On 20 November 2025, the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI), in partnership with Rikolto, and with the support of the Brussels-Capital Region and the Municipality of Masina, officially launched the Bongola Fulu Initiative in Kinshasa. This pilot bio-circularity project aims to transform market-generated biowaste into compost, create green jobs, and promote sustainable urban agriculture.
The launch followed a co-creation workshop on 19 November 2025 at the Masina Municipal House. Local stakeholders, including municipal authorities, market vendors, youth, and women entrepreneurs, collaborated to design practical approaches for collecting, processing, and valorizing organic waste from urban markets.
The INDU Market, selected as the pilot site, will serve as a model for circular urban agriculture. The project is expected to:
- Divert 400 tons of biowaste per year from landfills.
- Produce 15 tons of compost per month for urban farmers.
- Train 250 young people, women, and market vendors in sustainable waste management and agribusiness skills.
- Incubate 15 green micro-enterprises, generating new income opportunities.
By linking waste management, youth empowerment, and sustainable agriculture, the Bongola Fulu Initiative demonstrates the potential of bio-circular solutions to improve urban sanitation, enrich soil, and support resilient food systems in Kinshasa. The initiative showcases the combined strengths of AALI’s youth and agribusiness expertise and Rikolto’s experience in inclusive food system innovation, alongside the support of local authorities and international partners.
Bongola Fulu—symbolizing innovation, jobs, cleanliness, and sustainable agriculture—is a forward-looking model for the green economy in Kinshasa, providing practical solutions to environmental challenges while fostering youth-led entrepreneurship in urban and peri-urban agriculture.