Digital Innovations for Transitioning to a Circular plastic Economy - (DITCh Plastic)

该提案汇集了一个多部门合作网络，旨在利用数字创新（DIs）来管理和加速非洲向循环塑料经济（CPE）的过渡。塑料污染是21世纪最大的挑战之一。由于一系列独特的特性和广泛的益处，塑料是一种不可或缺的材料，但它们也带来了重大的环境和健康问题，这些问题正变得越来越棘手。在低收入和中等收入国家，基础设施薄弱和废物管理系统不足加剧了这一问题以及塑料废物对环境的影响。循环经济意识的提高是可持续发展话语的重要组成部分，并被认为将在全球向更可持续的地球转变中发挥重要作用。它的主要原则；再利用、再循环、重新设计、再制造、减少和回收，将对管理生态系统中的大量废物产生重大影响。因此，创造了向循环塑料经济的转变。这与数字创新相结合，如移动应用、遥感和人工智能；提供了一种改变游戏规则的方法，可以解决非洲的塑料废物挑战。该项目旨在描述、聚集、协同和优化数字创新，以支持非洲向循环塑料经济的过渡。它有以下具体目标：1。确定和评估能够支持向循环塑料经济过渡的数字解决方案和创新。描述可能影响向循环塑料经济过渡的技术、政治、性别、社会经济和文化因素。3。确定促进数字工具和创新的政策、研究问题和能力建设机会。促进循环塑料经济的数字工具和创新。目标将通过以下一揽子工作来实现：WP1：评估整个非洲塑料废物管理数字创新的最先进水平，并为这些创新平台建立网络。WP2：描述非洲背景下促进/阻碍向循环塑料经济过渡的技术、性别、政治、社会经济和文化因素。WP3：研究为循环塑料经济重新思考/优化数字工具的机会（这将利用WP1和WP2的结果）。WP4：创建一个数字聚合平台，汇集利益攸关方、数字工具和创新，促进循环塑料经济。WP5：向主要利益攸关方和广大公众宣传和参与数字工具对向循环塑料经济过渡的积极贡献。该项目是创建多部门合作网络的第一步，旨在利用数字创新来管理和加速非洲向CPE的过渡。因此，主要成果将是一个强大的多部门、跨学科和国际团队，他们将确定差距、机会、政策建议和研究问题，以支持过渡。具体产出包括：-项目网站与连接CPE各利益相关者的数字聚合平台-第二阶段的强大及时和相关的研究问题-两次国际研讨会，每次约30人参加（2020年4月和8月）-整个非洲大陆现有DIs的文件，详细说明优势和劣势-文件；技术、政治、社会经济、性别和文化因素对促进方案教育发展的影响-在查塔姆研究所和CC-Hub的传播活动-在基加利、拉各斯和温得和克与各利益攸关方开展的一系列网络活动-为促进方案教育发展举行一次关于促进方案教育发展的小型会议，并提供会议记录和期刊特刊

This proposal brings together a multisectoral collaborative network, aimed at utilising digital innovations (DIs) to manage and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy (CPE) in Africa. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. While plastics are an indispensable material due to an array of unique properties and wide-ranging benefits, they pose significant environmental and health problems which are becoming increasingly intractable. Poor infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems exacerbate this problem and the environmental impact of plastic waste in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).The rise in awareness of the circular economy is a crucial part of the sustainability discourse and has been tipped to play a significant role in the global shift to a more sustainable planet. Its key principles; reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce and recover, will make a significant impact in managing the high volumes of waste in the ecosystem. Therefore, creating a shift towards a circular plastic economy. This coupled with digital innovations, such as mobile applications, remote sensing and artificial intelligence; provide a game-changing approach, which could address the plastic waste challenge in Africa. The project aims to characterise, cluster, synergise and optimise digital innovations that would support a transition to a circular plastic economy in Africa. It has the following specific objectives:I. Identify and assess digital solutions and innovations that can support the transition to a circular plastic economy.II. Characterise technical, political, gender, socio-economic and cultural factors that can influence the transition to a circular plastic economy. III. Identify policy, research questions and capacity building opportunities for promoting digital tools and innovations.IV. Promote digital tools and innovations for a circular plastic economy.The objectives will be achieved through the following work packages:WP1: Assessing state of the art of digital innovations for plastic waste management across Africa and forming a network for these innovative platforms. WP2: Characterising Technical, Gender, Political, Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors that promote /hinder a transition to a circular plastic economy in the context of Africa. WP3: Investigating opportunities for rethinking/optimising digital tools for a circular plastic economy (This will utilise results from WP1 and WP2). WP4: Creating a Digital Aggregator Platform that brings together stakeholders, digital tools and innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy WP5: Disseminating and engaging with key stakeholders and the wider public, on what/how digital tools can positively contribute to the transition to a circular plastic economy.This project represents the first step in creating a multisectoral collaborative network, aimed at utilising digital innovations to manage and accelerate the transition to a CPE in Africa. Therefore, the primary outcome will be a strong multisectoral, interdisciplinary and international team who will identify gaps, opportunities, policy recommendations and research questions to support the transition. Specific outputs include:- Project website with a digital aggregator platform that links various stakeholders of the CPE- Robust timely and relevant research questions for stage 2- Two international workshops, of about 30 participants each (Apr & Aug 2020)- Documentation of existing DIs across the continent, detailing strengths and weaknesses- Documentation of; technical, political, socio-economic, gender and cultural factors that affect DIs for a CPE- Dissemination activities at Chatham House and CC-Hub- A series of networking activities, with various stakeholders, in Kigali, Lagos and Windhoek- A mini conference on DIs for the CPE with conference proceeding and journal special issue