GEMS/WASTE

Name

GEMS/WASTE

Legal name

WASTE Advisers

Website

https://wasteadvisersmw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Blantyre

HQ country

Malawi

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue through international donor grants from European Union, UNHCR, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other development partners. Funded projects include EU Building Better, EU Possible, FINILOOP, and Cyclone Freddy Response.
2. Consulting Services: Waste management advisory and consulting services offered to government bodies, NGOs, and private sector organizations seeking sustainable waste solutions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WASTE Advisers Malawi is a non-governmental organization that designs, funds, and implements sustainable waste management, sanitation, and circular economy programs across Malawi. Its core offering is the GEMS Innovation Hub (Green Economies Made Simple), which integrates a 10-month Green Internship Program, Green Wheels cargo-bicycle distribution, and Green Energy Solutions (solar) to train green entrepreneurs and support small recycling businesses. The organization also delivers municipal sanitation and recycling projects directly with city councils and operates public directories of vetted septic tank and solid waste service providers.

Product overview

GEMS/WASTE is an NGO offering a portfolio of waste management and circular economy services in Malawi. The core offering is the GEMS Innovation Hub (Green Economies Made Simple), which integrates three sub-programs: Green Internship Program, Green Wheels, and Green Energy Solutions. Supporting services include waste reduction and recycling, community empowerment and capacity building, emergency response, and sustainable agricultural practices. The organization also maintains directories of local service providers including Lilongwe STE (Septic Tank Emptiers) and Lilongwe SWO (Solid Waste Operators). Operations are guided by two proprietary methodologies: ISWM (Integrated Sustainable Waste Management) and the Waste Diamond approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEMS Innovation Hub: A transformative initiative by WASTE Advisers aimed at fostering sustainable development and circular economy practices in Malawi. Integrates three core departments: Green Internship Program, Green Wheels, and Green Energy Solutions.
• Engineering X

Products and services

• GEMS Innovation Hub (Green Economies Made Simple)
• Waste reduction and recycling services
• Community Empowerment & Capacity Building
• Emergency Response services
• Sustainable Agricultural Practices services
• Lilongwe STE (Septic Tank Emptiers) Directory
• Lilongwe SWO (Solid Waste Operators) Directory
• Green Internship Program
• Green Wheels
• Green Energy Solutions
• ISWM (Integrated Sustainable Waste Management) Methodology
• Waste Diamond Methodology

Quantifiable outcome

• 44 schools and 25 markets assisted with improved water and sanitation services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Academy of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Engineering X project to create awareness about waste picker communities at dumpsites and improve waste separation
• Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman humanitarian organization co-implementing EU-funded projects including poverty reduction and improved health in peri-urban Malawi
• WES ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EU-funded poverty reduction and health improvement projects in Zomba, Liwonde, and Mangochi
• Pump AidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in small-scale business development and community mobilisation for healthy urban slums project in Blantyre and Lilongwe
• Self Help AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partner supporting sustainable development and circular economy initiatives in Malawi
• BNC Packaging LTDminorOthersLocal packaging company engaged in private sector partnerships for circular economy initiatives
• Thanthwe InvestmentsminorOthersLocal business investment company supporting private sector development in waste management

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WASTE (Netherlands Foundation): The Netherlands parent organization of GEMS/WASTE; operates the same ISWM and Waste Diamond methodologies in 30+ countries. Comparable as the originating entity of the same programmatic IP.
• Self Help Africa: Ireland-headquartered NGO working on sustainable livelihoods in Africa; listed as GEMS/WASTE partner. Comparable donor-funded, Africa-focused, multi-country development NGO.
• Practical Action: UK-headquartered development organization using technology to tackle poverty including waste management. Comparable methodology-driven, donor-funded, Africa-active nonprofit.
• Pump Aid: Malawi-focused WASH NGO and direct GEMS/WASTE implementation partner on peri-urban sanitation projects. Comparable scale, geography, and donor-funded operating model.
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development organization running WASH, sanitation, and circular economy programs across Africa and Asia. Directly comparable donor-funded delivery model with similar multi-country footprint.
• WaterAid: International NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income countries. Comparable mission, donor base (institutional funders including UNICEF), and field-implementation model in Africa.
• Welthungerhilfe (WHH): German humanitarian NGO co-implementing EU-funded peri-urban sanitation projects with WASTE in Malawi. Comparable donor-funded development model, WASH focus, and African field presence.

Emerging players

• Sanergy: Kenya-based social enterprise operating waste collection and circular sanitation services. Comparable circular-economy waste model in East Africa, though structured as a venture-backed company rather than an NGO.

Broad incumbents

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency implementing large-scale WASH and environment programs in Malawi and beyond. Comparable donor-funded institutional player; much larger scale and broader mandate.
• IRC (International Rescue Committee): Global humanitarian organization running WASH and emergency sanitation programs. Overlaps with WASTE's emergency-response work (e.g. Cyclone Freddy) and shares UNHCR/UNICEF donor relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wasteadvisers2525
• Facebookfacebook.com/WASTEAdvisersMW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waste-advisers-malawi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GEMS/WASTE