Citizen Involvement in Clean­Up Activities in Bamako

D. Traoré, M. Keita, B. Sacko, M. Muller (2002)

This report documents an action research project carried out in Commune IV, Bamako, Mali. The municipality, local entrepreneurs and community leaders identified a problem with the participation of low income inhabitants in waste management. The action resarch project was designed to address this problem. It investigated four working hypotheses concerning:

• the general willingness of the population to engage in waste management
• the role of underprivileged populations in waste management;
• the importance of traditional power structures to support innovation in waste management
• African women as key players in waste management.

This document outlines the methodology used to conduct the research including the creation and training of a multi-stakeholder research team, research implementation and the review and dissemination of lessons learnt.

The team developed a common waste management vision, which, led to greater participation in maintaining the commune clean. The project also created a framework for further stakeholder coordination. The sustainability of these results depends upon: proper waste management inside homes; the dissemination of norms and the application of sanctions; and capacity building for private and public sector workers.

Edited version from French publication

- Download:

WD13_eng.pdf  (1.28 MB)

- Price:

€ 10.00