The European Investment Bank (EIB) estimates that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste are entering the oceans every year, most of which starts out as waste discarded on the ground or in waterways. This pollution threatens estuaries, coral reefs, fish and millions of families that rely on the oceans.
Oceans provide countless benefits to the planet and people, such as food, medicines, renewable energy and natural resources. The value of goods and services produced by marine and coastal resources is estimated at €2.5 trillion a year.
But around 2 billion people around the globe do not have good waste collection systems to catch these plastics. Better and more efficient wastewater treatment in many developing countries would stop some of the high amount of microplastics ending up in the oceans every year.
The Clean Ocean Initiative (COI), which forms the basis and framework for COPIP, was launched by the European Investment Bank, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) group and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in October 2018. The three banks have committed to a COI financing goal, including both loans and grants of €2 billion between October 2018 and December 2023. In October 2020, the Italian and Spanish national promotional banks CDP and ICO joined the initiative. At the One Ocean Summit in February 2022, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) became the sixth member of the Clean Oceans Initiative, and the initiative announced it would raise its funding target to €4 billion by the end of 2025.
Tetra Tech International Development was selected to carry out the programmes’ regional response along the coastlines of Sub-Saharan Africa. As the Clean Oceans Project Identification Preparation (COPIP) Programme, we identified and prepared innovative projects with our partner EGIS Eau that had potential to reduce the discharge of plastics to the oceans.
To do this, we focused on identification of a wide range of projects. From solid waste to wastewater and storm water management, our team of infrastructure experts brought together the knowledge and experience needed to prepare bankable projects that improve the region’s infrastructure and support transition to circular economy.
The programme focused on identifying, assessing and preparing solid waste management projects in sub-Saharan Africa for implementation, resulting in the identification of a pipeline of 20 projects and eight subsequent pre-feasibility studies. Six full feasibility studies have been developed to take projects with potential investments of at least €20 million into the next stage of the infrastructure project lifecycle of detailed design, procurement and construction.
To support the development of the feasibility studies, the programme implemented two pilot projects as proof of concept to test new approaches and to build awareness and commitment among local stakeholders.
The projects were selected and implemented in coastal and near-coastal riverine cities where the needs are clear and tangible, and the likelihood for sustainability, success and demonstration value are high.
The programme’s stakeholders were an integral part to the Clean Oceans programme who accompanied and informed every step in this process. To find practical solutions that respond to varying needs and contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa, we worked with regional, national and local authorities and organisations – including NGOs, research institutions and universities – and private sector companies involved in solid waste management.
Tackling the waste problem in Sub-Saharan Africa
COPIP’s Team Leader, Charles Reeve, talks about the waste problem in Sub-Saharan Africa and how the Clean Oceans Initiative and COPIP are developing solution that help tackle it.
Building resilience in sub-Saharan Africa
COPIP’s Environmental Expert, Joanes Odero, on how innovative waste management projects and a circular economy approach are helping to build resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa.
