Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) is a not-for-profit civic tech company that works at the intersection of emerging cutting-edge technological tools and their applications by equipping young professionals to solve emerging challenges in our community. YI-Lab’s mission statement is, ‘to engage young people to bridge science to people and policy through innovation’. YI-Lab harnesses indigenous knowledge, and citizen science approach, develops low-cost technological solutions, promotes open data, promotes entrepreneurship, and conducts evidence-based advocacy campaigns. YI-Lab provides a conducive environment for young people to co-create solutions for inclusive development.
Project Summary:
Green Shift: The circularity of Plastic Waste for Net-Zero Carbon Nepal project funded by the European Union (EU) aims to promote the Circular Economy in Madhesh, Lumbini, and Bagmati provinces. The project focuses on innovative solutions for plastic waste collection by mobilizing civil societies of waste workers and sustainable product design and packaging. With the active involvement of waste workers, women, and marginalized groups, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of waste workers, youth groups, students, SMEs, and Local, Provincial, and Federal government bodies, the project will be carried out for four years. The activities have been envisioned to create a synergy for the development of policy formulation at the local, provincial, and federal levels of the government. These activities are aimed at the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy. The project implementation is led by CREASION through the consortium partners Restless Development Nepal, and Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab).
Waste Smart Fellowship Grant
Waste Smart Fellowship (WSF) provides an experiential platform for young people who are interested in pursuing their careers in the fields of solid waste management, circular/green economy, environmental sustainability, and climate change. It provides opportunities for young, qualified people who are enthusiastic about environmental issues to work closely with the municipal governments wherein they will gain in-depth experience in solid waste management and environmental sustainability. The fellows placed in the municipalities will work closely with the environment/ sanitation/ solid waste management focal person and IT officer, elected municipal, and ward representatives. Fellows will first assess the existing capacity of the local governments, existing policies/guidelines, availability of baseline studies, current scenario, and major stakeholders in waste management. The initial assessment will support in identifying the gaps and needs, which the fellows will coordinate with the municipal focal person and project team for the development of a guideline/ strategy for waste management. Through this, they will help sensitize the elected representatives and municipal officials about plastic waste and its environmental impacts.
Through the Waste Smart Fellowship Grant, young people will work with the local government to capacitate youths in supporting local governments in collecting waste data informing policy-making, and strengthening their waste-related plans and policies. The Nepalese government has enacted the Solid Waste Management Act to improve waste management at the local level. However, 217 out of 753 municipal bodies lack specific policies for plastic waste, and only 103 have designated Solid Waste Management Units with resource challenges. Insufficient technical and infrastructural capacities, along with a lack of awareness, behavioral patterns, and perceptions that are related to recycling, waste segregation, and environmental issues, hinder effective waste management, particularly in urban areas. With Waste Smart Fellowship activities, young people will act as a connecting bridge to transfer technical capacities and data gaps that exist at all three tiers of the government and support informed decision-making for plastic waste management. Additionally, Waste Smart Fellows will monitor other components of the project activities. This includes the Climate Smart School component aimed at fostering knowledge and awareness among children on circular economy. Similarly, they will also be responsible for monitoring youth activities and the tag-me app to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To be eligible as Waste Smart Fellows, the individual must:
- Be 29 years old or younger Nepali citizen.
- Have a bachelor’s degree in Climate Change Studies, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sustainability and Management, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Preferences will be given to individuals from the project areas or are willing to relocate to the project area,
- Possess knowledge or interest in solid waste management, circular/green economy, environmental sustainability, climate change, and related disciplines.
- Keen interest in learning technology and open data
- Have a strong knowledge of technology that includes mobile applications, web applications, MS Office package, GIS, Open Street Mapping (OSM)
- Have excellent communication skills in both Nepali and English language. Knowledge of the local languages of the project areas will be an added asset.
- Passionate to learn about Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) through Waste Management and Circular Economy transition.
- Have outstanding personal character, integrity, good teamwork, and collaborative skills.