In Nepal, self-employed waste pickers and waste pickers informally employed by scrap dealers are among other workers in a larger informal sector that is defined as workers without any employment security, social security, and work security. Majority of them fall under vulnerable and low-income brackets, and they are the group that faces the highest risk of health hazards. The informal sector is characterized by so many similar issues however, despite their hardship, they are responsible for managing recyclable waste and diverting it away from landfills. They are an essential actor in society and the environment. There has been a gradual change in perception towards the waste pickers with the efforts of several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) but they haven’t yet found a place in governments policies; they lack legislative recognition and are not integrated into planning processes.

During the first National Workshop for Founding National Network of Waste-Pickers Organizations in Nepal, many of the waste pickers expressed their problems of not having an organized association or alliance that would represent their voice in front of the mass, government and recyclers. One of the outputs of the workshop is the need for intervention to motivate and strengthen the waste picker’s organization for uniting to advocate for the waste pickers.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the existing organization and advocate for the waste pickers by conducting  Regional workshops in three provinces- Madhesh Province, Lumbini Province and Bagmati Province.