The Role of Community Engagement in Environmental Rehabilitation: The Ibadan Community Experience, South-West Nigeria

Purpose: The role of community engagement is consistently underestimated among developing nations. This contributes to the non-compliance of people to environmental laws. This report shares the practical role of sustainable community participation, an intervention on poor domestic solid waste management in a community.<br><br>Method: Community entry, mapping, mobilization, diagnosis, advocacy, use of local resources and training were the health promotion/education strategies employed. Multiple non-probability sampling techniques were used to sample Stakeholders. Data collection utilized an observational checklist, focus group discussion guide, key informant and in-depth interview guides respectively.<br><br>Result: After presenting the findings to the community, waste disposal and management was prioritized by the people. Thus, an intervention was initiated where about 250 females of 15 to 45 years age group from 10 selected schools who according to the assessment manage the refuse disposal and household hygiene in the community participated.<br><br>Using the local resources from the community, the prioritized challenge was addressed through training, skill acquisition and sensitization in an environment where they were at ease to fully participate. This learning was done using active specific approaches like discussion, role play, demonstration, return demonstration, and story-telling. Evaluation of the outcome and progressive impact was carried out by intermittent phone calls to participants. Mobilization of funds was achieved by approaching the stakeholders in the community.<br><br>Conclusion: Working with the people is a cost-effective and sustainable pathway to achieve SDG 6. Efforts are needed in tailored community involvement/participation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to practice consistent environmental sanitation/hygiene and create sustainability.