular economy solutions

Other Resources

• StEP Initiative. https://www.step-initiative.org/index.html
• UNICEF (2020). A third of the world’s children poisoned by lead, new groundbreaking analysis says. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/press-releases/third-worlds-children-poisoned-lead-new-groundbreaking-analysis-says
• Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE) & E-waste Coalition (2019). A New Circular Vision for Electronics: Time for a Global Reboot. https://www.weforum.org/reports/a-new-circular-vision-for-electronics-time-for-a-global-reboot
• PREVENT Waste Alliance - Closing e-waste cycles working group
• Concepts for Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy (Sector Project). https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/15109.html
• Go Circular - Establish a circular economy. https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/109471.html
• Environmentally sound disposal and recycling of e-waste in Ghana. https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/63039.html
• ITU - Green GovStack
• PREVENT Waste Alliance - RRR Accelerator