IITA–CGIAR initiated a new project, IITA BBEST, to improve urban sanitation and address the problem of waste management and sustainable supply of feed and organic fertilizers. The project was officially launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Jules Ngondili, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development representative, on 15 March in Kinshasa.
In his speech, Ngondili applauded the initiative of IITA and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). He said, “Waste management represents a major challenge and an important aspect in environmental remediation actions.”
He stated that DRC has subscribed to several commitments related to urban sanitation to protect the Congolese population from scourges and diseases caused by dirt and poor waste management.