ASSESSING OUR SHELTERS’ END OF LIFE

In 2024, an independent consultant provided guidance on managing and considering the end-of-life of the Relief Housing Unit (RHU), contributing to circular economy efforts within humanitarian shelter, and offering recommendations for future action.

As part of this study, 95 individuals were interviewed, including 46 Better Shelter partners. In total, 45 interviews were conducted: 23 with partners and 20 with other humanitarian stakeholders and relevant waste management actors.

The purpose of these interviews was to identify existing or planned initiatives related to RHU end-of-life materials, to understand the deployment contexts of RHUs, and to assess issues linked to circular economy practices.

Main challenges

Waste in humanitarian contexts

Institutional image

Unclear agency in final shelter decisions

Lack of funding

Communication with partners

Opportunities

Providing comprehensive information

Keep improving the shelter design

Exploring different options for waste management

Collaboration

Advocacy

The main outcome was a proposed strategy for addressing waste management, with actions categorised into short, mid, and long-term solutions based on findings from the semi-structured interviews (see below). By tackling the identified challenges and promoting more sustainable waste management practices, we, together with our partners, can help reduce environmental degradation and support the long-term well-being of affected communities and ecosystems.

Short term

Information and capacity building for partners

External coordination and collaboration

Follow up on partners’ initiatives and explore potential collaborations

Map recycling facilities

Mid term

Design improvements

Expand waste management initiatives

Further research on reverse logistics for the plastic panels

Explore collaborations with universities and public sector

Explore feasibility of establishing small-scale recycling projects in humanitarian settings

Long term

Formalise waste management within the RHUs deployment process

Explore alternatives to plastics

Continuous improvement and search for new environmental solutions

From our Global compact communication on progress January 1  to December 31, 2024

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