Combating Marine Plastic Pollution in West Africa through Circular Solutions  

West Africa’s marine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution, with Ghana and Nigeria among the top contributors to marine debris in the Gulf of Guinea. Rapid urbanization, changing consumption patterns, and insufficient waste management infrastructure have led to widespread mismanaged plastic waste entering aquatic environments.

To tackle this challenge, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) is funding the PROTEGO project under its Grant Programme against Marine Litter.

PROTEGO aims to significantly reduce plastic waste leakage into marine environments by promoting circular economy solutions, strengthening policy frameworks, and increasing public awareness in Ghana and Nigeria. The project integrates waste prevention, collection, recycling, and innovative pilot solutions to reduce the environmental and economic impacts of plastic pollution.

Led by adelphi research gGmbH, the project is supported by a consortium of local and international partners, including research institutions, NGOs, and government agencies. Through a multi-stakeholder approach, PROTEGO will:

• Identify plastic leakage hotspots and map waste streams in key regions

• Develop and implement pilot projects to demonstrate scalable waste management solutions

• Strengthen policy frameworks to enhance circular economy initiatives such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

• Build awareness and capacity among local communities, businesses, and policymakers to drive behavioral change

By integrating data-driven analysis, public-private collaboration, and citizen engagement, PROTEGO aims to drive long-term systemic change in marine litter prevention and plastic waste management in West Africa.