Our work on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion

People are at the heart of the plastics crisis – and people are also the key to solving it.

GPAP aims to support a inclusive global action to reduce plastic pollution. 

We believe that solutions to the plastics crisis must be rooted in the experiences of those most impacted by plastic pollution in order to be truly effective and sustainable.

By the Numbers

  • Informal waste collectors are the heart of the world recycling system, accounting for the collection of about 60% of the world’s plastic waste.
  • ~20 million people are employed in the informal waste sector globally, with women making up a significant proportion.
  • To date, GPAP has supported the improved livelihoods of 20,000 informal waste workers through our informal economy subgrant program in partnership with the UK Department of Environment, Food, & Rural Affairs.

Our Inclusion Work in Action

We execute on our ambition to eradicate plastic pollution through inclusive multistakeholder action through the following:

Inclusive National Action Roadmaps

All GPAP national partnerships ensure national action roadmaps incorporate an equity and inclusion angle taking in considerations the cultural, religious, and societal considerations of the relevant country. This includes the financing roadmaps as well. 


Social Context Assessments

A core exercise conducted in each national partnership to enable the community to understand the societal implications of plastic pollution including the inequities across the plastics value chain. The findings are integrated into relevant knowledge products and action plans. 

GESI Advisory

Ongoing research, tailored guidance, and knowledge exchanges to ensure institutional longevity of gender mainstreaming and social inclusion learnings allowing for greater mainstreaming of GESI work across all partnership communities (global and national). In addition, all national partnerships are strongly encouraged to appoint local GESI advisors. 

Inclusive Plastic Action Programme 2025

Does your organization support informal waste workers or advance inclusive solutions to plastic pollution?

As we work toward a fairer and more circular future, we are proud to launch the Inclusive Plastic Action Programme 2025. 

Our GESI Guide

Through our global leadership, we have developed a guide to support stakeholders in creating gender-responsive solutions to eliminate plastic pollution. 

The Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Guide offers best practices and learnings from developing economies on effective policy measures and cross-sector solutions to inform decision makers to understand how they can best take action while protecting the livelihoods of those most vulnerable.

The Story of Amiyna

We encourage you to learn how deeply rooted gender norms and inequities can manifest in the lived experience of a woman as she encounters plastic pollution. 

Follow Amiyna’s daily life as a waste picker, where she confronts gender discrimination and societal norms that define her role in the plastic economy. Discover how these challenges affect her life and her community.

Publications & Case Studies

Discover how our national partnerships have developed curated knowledge products and projects to support shaping the national plastic agenda for inclusive action.

Ghana
Indonesia
Viet Nam
Nigeria
Pakistan
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Maharashtra, India
Peru
Cross-Sector Support

Global Plastic Action Partnership

A World Economic Forum Initiative
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