African Indigenous Female Entrepreneurs (IFÉs): A Closed-Looped Social Circular Economy Waste Management Model

Atinuke Chineme (), Getachew Assefa, Irene M. Herremans, Barry Wylant and Marwa Shumo
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Atinuke Chineme: School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Getachew Assefa: School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Irene M. Herremans: Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Barry Wylant: School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Marwa Shumo: Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Uncontrolled waste disposal sites remain prevalent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, with organic waste constituting between 50 and 80% of the total openly dumped waste volumes. Waste-to-wealth initiatives focused on biowaste enterprises through female entrepreneurs can advance the eradication of open dumps while creating economic opportunities. This study, therefore, proposes an organizational model that leverages Indigenous female institutions, circular economy concepts, and a closed-loop biowaste management technique that mitigates the open-dump challenge. The Indigenous female entrepreneur (IFÉ) business model leverages circular economy and social circular economy models in the application of a low-tech insect-based biowaste conversion that valorizes municipal solid waste into products that can be reintegrated into the environment and community. The model will be utilized in a Tanzanian pilot study using co-production strategies to derive a sustainable biowaste enterprise. Co-production sees users as authorities in their own circumstances and treats them as primus inter pares with experts, thus facilitating the integration of the relational element of Indigenous societies and motivating cultural appreciation. Conversely, co-production will necessitate revisions to the model in every location where it is applied. The model was successfully test-run in a high-income country, but future research, including the pilot study, will validate the model and highlight innovations.

Keywords: African Indigenous women; female institutions; municipal solid waste management; black soldier fly; circular economy; social enterprise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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