30/11/2025
THE LIGHT is one of the CSOs that was invited to participated in a workshop that offered an opportunity to deepen its understanding of national and global frameworks, emerging policies such as the Global Plastic Treaty. This report discusses key insights, and implications for future CSOs interventions.
It was a Two-Days Workshop for CSOs on “Plastic Pollution: Laws and Policies – The Global Plastic Treaty Process”
Theme: Greening CSOs for a Plastic Pollution-Free Society
Venue: Buea – Synod office, 25th–26th July 2025
The two-day workshop organized by FEDEV, ELAW, MINEPDED and partner institutions brought together civil society actors, legal experts, environmental advocates, and municipal authorities to strengthen the role of CSOs in tackling plastic pollution.
Overview of the Workshop
The workshop combined presentations, plenary discussions, group work, and experience sharing. Day1 focused on national perspectives and activities to beat plastic pollution, the situation in the South West Region, legal frameworks, climate change linkages, and state-level actions. Day2 examined global dimensions (the Global Plastic Treaty), CSO engagement at INC processes, gender and social perspectives.
The workshop fostered a participatory environment, emphasizing knowledge exchange, collaboration, and practical advocacy strategies from participants.
Workshops
Day 1
- Understanding the Plastic Pollution Situation in the South West Region
The presentation by Nature Eco Capital offered a contextual analysis of plastic generation, waste management gaps, and community-level challenges. I reflected on how CSOs can complement local councils by: supporting community sensitization, facilitating monitoring of waste disposal practices, and advocating for stronger enforcement of municipal by-laws. The session re-emphasized the need for coordinated CSO action, especially in urban centers like Buea, Limbe and Kumba.
- Legal and Policy Frameworks for Plastic Management in Cameroon
The analysis of Cameroon’s plastic laws by Barrister Nchunu highlighted both progress and loopholes. While the 2012 Ministerial ban on non-biodegradable plastics exists, enforcement remains weak. Key reflection was the recognition that: CSOs must move beyond awareness campaigns to policy monitoring, support documentation of infractions, and position themselves as partners not just critics in implementation.
- Plastic Pollution and Climate Change
The presentation by ELAW exposed the interdependence of plastic pollution and climate systems. The importance of integrating plastic advocacy into climate action projects was emphasized. Plastics contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage from production to disposal making them a climate justice concern. CSOs therefore need to adopt cross-cutting approaches that speak to both environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
- Women and Plastic Pollution
The session facilitated by Mme Tiku (WOMENV) highlighted how plastic pollution disproportionately affects women due to their caregiving roles, livelihood activities, and exposure to waste in markets, households, and informal recycling. Women face unique vulnerabilities: Direct contact with plastic waste in household chores and hair extensions. Market women working in environments with poor waste management, Health risks from burning plastics, Psychological burden of maintaining clean spaces. This reinforced the need to mainstream gender into all CSO environmental programs.
Women as Drivers of Solutions
The session highlighted women’s leadership in: community waste sorting, market clean-ups, recycling micro-enterprises, and advocacy for healthier environments. It was noted that many environmental projects are female-dominated at the grassroots but male-dominated at leadership and policy levels. Strengthening women’s leadership in CSOs is therefore critical.
Key messages
- intentionally integrate gender analysis into project design,
- support women-led environmental initiatives,
- Advocate for women’s seats in municipal waste management committees.
Day 2
- Insights on the Global Plastic Treaty Process
Day Two’s discussions on the Global Plastic Treaty were insightful and relevant. Presentations by legal experts and international networks like IPEN clarified Africa’s negotiating position and the importance of ambitious, binding measures. The session strengthened awareness of how global diplomacy connects to local environmental struggles.
- Experience Sharing and Peer Learning
HYSACAM, ASCOA, and municipal representatives provided practical insights into operational challenges and innovations. Listening to real-world experiences allowed me to reflect on: the practical realities of waste collection logistics, the importance of public-private-CSO partnerships, and the need for harmonized communication between communities and waste management agencies.
- Recommendations
CSOs should strengthen collaboration through coalitions and shared projects,
integrate gender perspectives into environmental programming, document evidence of plastic pollution impacts for advocacy and engage councils more proactively in policy implementation.
NGOs needs to improve enforcement of existing plastic regulation, continue building CSO capacity on the Global Plastic Treaty, expand training to rural communities and youth groups and provide follow-up sessions for monitoring implementation progress.
- Conclusion
The two-day workshop significantly enhanced perspectives on the legal, social, and gendered dimensions of plastic pollution. The insights gained will directly influence THE LIGHT future works in environmental protection. The training reaffirmed the crucial role civil society plays in shaping environmental policy, mobilizing communities, and contributing to global advocacy processes such as the Plastic Treaty negotiations.
Clean Environment, a Safe Environment #
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Plastic Treaty #
Plastic Pollution #
