Working effectively with local authorities and policymakers

To create lasting change, especially in something as complex as waste management, it’s important to work with local government – not around it.

1. Start by building a solid understanding of the current landscape. Who else is working in this space? What are local officials already doing? Mapping out your stakeholders and their work can help you find opportunities for collaboration rather than duplication.

2. Next, look at the policy framework you’re operating in. What national and local laws apply to your work? Are they being enforced? We found it useful to engage directly with county and municipal officers to understand how policies like Kenya’s single-use plastic ban applied at a local level – and how we could help bridge any gaps in knowledge or enforcement.

3. Find out what infrastructure plans exist in your area. In Lamu, we studied geospatial maps of future waste transfer stations and transport networks. It gave us a clearer view of how our circular economy model could support – and be supported by – the county’s development goals.

Public spending documents are another helpful resource. In Kenya, tools like the Annual and County Integrated Development Plans (AIDP and CIDP) are publicly available and show where local governments are prioritising money and effort. Understanding these helps you align your work with their direction.

5. It’s also important to be realistic but hopeful. Many local governments have limited capacity, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care. Finding champions within the system – people who believe in your work – can make all the difference.

6. Finally, involve local government from the start. It may take more time, but growing your model alongside them helps build shared ownership, strengthens institutional knowledge, and lays the groundwork for bigger change in future.

Read more about working with local government in the Partnerships section of the Flipflopi Toolkit.