Reforming Urban Solid Waste Management in Amhara Regional State: Policy Analysis and Strategic Recommendations for Institutional Strengthening, Inclusion, and Coordination

<ns7:p>Urban Solid Waste Management (USWM) in Amhara Regional State faces critical challenges stemming from rapid urbanization, informal settlement growth, and limited municipal capacity. Service delivery, particularly in low-income areas, is hampered by fragmented institutional mandates and weak local implementation of national frameworks such as Proclamation No. 513/2007 and the National Urban Sanitation Strategy. This has led to public health risks, environmental degradation, and disproportionate burdens on vulnerable groups. This brief evaluates three policy options: (1) incremental improvements in municipal capacity, (2) integration of informal waste actors into formal systems, and (3) establishment of a unified regional coordinating body. A hybrid strategy combining Options 2 and 3 is recommended to promote inclusive governance and systemic coordination. Effective reform will require legal harmonization, stakeholder engagement, capacity-building, and financing. If implemented, this approach can enhance service delivery, empower informal workers, and support cleaner, more equitable urban environments in Amhara.</ns7:p>