Combating Marine Plastic Pollution in West Africa: The PROTEGO Project

Marine plastic pollution is an escalating environmental crisis in West Africa, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, where increasing plastic consumption and insufficient waste management systems contribute to significant pollution levels. The PROTEGO project, funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), aims to mitigate plastic waste leakage into marine ecosystems. By integrating policy reforms, capacity-building initiatives, and community engagement, PROTEGO promotes sustainable waste management solutions to safeguard marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.

The rapid urbanization of West African nations, such as Ghana and Nigeria, has led to an exponential increase in plastic waste. However, limited recycling infrastructure, weak enforcement of regulations, and insufficient waste management practices allow large volumes of plastic to enter the ocean, threatening marine biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal economies.

Scientific research underscores the urgent need for systematic interventions to prevent plastic leakage into marine environments. The PROTEGO project addresses these gaps by providing evidence-based solutions that support policy development, encourage local recycling initiatives, and foster international knowledge exchange on waste management.

The project hypothesizes that a multi-stakeholder approach—integrating policy reforms, industry engagement, and community action—can significantly reduce plastic pollution in marine environments.

To test this hypothesis, the project employs a multi-pronged methodology, including:

• Policy Gap Analysis – Evaluating existing regulations, governance frameworks, and financing mechanisms to identify opportunities for policy enhancement.

• Stakeholder Engagement – Conducting capacity-building workshops for policymakers, industry leaders, and waste management stakeholders.

• Pilot Initiatives – Implementing and assessing innovative plastic collection, recycling, and reuse projects in selected regions.

• Community Awareness Campaigns – Organizing educational programs, coastal clean-up drives, and citizen science projects to promote behavioral change.

adelphi research leads PROTEGO by playing a pivotal role in the scientific, policy, and capacity-building components of the PROTEGO project, ensuring that interventions are research-driven and scalable. 

adelphi research’s contributions include:

• Strategic Policy Development – Providing technical expertise in policy design, particularly in waste governance, EPR implementation, and circular economy models.

• Capacity Building – Facilitating workshops and training programs for policymakers and waste sector professionals.

• Pilot Implementation & Evaluation – Partnering with local organizations to implement and monitor plastic waste reduction initiatives.

• Knowledge Dissemination – Publishing research findings, policy briefs, and best practices for replication across the region.

Through these contributions, adelphi research helps bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and actionable policy, ensuring that PROTEGO’s outcomes have a long-term impact on West Africa’s marine environment.

PROTEGO integrates research-driven insights, cross-sectoral partnerships, and citizen engagement to combat marine litter in the Gulf of Guinea, ensuring long-term impact on policy and environmental conservation.