Description
Supported by DEG, Doko Recyclers launched a rapid-response project during the COVID-19 peak to protect over 800 vulnerable waste workers in Nepal. The initiative provided safety gear, health information, and income support through equipment distribution, digital campaigns, and a helpline number, ensuring the safe, continuous waste services.
Impact
800+
800+ waste workers protected through distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits (gloves, masks, sanitizers, etc.)
Awareness videos produced and distributed via digital platforms (YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp) to educate workers on COVID-19 safety protocols and safe waste handling
SMS-based outreach used to disseminate multilingual safety messages on hygiene, social distancing, and safe segregation practices
Toll-free hotline established for waste workers and clients, offering real-time information on COVID-19, reporting of symptoms, and guidance on service continuity
Zero service disruptions recorded among participating waste enterprises, proving the model’s ability to safeguard essential waste operations during public health emergencies
Supported by Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), this project was implemented by Doko Recyclers to mitigate the dual threat of health risk and income insecurity for over 800 waste workers across Nepal during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the most vulnerable and informal groups in Nepal’s urban economy, waste workers lacked access to proper safety equipment, credible health information, and reliable income during the crisis.
Doko Recyclers designed and delivered a rapid-response program that combined protective equipment distribution, digital communication campaigns, and helpline-based outreach. The project was designed around both infection prevention and livelihood protection, aiming to ensure that essential waste services continued while workers remained informed, equipped, and supported.
