The project
As a result of the main problems and the root causes, the four intervention areas are:
- Governance: includes the development and improvement of monitoring and control systems related to solid waste in both cities. In addition, specifically for Santa Cruz, the development of focused regulations that promote circular economy and social inclusion in waste management will be promoted, similar to the regulations already existing in Cali.
- Public engagement: addresses public commitment and awareness-building campaigns to promote waste reduction and separation at the source in both cities. An inclusive and continuous awareness strategy will be developed, targeting different waste generators such as households, educational units, and businesses.
- Waste and recyclables collection: focuses on waste collection and the involvement of waste pickers. The city-to-city cooperation aims to formalise waste pickers organisations and empower them with technical skills through capacity-building and training programmes. Financial products will be developed to provide access to credit for waste pickers, allowing them to improve their collection and transportation processes. Furthermore, the cooperation will support the design and implementation of differentiated collection routes for recyclable and organic waste, as well as the strengthening of collection centres.
- Recycling and waste treatment: will focus on technical and financial assistance to strengthen the inclusive waste treatment and trade systems developed by both cities with a special focus on waste picker associations as the basis of the value chain for waste materials.
To ensure sustainability of the project interventions, Swisscontact applies a systemic approach to identify and address the main problems and their root causes, as well as to the main beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners.
Project goals
The four-year implementation phase of the trilateral city-to-city cooperation project will be guided by tree main impact objectives:
- Reduce environmental pollutants by increasing the recycling rate in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Santiago de Cali, while generating policies for the reduction of waste generation, which will contribute to the transition of both cities towards a circular economy.
- Reduce the use of virgin raw materials through the promotion of the circular economy.
- Contribute to improving the living conditions and dignity of waste pickers and their families by improving their work approach and supporting their formalisation.
To achieve and work through the above areas, we have alliances with different stakeholders, which include:
Public sector:
- EMACRUZ, Santa Cruz
- Secretariat of the Special Economic Administrative Unit for the Development of Municipal Public Services of Cali (UAESP)
- Administrative Department of Planning in Cali
- Communication Unit in Cali
- DAGMA
- Secretariat of Economic Development Cali (Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico SED)
- National government / agencies
Private sector:
- Financial institutions
- Cámara de Industria, Comercio, Servicios y Turismo de Santa Cruz – Bolivia (CAINCO)
- Asociación Nacional de Industriales (ANDI)
Civil Society – Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO):
- Carvajal Foundation in Cali
- Amigarse Foundation in Santa Cruz
- Fundares in Santa Cruz
Universities
Project partners
- Alcaldía de Cali, Colombia
- Alcaldía de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
- UAESPM (Special Administrative Unit of Public Services), Cali - Colombia
- DAGMA, Cali - Colombia
- EMACRUZ, Santa Cruz - Bolivia
- City of Zurich, Switzerland
