• Portville Mall, Plot 34 Bananuka Road, Mbarara

  • +256788718745 | info@diwwas.org

Our Vision

A network of women working to dignify Lives of Women in Waste Sector in Uganda.

Our Mission

To dignify Lives of Women in Waste Sector in Uganda through boosting the role of women in solving waste management problems; enhancing Women’s Participation in the Solid Waste Management Sector and advancing gender equality in the Waste Sector.

Our Goal

To Promote Women's engagement in effective Solid Waste Management by actively encouraging and facilitating women's participation in all aspects of solid waste management.

We work to dignify women in the waste sector

Support Us

Welcome to DIWWAS | Dignifying Women in Waste Sector

DIWWAS is a network of women working to dignify Lives of Women in Waste Sector in Uganda. This is because a large majority of women in solid waste management are in low pay and insecure work. Women in waste management lack official recognition as employees and contracts, denying them basic labour rights, including paid maternity leave and nursing breaks. Pregnant women are seldom exempted from night shifts and hazardous work.
We work to dignify women in the waste sector by actively taking steps to improve the working conditions, safety, and recognition of women working in waste management, addressing issues like low pay, lack of access to proper protective gear, gender-based violence, and societal stigma to ensure they are treated with respect and have equal opportunities in the industry; essentially, elevating their status within the sector and empowering them.

Our Core Values

a) Accountability: We take ownership of our actions and support others to do the same
b) Diversity: We value and include people from different backgrounds and perspectives in our work
c) Passion: We have a drive to pursue goals, overcome challenges, and achieve success as women
d) Respect: We Value contributions of others and creating an inclusive society
e) Teamwork: We work together to achieve a common goal of women empowerment
f) Humility: We are selfless and accept of others in our work
g) Transparency: We are open and honest about information and feedback regarding our work

Advancing Gender Equality in the Waste Sector

Despite their crucial contributions, women’s work is often unrecognized and under-resourced. They face gendered structural barriers that limit their earning power and opportunities for upward mobility. With limited access to credit, training, and time, women must often work in the informal waste sector where they receive lower income, fewer health and safety protections, and are at heightened risk of gender-based violence. We work with women to address these challenges. We provide the tools and resources so that women can successfully participate in and advance local circular economies. We promote an inclusive and equitable waste sector that integrates all actors in the system. We advance advance gender equality in the solid waste management sector by;


a) Creating opportunities for women to establish their waste businesses

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Through Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment, women are offered a blend of business, leadership, and empowerment training, coupled with a small business incubator action that offers mentorship and funding opportunities for..
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d) Strengthening women’s agency to be recycling champions

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. Building the confidence and reducing the stigma of the informal waste sector within the surrounding community can have a profound impact on the quality of women’s lives and waste management systems. Through our actions for empowerment of women..
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b) Including gender in the local government planning processes.

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We provide inclusive gender training to build the capacity of all individuals who work in the waste sector. We provide participatory training to women, members of the informal sector, and government officials and employees. The trainings result in..
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e) Designing waste system solutions based on gender-inclusive research

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We use social research to better understand women’s roles with respect to solid waste management and the 3Rs. For example, we conduct research on gender and waste to learn who in the household handled waste and how. Through research..
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c) Promoting the safety of women in waste sector

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We are committed to increasing women’s safety in the waste sector. We ensure that ensure that gender-based violence is part of our trainings that target both women and men. We ensure that that women have the resources they need to seek help, if needed..
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f) Rightsizing technology and facilities for women

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Historically, the tools and equipment used for waste management have been developed as one-size-fits-all. We are changing this approach by providing tools and uniforms that are designed to be used by women and considering their unique needs..
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Gender and Waste Management

The waste sector is assumed to be gender-neutral, but gender inequalities and norms are embedded in almost every aspect of waste management. We see a division of labor in the waste sector based on conventional gender roles and stereotypes. Traditional gender roles dictate tasks: men could assume higher roles like recycling management, while women often handle menial jobs like waste picking, sweeping, and waste separation. Women are often excluded from higher-income and decision-making positions. When waste management formalizes, women are often marginalized and replaced by men, contrasting their active roles in informal settings.

Our work involves mainstreaming gender in the waste sector and strengthening the participation of women in the waste sector. With this approach, our work is leading to more efficient and effective waste management operations. As the primary users of waste management services at the household level and being engaged with various types of work in the waste sector, women have both knowledge and expertise. Women are vital agents of change in moving towards more efficient, sustainable and fair waste management. It is also important to bring men and boys, as well as women and girls, into the conversation, as gender is not just about women.

1) Why gender matter in waste management

As the Ugandan population increases and resource use intensifies, so does waste. Cities and Municipalities around Uganda produces millions of tonnes of waste every year. Poorly managed waste is threatening human and planetary...
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2) Gender Inequality in Waste Management

The gendered division of labour in the waste management sector reflects traditional stereotypes of male and female roles in everyday life, which means it often goes unnoticed because it simply mirrors what is seen elsewhere...
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3) The impact of waste on women

In many societies, women are traditionally responsible for managing household waste as part of their daily chores, meaning they have greater engagement with domestic waste management and waste management services...
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4) Creating Opportunities for women in waste management

As the primary users of waste management services at the household level and being engaged in various types of work in the waste sector, women have both knowledge and expertise, whose recognition can lead to more...
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5) Empowering women working in waste management systems

We play a leading role in research and as a convenor on gender and waste, producing factsheets, reports, and informative videos and conducting training, webinars, and other events. Through our research actions, we provide a...
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6) Addressing the pervasive impact of pollution on society

We work with women to take rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. Our work highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature ands...
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7) Rural gender perspectives and future policies on solid waste Management

Proper solid waste management is critical for sustainable environmental development. Despite high-level policy efforts and technical investments, unmanaged solid waste remains a...
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8) Dignifying Lives of Women in Waste Sector

There are gender issues facing women in Uganda who earn a living from solid waste management in collecting rubbish from households and streets or in the recycling or reuse. As the urban population of...
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9) Addressing poor working conditions in Waste Sector

Women mostly earn money as day labourers. They often lack protective equipment and many suffer illness or injury, but being unable to work means not being paid...
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