The problem – A group of the informal waste collectors in Egypt called the Zabaleen have been providing recycling and composting services for over 50 years, and have much to teach their peers in other countries about pooling resources to smooth volatility in demand, specialization and division of labor, and bargaining to improve their position in the hierarchy of the waste value chain. For years the recycler groups in Egypt enjoyed a tenuous legitimacy, but against a backdrop of discrimination, civil unrest, and finally revolution, the collectives in Egypt suffered a revocation of their hard-earned status and the saw the introduction of complicated bureaucratic barriers to prevent them from reclaiming their position in society as recognized service providers. 

The way forward -  Collectives received grant funding to host training workshops in which they were provided step-by-step instructions on how to receive certification as registered service providers, and therefore, be able to bid on service contracts. Their experience in waste collection, processing, and disposal allowed them to continue working despite the revolution and the civil unrest that followed. They have since been able to regain a level of legitimacy due to their steady, hard work and the recognition of their service from sympathetic members of government. The work done on this project was a part of a larger strategic effort to help provide a pathway to formalization for informal groups so they could be included in the market for their services and for the raw materials they collected, and consequently, receive higher wages.

Contribution -  Light project management through calls and site visits; Learning from their experience and dissemination to other groups; budget review and analysis.