ReLiMa: PALOP island states in West and Central Africa ReLiMa - Redução do Lixo Marinho: Marine litter reduction and prevention on PALOP small islands developing states (SIDS)
Grantee(s)
Universität Rostock
Objectives
- Mapping marine litter hotspots, waste flows and stakeholder needs through baseline assessments
- Implementing pilot interventions, such as small-scale recycling facilities
- Strengthening waste management policies and financing mechanisms
- Promoting regional cooperation, capacity building and green jobs
Duration
2026-01-01 till 2029-01-31
Location
Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe
Funding Amount
5,855,200.00 €
Project partner(s)
- Federal University of Pará (UFPA)
- Federal Fluminense University (UFF)
- State University of Bahia (UNEB)
- State University of Maranhão (UEMA)
- Instituto Costa Brasilis – Desenvolvimento Socioambiental
Copyright: AdobeStock / Marina Larina
Reducing marine litter: What are the challenges in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe share significant structural challenges related to marine litter. High rates of mismanaged plastic waste, limited institutional capacity, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and insufficient enforcement of environmental regulations contribute to increasing pressure on marine and coastal ecosystems. As island and coastal states, the three countries are particularly affected by the impacts of plastic pollution: marine litter harms fish stocks, mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds, increasing health risks and threatening local livelihoods in fisheries and tourism.
Cape Verde faces increasing pressure from marine litter. Around 74% of plastic waste is mismanaged and seasonal surges in tourism drive up consumption of single-use plastics and packaging. Despite measures such as a plastic bag ban and a National Waste Management Plan, enforcement is still limited by technical and coordination challenges.
In Guinea-Bissau, 83% of plastic waste is mismanaged and currently, there is no plastic-specific legislation or formal recycling infrastructure in place. Key challenges include institutional coordination, the absence of organized waste collection outside the capital Bissau, low levels of public awareness, and the lack of an environmental monitoring system.
São Tomé and Príncipe mismanages an estimated 81% of plastic waste, with open dumping and uncontrolled burning being common in coastal areas. Although the country has adopted a national waste management strategy, implementation is constrained by limited municipal capacity and weak coordination across government sectors. Across all three countries, the impacts of plastic pollution are unevenly distributed. Women, youth, and low-income coastal communities are often disproportionately affected due to a reliance on fisheries, limited economic opportunities, and underrepresentation in waste management decision-making and governance.
What contribution does the project make to reducing marine litter?
ReLiMa aims to support Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe in identifying effective, locally adapted solutions to plastic pollution. The project combines scientific analysis, pilot measures for waste collection and recycling, policy advisory, and community engagement. In doing so, it addresses the root causes of marine litter, strengthens local capacities, and helps create sustainable economic opportunities.
In a first step, the project will assess the current status of plastic waste management in each country, including waste flows, pollution hotspots, and existing governance frameworks. Based on these findings, the project will pilot the Satellite Island Recycling Concept (SIRC), adapting its implementation to the specific context of each country. This approach links collection points on satellite islands with central recycling hubs, thereby improving waste collection, separation, and recycling while reducing plastic leakage into rivers and coastal areas. By addressing one of the key pathways through which mismanaged plastic waste enters the marine environment, the approach makes a direct contribution to reducing marine litter. The project also supports the development of policy and financing mechanisms to strengthen waste management systems beyond the project lifetime.
Through context specific awareness campaigns, school programmes, and citizen science initiatives, ReLiMa further promotes responsible waste management and environmental stewardship. Activities are designed with a decolonial approach that elevates indigenous knowledge and locally-led solutions. Vulnerable groups – particularly low-income households, informal waste workers, and communities living near degraded coastlines – are prioritised to ensure that benefits are distributed fairly. By fostering regional cooperation and South-South exchange, the project contributes to resilient and circular waste management systems that protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable development.