Middle East and Northern Africa Region Branch (MENARB)

The IWWG Regional Branch for the Middle East and Northern Africa Region (MENARB) has been established at Egypt Solid Waste Management Center of Excellence (ESWMCE) at faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt in collaboration with the Research and Technology Centre of Energy CRTEn, Borj-Cédria, Tunisia, in 2014. IWWG-MENARB is dedicated to advancing knowledge and best practices in solid waste management throughout the MENA region. The branch actively organizes conferences, courses, and workshops to enhance the capacities of local authorities and individuals interested in waste management.
ESWMCE’s collaboration with IWWG-MENARB reflects a strategic alliance built on shared values of sustainability and best practices, contributing significantly to addressing the complex challenges of solid waste management in the region. This collaborative effort not only honors past achievements but also paves the way for future exploration and engagement between ESWMCE and IWWG, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in addressing the challenges of solid waste management.
Egypt Solid Waste Management Center of Excellence (ESWMCE) stands as a prominent environmental institution founded within the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University. Established through a capacity-building initiative funded by the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) and Ain Shams University, ESWMCE is dedicated to addressing Egypt’s environmental challenges, particularly in the realms of solid waste management, green and circular economies, and environmental strategies. The center achieves these goals through a multifaceted approach encompassing research, innovation promotion, consultancy services, and capacity building. ESWMCE collaborates extensively with key entities such as the Waste Management Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Environment, and the Arab Organization for Industrialization. Its portfolio boasts impactful projects, including the design of 26 landfills, 10 transfer stations, and 5 waste recycling facilities across Egypt. Additionally, ESWMCE has engaged in transformative collaborations with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), contributing to the development of guidelines for the closure of MSW dumpsites and landfills and supporting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging in Egypt. Notably, ESWMCE’s commitment to excellence earned it the Presidential Initiative for Smart Green Projects Award.

The branch is coordinated by Sherien Elagroudy (Professor of Environmental Engineering and the director of ESWMCE) and Aida Ben Hassen Trabelsi (Assistant Professor at the Research and Technology Centre of Energy CRTEn).