EEPCO - Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Organization

Background

The Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control Organization (EEPCO) is a Tanzanian NGO based in Dar es Salaam.  The Organization was founded in 1993 with the aim of improving the living environment of Tanzania by designing and implementing environmentally oriented projects and strengthening local capacity in human resource development.

Formation Concept

EEPCO was established due to the urgent need to have a strong, united front capable of reacting dynamically to ever changing environmental stresses.  Its focus was to simultaneously address the problems of:

·        poverty and unemployment

·        water and sanitation

·        waste and human settlements

·        environmental conservation and economic expansion.

In addition it aimed to tackle the Institutional set-up gap.

Tanzania’s water policy is divided into three sections : (i) Water Resources Management (ii) Rural Water Supply (iii) Urban Water Supply and Sewerage.  There is no sanitation policy in place rather it is under development.  The custodian for all sanitation activities is the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare though the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has a small sanitation component in its program.  Lack of sanitation policy has created an environment which lacks coordination and, as a result, resources are not properly utilized.  Generally the private sector, including donors, is fully involved in developing sanitation activities.

EEPCO was founded by 10 environmental engineers to promote private sector participation.  The aim was to:-

·         Improve the living environment of Tanzania by designing and implementing projects oriented to the environment and strengthening local capacity in human resource development.

The EEPCO directorate comprises:

         -        Water Supply Department

         -        Sanitation and Wastewater Department

         -        Solid Waste Department

EEPCO team