Building Local Government Capacity for Improved Solid Waste Management Systems

For the world to be successful in preventing the estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic that flow into the ocean each year, most of it from land-based sources, improving on-the-ground waste management services performed by local governments will be critical. Despite their importance, local governments often do not have the institutional capacity—the knowledge and skills, or the infrastructure and financial resources—to plan, build, and operate effective solid waste management systems. USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program seeks to build local government capacity, so they are equipped to manage their waste systems and advance local circular economies.

One way the program is doing this is through a USAID-developed tool, the Solid Waste Capacity Index for Local Governments (SCIL, pronounced SKILL), which provides a first step in building a more robust and effective solid waste management system. The SCIL enables local governments to self-assess their strengths and weaknesses—resulting in a set of scores that are used to develop an actionable plan to improve the areas that need it most. The SCIL has been piloted in four languages in more than 17 cities across seven countries; with larger cities working with their sub-districts to conduct further SCIL assessments.