Moussa Dogo Ali has a Master of Science in Applied Polymer Science from Halle-Saale in Germany. Using his background, Dogo develops, innovates and invents new waste processing techniques in order to produce materials that can play a role in the daily lives of Niger’s citizens.
In 2005, Dogo decided to turn what had been an interest into a business. Because he lacked the resources to start the company on his own, Dogo joined with a few business partners and set up GVDsa (Gestion et Valorisation des Déchets). The company provides consulting, research and development services on solid and liquid waste management and recovery technology. The company also trains municipal workers, non-governmental organizations and primary and secondary school students in waste management, reuse and recycling.
Dogo’s aim in creating the company was to contribute to the fight against poverty. Because he grew up in the western part of Niger where food crises were a permanent problem, he had a need to help end poverty. The lack of natural resources and appropriate food policy programs are some of the basic causes of hunger in the region, according to Dogo.
By developing this company and training people, rural communities can not only put to use the existing agricultural and forest residues around them but can also get jobs as waste collectors and recyclers, said Dogo.
Indeed, he said, the poor will have easy access to energy, will increase their purchasing power and will have the tools to become sanitation professionals. At the same time waste management and sanitation will be improved.
Challenges to Starting the Business
In order to fulfil his goals, Dogo spent 10 years exploring applicable waste management and recovery technology which could be suitable in Niger’s socio-economic and environmental climate.
“I dealt with waste first as amateur, then as student, and to help in universities, and now to Managing-Director of a waste corporation,” said Dogo.
After achieving the technical know-how to make the project feasible, Dogo’s new challenge became finding the ways and means to make his company operational.
“The equipment to be used is not common,” said Dogo. “In some cases, they must adapt existing [equipment], and in many cases, we must develop new [equipment],” he said.
Financing was also a concern. At the beginning, Dogo realised that he must gain the confidence of financial institutions in order to succeed in becoming the first local consultant on waste management and recovery.
The World Bank’s Involvement
Today, Dogo is an international consultant. He offers his services to several countries including Mauritania and Cameroon and to the European Commission, the World Bank and to many international organizations including the Netherlands’ organisation for development SNV, the German service for development DED or Deutscher Entwickhingdienstand Espagne-Lutte contre la faim, etc.
One of his best successes came in November 2006when, out of 2000 projects, Dogo won first price at the regional development marketplace of Bamako in Mali organised by the World Bank. As first-prize winner he was granted US30,000.
