Informal waste workers on Lagos dumpsites: analysis of gender difference in sources of livelihood

Lagos, a city in southwest Nigeria, has been identified as one of the fastest growing cities in the world. The problem of waste management has led to various initiatives to tackle the mounting heaps of waste in Nigeria’s cities. The government has supported the introduction of the private sector in waste collection. However, the process of solid waste management does not stop with waste collection. With the gap created in the waste management process, transportation of waste to dump sites provides the informal waste sector with a source of livelihood. This paper reports on fieldwork that incorporates observation, and qualitative research methods. The findings reveal gender differences in the livelihoods available to women in the informal waste sector, specifically focusing on waste scavengers, based on tool usage and waste specialization.