Abstract for: Using Participatory System Dynamics to understand and improve the public participation process in Solid Waste Management

Kisumu City has recently witnessed a high rate of rural-urban migration, with 60% of the population living in the informal settlements. The city is facing challenges in the proper management of solid waste generated by households, industries and markets. Contributing factors include inefficient waste collection, lack of efficient and appropriate SWM technologies and infrastructure, inadequate financial and technical resources among others. To solve SWM challenges in Kisumu, there is a need for a multisector approach involving different stakeholders due to its multifaceted and complex nature. This study aims to understand and improve public participation in solid waste management through science-backed public discussions and action on environmental sustainability and health. Participatory system dynamics (PSD) will be used in which representatives from various stakeholder organizations and communities, led by an expert facilitator, will collaborate to frame public participation issues, map the causal structure of the system, detect potential leverage points, uncover and communicate system insights, and eventually design more effective and sustainable solutions. A model of the causal structure around the problem will be constructed which will include major causal loops, accumulations, and delays to better capture the complex dynamics of public participation in SWM.