Programmes
Global Data Programme
Wasteaware has been working at the forefront of improving data collection and promoting evidence-based decision making in ISWM. With our wider team at the RWA Group, we partner with global organisations to develop methodologies and tools for improved waste management planning and project design through improved SWM baseline data.
Wasteaware 5-Stars
The Wasteaware 5-stars was born out of a desire to connect cities to investors, and investors to cities. The programme aims for endorsement – a practical method to package and verify city-level interventions as investment-ready, impact-oriented, and contextually grounded. Wasteaware steps into the role of an honest broker between cities, development agencies and investors, ensuring that ISWM projects are not only formulated, but actualised.
MAYA: Mobilising Action for Youth Advancement
MAYA seeks to unlock the potential of youth-led enterprises in the waste sector. Particularly, the programme supports enterprises in local authorities of the Global South demonstrating a contribution to improving SWM and livelihoods of communities. MAYA aims to empower local changemakers to scale ISWM solutions through mentorship and technical assistance.
NICOLE: Next Innovations for Closure, Operations and Landfill Engineering
NICOLE focuses on upgrading existing uncontrolled disposal sites into controlled disposal facilities. The programme provides practical, step-by-step guidance for assessing, planning, and operationalising landfill upgrade. It addresses both environmental protection and socio-economic opportunities, such as landfill fires, emissions reduction, material recovery, and informal sector integration.
BRIAN: Bottleneck and Root-cause Identification for Actionable Next-steps
BRIAN is a structured, evidence-based programme that assesses integrated solid waste management (ISWM) performance at state, county, city, or community level and turns findings into enforceable, high-impact interventions. Instead of applying generic “best practice” templates, BRIAN pinpoints the key system failures driving local service gaps, environmental impacts, and public health risks—then identifies the bottlenecks and root causes behind them.
Using risk assessment, root cause analysis, and prioritisation, BRIAN gathers data beyond tonnages, composition, and single waste streams to capture what determines real-world deliverability: financing, Operation and Maintenance capability, procurement systems, institutional roles and accountability, and regulatory and enforcement capacity. It produces interventions that are technically sound—such as closing collection coverage gaps, targeted equipment and infrastructure upgrades, and service improvements—and also institutionally and legally implementable, including policy reforms, tariff and budget adjustments, and practical compliance mechanisms. BRIAN ensures recommendations can be funded, operated, regulated, and enforced—so risk reduction is achieved, not just planned.
Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) training and capacity building
To support capacity building during implementation, RWA-Wasteaware offers two training courses: one for development facilitators and one for technical experts. Both courses are tailored to the audience and needs of the participants.
The Master ISWM Facilitator Course aims at development practitioners, equips participants with the skills to guide and support city stakeholders in ISWM initiatives, whilst the Master ISWM System Designer course focuses on building the participants’ skills in ISWM.