ILO and Airtel Zambia partner to promote responsible e-waste management and green jobs
LUSAKA, Zambia (ILO News) –The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Airtel Zambia are strengthening their collaboration to promote responsible electronic waste (e-waste) management and expand opportunities for young people in Zambia’s growing circular economy.
Marking International E-Waste Day in Lusaka under the theme “Fast Tech. Don’t Bin It. Bring It.”, the partners called on individuals, businesses and institutions to recognise e-waste, return unwanted electronic devices through appropriate collection channels and support environmentally responsible disposal and recycling.
The event brought together representatives of government, the private sector, technical and vocational education institutions, employers and environmental regulators to discuss how Zambia can strengthen e-waste management while creating decent work and green entrepreneurship opportunities.
Airtel Zambia Managing Director, Mr. Hussam Baday, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible e-waste management, highlighting the role businesses can play in helping consumers make environmentally responsible choices.
“Through this partnership, Airtel is pleased to contribute electronic waste equipment to support practical training for young people under the Youth E-Waste Management Programme,” he said.
Airtel’s contribution will give young people practical exposure to e-waste management. The company also expressed its intention to strengthen e-waste collection through its retail network and explore ways to encourage customer participation.
Representing ILO Country Office Director for Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, ILO Technical Officer – Social Protection Knowledge Management, Mr. Felix Mwenge, highlighted the connection between environmental sustainability and decent work.
“Environmental sustainability and decent work can reinforce one another,” he said. “Activities such as collection, repair, refurbishment, dismantling, pre-processing and recycling can help young people develop technical skills, establish businesses and participate in the circular economy.”
The event was officiated by Mr. Freddie Siangulube, Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, on behalf of the Minister, Dr. Gilbert Siame.
The Ministry stressed the importance of coordinated action to strengthen e-waste management systems, protect public health and the environment, and expand opportunities in the green economy.
Representatives of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), Smart Zambia, the Zambia Federation of Employers and other stakeholders also discussed regulation, extended producer responsibility, accessible collection systems, safe recycling and stronger institutional coordination.
A panel featuring representatives of Airtel Zambia, ZEMA, the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), E-Tech Recycling, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts and the Zambia Federation of Employers explored how government, businesses and other partners can work together to strengthen Zambia’s e-waste management system.
The commemoration forms part of broader collaboration supporting the ILO’s Sustainable E-Waste Management for Youth Employment Project in Central Province, funded by the Government of Japan.
The project equips young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills for e-waste collection, repair, refurbishment and recycling, while promoting occupational safety and health, inclusion, decent work and green enterprise development.
As part of this collaboration, project beneficiaries participated in an E-Waste and Emissions Safety Training at Kabwe Institute of Technology on 2 October 2026.
Delivered by Kulture Labs Consulting and funded by Airtel Zambia, with support from E-Tech Recycling under the ILO project, the training focused on less visible hazards associated with e-waste, including fumes, emissions and dust.
Through practical activities, participants examined electronic equipment, identified components and learned to distinguish potentially hazardous materials from those with recovery value.
E-Tech Recycling provided industry perspectives, linking safe handling practices with formal recycling and potential employment and business opportunities.
By combining public awareness, private-sector engagement and practical skills development, the ILO–Airtel Zambia collaboration is helping to demonstrate how responsible e-waste management can protect people and the environment while creating pathways to decent work, green enterprise and a more circular economy.
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