Many waste management and recycling systems in South and Southeast Asia rely on women working in the informal sector, but offer them few opportunities to secure dignified work or improve their livelihoods. The work of women is often less secure and less valued than the work of men, and women are at greater risk of discrimination, harrassment, and violence.

Opportunities to build assets and consolidate influence or power in the waste management value chain are also often harder for women to access. The pursuit of innovative solutions to improve waste management runs the risk of inadvertently contributing to trends that could negatively impact the most marginalized and disenfranchised people in the system. Therefore, it is essential to keep a focus on gender equality and social inclusion.

The Incubation Network launched the Equality in Plastics Circularity program that will support a cohort of solutions to advance gender equality within plastic waste management and recycling systems.

The program has three key objectives:

1) To increase awareness around gender inequalities and human rights issues within waste management and recycling systems, highlight practical approaches to improving gender sensitivity and responsiveness, and demonstrate the potential impact of such approaches.

2) To generate and scale two-pronged innovative solutions that tackle issues within waste management and recycling systems, and simultaneously value women as key stakeholders, thus increasing women’s access to and control of resources. 

3) To create opportunities for civil society organizations, particularly those that represent waste workers and women’s rights, to influence decision-making in waste management and recycling systems.

8 projects were selected from six Civil Society Organizations and two Social Enterprises, 5 entrepreneurial solutions were complemented by three research and policy advocacy projects, additional technical assistance was deployed, and US$220,000+ were provided in financial assistance across all projects.