The new Malaysia Island Innovation Challenge was launched today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Ministry of Finance to spur collective local action for waste management for the country’s islands.
The aim of the challenge is to promote innovative local waste management solutions to localise sustainable tourism, enhance the well-being and socio-economy of local communities, and ensure environmental sustainability. Key waste issues that the challenge seeks to address include plastic waste, food waste, water pollution, and carbon emissions.
Presently, unsustainable waste management practices on Malaysia’s islands pose major threats to the environment, local communities, and the tourism industry. These threats include negative environmental impact, health risks, harm to community well-being, and degradation of valuable tourism assets.
Research by the Ministry of Finance and UNDP has found that plastics and food waste represent more than 70 per cent of waste produced on the country’s islands, mainly generated at resorts, food establishments, and among local communities. Waste collection was also found to increase by more than tenfold during holiday periods, highlighting the need for the private sector, local government, and communities to take proactive roles in waste management systems.
The challenge aims to mitigate such negative impacts of mass tourism and preserve the country’s tourism assets, given the industry’s role as one of the nation’s major economic sectors and contributors to gross domestic product (GDP).
“Resolving local waste management is critical to safeguarding the sustainability of ecosystems and preserving the natural beauty of our islands in Malaysia. In line with Ekonomi MADANI, we require a collective approach, bringing together local communities, the resorts and the government to address the island waste management issue. We welcome UNDP’s innovation challenge, especially in bringing together all the stakeholders to initiate and pilot new ideas and approaches.”, said Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Secretary General, Ministry of Finance, Malaysia.
“Managing waste is a complex challenge at destination islands around the world. A combination of infrastructure deficits, lack of punitive administrative action on polluters, and public apathy towards waste are not only making our beaches and waterways full of trash, but also disturbing some of our most fragile ecosystems. The islands of Malaysia are major biodiversity hubs, just as they are tourist attractions. We must work to co-create solutions that will protect our islands, bring in tourism revenues, ensure that future generations get to cherish and enjoy these precious habitats.”, said Niloy Banerjee, Resident Representative of UNDP Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.
The challenge is to open it to all registered Malaysian stakeholders, including government bodies, private companies, NGOs, community groups, and universities. The challenge also requires that submissions foster partnerships between two or more local stakeholders, which may include (but are not limited to) formats such as collaborations, shared funding, or joint programs. Local stakeholders can extend to local government, local community associations (e.g. village community organisations), and local NGOs.
Successful applicants to the challenge will receive up to USD$40,000 to implement waste management initiatives on any Malaysian islands that receive tourists. They will also receive technical assistance to support the development of the proposed initiative. Up to five organisations will receive prize funding.
The deadline for applications is 2 September 2024. For more information and to apply for the challenge, visit islandinnovationchallenge.com.
About UNDP Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations organisation in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.
In Malaysia, UNDP’s technical assistance programmes date from the country’s independence in 1957. For the last 5 decades, UNDP’s assistance has been in stride with Malaysia’s own five-year national development plans, strategic agendas and policy priorities encompassing inclusive growth and economic development, poverty eradication, gender empowerment, promoting good governance and anti-corruption, sustainable and resilient development, strengthening renewable energy and energy efficiency approaches, mainstreaming environmental management and protection, rationalising public sector reforms, as well as promotion of South-South Cooperation for global development.
For more information about UNDP and its work, visit: www.my.undp.org
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