In 2006 WASTE was asked by Asian partner organisations to participate in several Asia Pro Eco projects on solid waste financed by the European Union. “Integrated approaches to improving the urban environment in Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)”
The initiatives focused on the urban environment (specifically on waste, and water and sanitation) as means of addressing urban poverty in a holistic manner. Neighbourhood planning and building the capacity of communities to mobilise and express their concerns lead the actions which improved the environment, and provided incomes for some of the poorest residents. This provided a route towards addressing other inter-linked problems, and a path out of poverty. The main direct beneficiaries were slums residents and community leaders; indirect beneficiaries were other slum dwellers, small business owners and local authorities.
The project's cities were: Faridpur in Bangladesh, Butwal in Nepal and Kurunagela in Sri Lanka.