Eco-Justice Ethiopia, in collaboration with the GIZ Natural Resources Stewardship (NatuReS) Programme under the Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa Multi-stakeholder Partnership, convened a two-day training on July 24–25, 2025, aimed at deepening gender sensitivity and social inclusion within Addis Ababa’s waste ecosystem.
Over 25 participants—ranging from municipal representatives to grassroots cooperatives and private waste businesses—came together to reimagine a system that values dignity, equity, and just transition. The workshops combined real-life testimonies, participatory tools, and technical insights to spotlight the daily experiences of informal workers, especially women and marginalized groups.

Highlights included:
* Understanding the true meaning of circularity and the injustices of current approaches
* Gender responsive circular economy and just transition
* A powerful session on “Envisioning a Gender-Inclusive Waste Sector”
* Hands-on use of action planning templates and self-assessment tools for institutional reflection
* Strategic dialogue linking Ethiopia’s local context to its role in the global plastics treaty negotiations
"If the path to a circular economy is to be equitable, it must center the very people at the bottom of the value chain," said our Founding Executive Director, Eskedar Awgichew.
This training was also a contribution to the Global Week of Action for a PlasticsTreaty, amplifying Ethiopia’s voice ahead of INC-5.2.
🌍 Let’s keep pushing for systems that work for everyone—not just for efficiency, but for justice.