TITLE:
Examining Challenges of Sustainable Waste Management and Community Engagement in Hamar Jajab District, Mogadishu, Somalia
AUTHORS:
Ibrahim Jamal Ahmed, Mohamoud Abdi Ahmed, Abdirahman Jamal Ahmed, Dahir Abdullahi Jim’alle, Abdishakur Sheikh Mohamud Hassan, Abdifatah Ahmed Ali Afyare
KEYWORDS:
Community, Barriers, Sustainable, Waste, Management, Perception
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.9,
September
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study examines the barriers to community engagement in sustainable waste management in Hamar Jajab District, Mogadishu, where rapid urban growth and inadequate infrastructure have exacerbated environmental challenges. Community participation is widely acknowledged as a critical element of effective waste management, yet in fragile urban contexts such as Mogadishu, engagement often remains limited despite increasing awareness. To address this gap, a mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights, with data analyzed through descriptive statistics, reliability testing, and correlation analysis using SPSS. The findings demonstrate that while residents showed a moderate level of awareness of waste management practices, participation was seriously limited. Over 60% of respondents strongly agreed that the inadequacy of waste infrastructure was the key barrier, 55% cited the lack of government support, and 48% emphasized the involvement of women, youth, and underprivileged communities, with weak institution-based support further entrenching such barriers and widening the knowledge-to-action gap. It concludes that resolving such challenges requires a multi-sectoral approach, encompassing infrastructure development, financial support, and inclusive awareness campaigns. Improving participation not only strengthens local environmental sustainability and public health but also furthers the attainment of universal goals such as SDG 11 and SDG 12.