Circular economy solutions to close water, energy and food loops in West Africa

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cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Water Management Instituteen
cg.contributor.crpWater, Land and Ecosystems
cg.coverage.countryGhana
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2GH
cg.coverage.regionWestern Africa
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.5337/2021.222en
cg.identifier.iwmilibraryH050808
cg.identifier.wlethemeRural-Urban Linkages
cg.placeColombo, Sri Lankaen
dc.contributor.authorInternational Water Management Instituteen
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-07T15:59:11Zen
dc.date.available2021-12-07T15:59:11Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/116583
dc.titleCircular economy solutions to close water, energy and food loops in West Africaen
dcterms.abstractIn West Africa, rapid urbanization and poor sanitation infrastructure are driving the spread of untreated fecal sludge and wastewater, contaminating water sources and increasing public health risks. With wastewater generation ranging from 20–150 liters per capita per day, circular economy approaches are urgently needed to recover resources and reduce environmental burdens. Innovative solutions piloted in Ghana demonstrate how waste can be transformed into value. In Kumasi, wastewater-fed aquaculture combined with vegetable farming through aquaponics has helped cover 60% of plant operating costs. In Accra, fecal sludge is co-composted with market waste to produce Fortifer™, an organic fertilizer certified for agricultural use. A second facility now processes 5,000 m³ of sludge and 300 tons of organic waste annually. Additionally, a briquette plant converts sawdust and rice husks into low-cost fuel for households and small industries. These models are supported by public-private partnerships and informed by IWMI’s research on risk mitigation, business models, and resource recovery.Scaling these solutions requires strengthened policy, institutional capacity, and financing mechanisms. By closing water, food, and energy loops, circular economy strategies improve sanitation, create jobs, and support climate-resilient urban systems across the region.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.available2021
dcterms.bibliographicCitationInternational Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2021. Circular economy solutions to close water, energy and food loops in West Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water Issue Brief 17) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.222]en
dcterms.extent4p.en
dcterms.isPartOfIWMI Water Issue Brief 17en
dcterms.issued2021-12-06
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; all rights reserved
dcterms.publisherInternational Water Management Instituteen
dcterms.subjectcircular economyen
dcterms.subjectwaste managementen
dcterms.subjectwastewateren
dcterms.subjectenergy generationen
dcterms.subjectfood securityen
dcterms.subjectresource recoveryen
dcterms.subjectreuseen
dcterms.subjectbusiness modelsen
dcterms.subjectsolid wastesen
dcterms.subjectfaecal sludgeen
dcterms.subjectorganic fertilizersen
dcterms.subjectaquacultureen
dcterms.subjectpondsen
dcterms.subjectpublic-private partnershipsen
dcterms.subjectcapacity developmenten
dcterms.subjectdonorsen
dcterms.subjectsustainabilityen
dcterms.subjectsocioeconomic impacten
dcterms.subjecthealth hazardsen
dcterms.subjectsanitationen
dcterms.subjecturban areasen
dcterms.typeBrief

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