We are excited to announce a major milestone for Let’s Do It World (LDIW)—the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN-Habitat as a Competence Partner. This agreement strengthens the long-standing collaboration between our organisations, and sets a clear framework for advancing our shared goals of global environmental sustainability and responsible waste management.
The MoU builds on years of cooperation, with UN-Habitat championing LDIW’s quest to bring about a clean and healthy waste-free planet since 2019. Most recently, UN-Habitat co-organised the inaugural event in Tromsø, Norway, celebrating the first World Cleanup Day officially recognised as part of the UN Calendar of International Days and Weeks, on 20 September. This highlights the continued strength of our relationship, and acknowledges the global importance of our work.
UN-Habitat, the United Nations programme dedicated to promoting sustainable cities and communities, shares LDIW’s passion for environmentally-aware waste management and infrastructure to build resilient environments. UN-Habitat’s goals align seamlessly with our commitment to empowering communities and promoting resource efficiency, while also encouraging responsible consumption. Collectively, our shared priorities amplify the local-to-global impact necessary to create effective solutions to waste challenges.
Becoming a Competence Partner with UN-Habitat means we can unite our collective expertise to tackle global waste issues. By sharing knowledge, enhancing capacity, and raising public awareness, we will empower communities and waste management leaders to implement more sustainable practices. Together, we aim to advance circular economy models—encouraging responsible consumption and promoting innovative waste solutions. Initiatives such as large-scale cleanups and the development of actionable guidelines will play a pivotal role in these efforts.
The alignment between the missions of UN-Habitat and LDIW is exemplified by the position of Heidi Solba, LDIW’s President and Head of Global Network, on the UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities Advisory Board since 2020. In this role, she has actively participated in global discussions on innovative waste management practices, reinforcing our shared commitment to addressing waste challenges at both systemic and community levels.
“Our partnership with UN-Habitat highlights the power of collaboration in tackling global waste challenges,” said Heidi Solba. “By combining our diverse expertise, we can amplify our efforts and inspire lasting change in how we manage waste and care for our environment. This collaboration also allows us to engage with like-minded organisations under the UN-Habitat framework, fostering cooperation and empowering us to collectively develop impactful solutions.”
Already well-recognised within the UN framework, LDIW is an accredited observer of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In July 2023, LDIW was honoured with a UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Mobilisation Award for organising World Cleanup Day—just a few months before World Cleanup Day was named an official day on the UN Calendar, in December 2023. These significant achievements reflect the growing reach of our efforts to create a waste-free world, and the strength of our partnership with the United Nations.
Looking ahead, our strengthened collaboration with UN-Habitat will bring invaluable knowledge and technical expertise to strengthen LDIW’s—and indeed the whole world’s—waste management efforts. It will enable us to engage a broader range of stakeholders, from policymakers to volunteers, while driving our efforts to develop sustainable solutions to waste challenges.
To learn more about UN-Habitat’s initiatives, visit their website.
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