Summary Report - Capacity Building and Technical Training Programme on Waste Characterisation Survey Methodology to Strengthen National Waste Governance and Planning in Lesotho, 15-16, June 2026

The Capacity Building and Technical Training Programme on Waste Characterisation Survey Methodology, held in Lesotho on 15–16 June 2026, aimed to strengthen national capacity for evidence-based waste governance and planning. Organized by UNEP-IETC, IGES-CCET, UNDP, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the National University of Lesotho, the programme combined classroom training with field-based practical exercises using the Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT). Participants gained hands-on experience in waste characterization, data collection, sampling, sorting, and analysis. The programme highlighted the importance of reliable waste data for circular economy initiatives, resource recovery, policy development, and future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, while identifying priority actions to institutionalize waste surveys, strengthen waste information systems, and support data-driven decision-making in Lesotho.