Jospong, Gambian councils agree on 100-day plan to improve waste management in Greater Banjul

The Gambia’s new waste-management concession partners have outlined a joint 100-day implementation plan aimed at improving waste collection, clearing refuse heaps and strengthening sanitation services across the Greater Banjul Area.

The commitment was made at a two-day strategic workshop held at The Kairaba Beach Hotel on November 9 and 10, 2026. The workshop brought together government agencies, the three Greater Banjul councils and the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), through Zoomlion Gambia and its local partner, Niro Company Limited.

The project took effect on October 28, 2026, with its first phase covering Banjul, Kanifing and Brikama, while other councils are expected to be brought on board in subsequent phases.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Alexander Kumi-Larbi Jnr, International Business Director of JGC, described waste management as a national responsibility and an investment rather than a cost. He noted that every dollar invested in the sector could generate seven dollars in benefits.

“No single ministry, council or company can deliver a cleaner Gambia alone,” Dr Kumi-Larbi said, urging all stakeholders to take collective responsibility for the success of the concession.

The three councils outlined operational challenges affecting sanitation delivery, including ageing workforces, frequent breakdowns of waste-management vehicles and inadequate facilities at dumpsites in Mile 2, Bakoteh and Tambana.

Under the concession, the operator is expected to finance, construct, equip and manage the required infrastructure, with payments tied to the availability of services. Abdulai Puye of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Directorate explained that a contract management committee, chaired by the Ministry of Finance, would meet quarterly to monitor performance and hold the partners accountable.

Enforcement of sanitation regulations also featured prominently in the discussions. Abdou Hydara of the National Environment Agency (NEA) proposed a 100-day programme of joint inspections with the councils, while participants agreed that existing anti-littering laws should be enforced without waiting for new by-laws.

“We will not wait for new by-laws before acting,” Mr Hydara said, adding that the NEA would work with the councils to enforce existing legislation.

On the second day, representatives of Nairobi City County and Zoomlion Kenya shared experiences from Kenya, where a similar partnership has helped clear most major legacy waste heaps in Nairobi. They emphasised, however, that changing public attitudes towards waste disposal remains a major challenge.

“Clearing the dumpsites was the easy part. Changing how people think about waste is the real work, and it never stops,” the Director of the Environment Department at Nairobi City County said.

Mr George Manu and Henrietta Baiden also presented the integrated waste-management system planned for The Gambia. The system will incorporate collection, transfer stations, a material recovery facility at Tambana, composting, recycling and engineered disposal, with the aim of replacing open dumping and burning.

Participants further agreed that existing waste collectors, recyclers and waste pickers should be integrated into the new system rather than displaced. They also stressed the need to recruit, train and retain local personnel to support implementation.

At the end of the workshop, each participating institution developed a 100-day action plan outlining its responsibilities towards implementing the concession. The plans are expected to be refined with measurable targets and consolidated into a single implementation document.