WASTE PICKERS
International Coordination meeting in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya, February 25th - March 2nd, 2023
Abstract
The International Coordination Meeting is an important milestone in the formalization of the IAWP. It is an outcome of years of various solidarity initiatives taken by waste-pickers movements and organizations.
The International Coordination Meeting is an important milestone in the formalization of the IAWP. It is an outcome of years of various solidarity initiatives taken by waste-pickers movements and organizations. In 2008, waste pickers across the world agreed to constitute the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers. It was followed by various international events organized by waste-pickers, where representatives of local, national and regional waste picker movements, networks and organizations interacted and exchanged ideas with each other.
In 2020, with COVID 19 pandemic raging across the world, aggressive, restrictive and authoritarian policies of many governments impacted the waste-pickers the most. The pandemic was just a recent addition to the many crises around the world, which includes climate change, increasing inequality, withdrawal of publicly funded welfare and social protection programmes, and growing plastic pollution. This list is not exhaustive. With all of these crises affecting waste pickers, leadership of waste-pickers organizations decided to strengthen and fasten their efforts to formalize the Global Alliance of Waste Pickers. The representatives of various national and regional waste pickers organizations and movements met every month for more than three years. In their meetings, waste pickers leadership changed the name from Global Alliance of Waste Pickers to International Alliance of Waste Pickers. The waste-pickers leadership authored and approved the constitution of the IAWP. In addition, the waste-pickers leadership of IAWP engaged in advocacy efforts within the global plastics treaty negotiations and the International Labour Organization, and made significant gains with world governments in recognising the environmental contribution of waste-pickers.
The coordination meeting in Nairobi is a momentous occasion for celebrating the achievements and gains of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers. The meeting is a moment of reflection on the challenges waste pickers face around the planet. The coordination meeting is an opportunity for planning the next steps for formalization and registration of IAWP.
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