Refugees Turn Waste Into Jobs Across Africa

In Uganda's Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, discarded banana stems are becoming the answer to plastic pollution. Congolese refugee Didier Maliki spent two years campaigning against single-use plastic bags before realizing people needed an alternative, not just a lecture.

Through his company UBUCHANGE, Maliki transforms banana waste into durable reusable bags called kikapo. Uganda produces over 10 million metric tonnes of bananas annually, leaving massive quantities of fibrous stems rotting after each harvest.

Now those stems get a second life. The process is beautifully simple: cut and dry the stems into raw fiber, soften with water, then weave into bags using natural colors. Each kikapo bag lasts up to five years, replacing hundreds of plastic bags.

Maliki has trained 200 refugee women in fiber extraction and bag production. More than 100 now earn steady income through the enterprise, turning environmental necessity into economic opportunity.

In Jos, Nigeria, entrepreneur Zang Luka is tackling a different waste crisis. Nigeria generates over 500,000 metric tons of electronic waste annually while millions lack reliable electricity.

Through Zang Global, his team collects discarded electronics and gives them new purpose. Salvaged lithium-ion batteries become power banks, chargers, and solar lamps after careful testing. Leftover plastics get melted into pallets, while spent batteries transform into artwork.

The company now recovers 30 tonnes of e-waste monthly and employs 127 displaced young people. They're cleaning up contamination while providing cleaner energy solutions to local consumers.

Meanwhile, Agwu Kalu Ibe's company LevelUp Recyclers is pulling plastic from Nigeria's clogged waterways. The country generates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste yearly, but less than 10% gets recycled. His team processes 120 tonnes monthly, including over 50 tonnes removed from the Wupa River alone.

The enterprise partners with communities across 16 displacement camps in Abuja, employing 10 permanent staff and a network of over 600 collectors. These collectors earn predictable income gathering the plastic that would otherwise flood their neighborhoods.

In Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, Dominic Amanya is reimagining agriculture for a hotter, drier future. Through Kakuma Social Agriventures, he uses drip irrigation, shade-net farming, and minimum tillage to grow vegetables in water-constrained conditions.

The Ripple Effect

These businesses challenge tired narratives about displaced communities. The entrepreneurs aren't waiting for conference room pledges or new technologies. They're building scalable solutions right where climate disruption hits hardest.

Each enterprise creates triple value: reducing environmental damage, generating income for displaced populations, and modeling practical climate adaptation. Maliki's bags replace plastics while employing refugee women. Luka's batteries provide clean energy while processing toxic waste. Ibe's recycling clears waterways while creating 600+ income opportunities.

Together, the Amahoro Coalition fellows prove that frontline communities aren't just surviving climate change—they're solving it.