The organizations listed in this WAW database were the result of the effort to merge in one place multiple waste picker related organizations data bases in 2014. Visit the current list of affiliates to the International Alliance of Waste Pickers.

Association de Femmes Recuperatrices du Benin (AFRB)

Cotonou, Benin

Primary information

Year formed: 1997
Registered in: 2000
Language: French
Number of members: 1,000
Type of members: Members are waste pickers
Occupation of members: Waste pickers
Type of Organization: Association
Organizational Reach: Local
Workplace of members: Door to door, Dumpsite, Street
Organization Structure: General assembly, Permanent Bureau, General membership. Office bearers are elected in a General Assembly while Constitutional meetings are held monthly, quarterly and annually.
Objectives: Recycling, recognition of waste pickers, social and economic empowerment of waste pickers, improve waste picker living conditions, improve waste picker working conditions, contribute to cleaning the environment, strengthen unity and cohesion amongst waste pickers,
Education and training: Literacy & school
Partnering organizations: OXFAM Quebec
Funding: Self funded
Internal elections: Every 3 years
Women composition: 100,0%

Social networking sites

Benefits

Member benefits: Education programmes, Health care & insurance, Id cards, Job creation & source of income, Occupational health & safety

Services

How is the relationship with the municipality?: Poor and/or non existent
Types of materials: Glass, Household items, Plastics
Are they selling to middlemen?: No
Challenges to access waste: Lack of education & training, Lack of recognition, Lack of unity between organizations, Transportation

Complementary Information

Information source: WORD 26/06/2013, Africa 2012, Africa 2013

Comments / Narrative

Dantokpa market is one of the largest markets in West Africa. It covers 24 hectares in the centre of Cotonou and some 25000 people work there. The stall holders mainly women trade all kind of items including textiles, electronics, goods, households, jewellry etc. Women waste pickers trade their recyclables in the above international market and have their meeting place there. Long term plan includes strengthening the organization and generate actions and strategies to value the profession and also build a network with other waste picker organizations nationally and internationally and share information, knowledge and skills and be able to negotiate with government to prioritize waste pickers in the waste management system.

Contact information

Available information upon request.