Capacity-Building and Technical Training Programme on Waste Characterization Survey Methodology to strengthen national waste governance and planning in Lesotho

Developing localised, reliable, and timely data on solid waste generation, physical composition, and material flows is a mandatory prerequisite for effective municipal waste management planning and the successful rollout of circular economy instruments. This is especially true for policy instruments such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where the financial and operational obligations of producers are directly calculated based on the specific plastic and packaging fractions moving through municipal waste streams.

While the Government of Lesotho has made notable regulation progresses in establishing a modern waste management framework, including the launch of the National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy in early 2026, systematic and empirical waste characterisation data remains severely limited.

Most historical waste figures used by decision-makers are derived from regional proxies or outdated studies, constraining evidence-based planning. Furthermore, municipal and local authorities in Lesotho have lacked standardised methodologies to safely conduct their own physical surveys. To bridge these critical data gaps and equip local institutions with self-sustaining analytical capabilities, this technical training was designed to integrate conventional field protocols with cutting-edge digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) data collection applications.

Day 01: Concepts, Design, and Digital Innovation (15 June 2026)

Day 1 focused on theoretical foundations, methodological design, policy relevance, and digital innovation. The session was moderated by Prof. Timothy Thamae from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) Innovation Hub. The workshop commenced with many high-level opening remarks from key national and international dignitaries. Alexander Mangwiro (Regional Coordinator, Chemicals, Waste Management & Air Quality Subprogramme, UNEP Africa Office) and Dr. Taye Amssalu (Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Lesotho) provided international framing, highlighting how waste metrics align with SDG Targets 11.6.1 (municipal waste management) and 12.5.1 (national recycling rates). Welcome remarks were added to the workshop through statements by Qonggong Hoohlo (Acting Director of Department of Environment – Ministry of Environment and Forestry), who noted that industrial growth and trade must be decoupled from plastic pollution through instruments like EPR. Thabo Mofosi, Minister of Environment & Forestry, delivered the keynote address, formally launching the capacity-building drive and declaring that scientific waste characterisation is a national environmental priority for Lesotho.

The technical training kicked off with an ice-breaking session led by Dr. Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage (IGES-CCET), followed by an introductory overview of the workshop by Dr. Nhubu Trust (Executive Director, Future Projects Consulting Africa). The subsequent modules walked participants through the end-to-end survey pipeline:

• ● Module 1 (Koki Takano, UN-Habitat - Online): Highlighted the policy relevance of the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT), showing how data directly translates into evidence-based decision-making and global SDG reporting.
• ● Module 2 (Dr. Nhubu Trust): Guided participants through survey design, stratified random sampling (separating residential neighborhoods by low, middle, and high income), and pre-preparation logistics.
• ● Module 3 (Lakshitha Paranagamage, IGES-CCET): Detailed the survey methodologies across households, non-households, and landfills, outlining the strict rules of daily sample capture.
• ● Module 4 (Dany Ghafari, UNEP): Showcased cutting-edge digital and AI applications for WaCT surveys, demonstrating how machine learning can accelerate waste composition image analysis.
• ● Module 5 (Lakshitha Paranagamage, IGES-CCET): Explained waste sorting mechanics, density measurement, and the communication of survey results.
• ● Field Preparation: Prof. Timothy Thamae (NUL): Concluded Day 1 with an intensive safety briefing, distributing masks and gloves, and assigning participants to their designated practical teams.

Day 02: Field Practice, Data, and Application

The second day translated theoretical methodologies into direct field-based practice. During the field-based practice session, the participants were divided into four operational field groups, each assigned to characterise an aggregated bulk waste sample of approximately 50 kg pre-collected by the logistics team. The four streams represented:

1. 1. Group 1 (Household-Low income): Sourced from residential clusters.
2. 2. Group 2 (Household-High Income): Sourced from residential clusters.
3. 3. Group 3 (Non-Household/Mall): Sourced from residential clusters.
4. 4. Group 4 (Street Market): Sourced from the central vegetable and trade markets of Maseru.

Following the activities, groups returned to compile their datasets into percentage compositions. Under the facilitation of Dr. Premakumara Jagath Gamaralalage, each group drafted and delivered a short presentation outlining their quantitative findings, qualitative waste composition, and corresponding policy recommendations for future waste composition surveys.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Florina Rakeketsi (Deputy Principal Secretary, Ministry of Local Government & Chieftainship), who emphasised that the data collection skills practiced during these two days will form the empirical foundation for Lesotho's upcoming plastic circularity regulations.