Eco Kolek Received Two UNDP Grants to Advance Inclusive Circular Economy in Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – 20 August 2025 – Project Zacchaeus (PZC), through its flagship circular economy program Eco Kolek, has been awarded two separate grants from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Circular Economy Community Grants Call and the Circular Economy Education and Social Behavior Change (SBC) Call.

These awards recognize Eco Kolek’s community-driven circular economy model as a pioneering approach to addressing plastic pollution while empowering women, youth, and informal waste workers.

Through these two grants, Eco Kolek will:

• Strengthen grassroots waste recovery systems by scaling collection operations, formalizing and supporting Eco Warriors with training, equipment, and fairer market access.

• Incubate community-led circular enterprise/s, providing technical assistance, mentorship, and small-scale catalytic funding to develop community-based circular products.

• Advance social and behavior change (SBC) by conducting interactive school roadshows, household-level campaigns, and youth-led initiatives that encourage sustainable consumption and segregation at source.

• Develop feedback mechanisms to increase community ownership and accountability in plastic waste reduction.

The dual approach of combining system-building with behavior change is expected to deliver measurable environmental, economic, and social impacts, including:

• Reduction of marine plastic leakage in Puerto Princesa and surrounding partner LGUs.

• Increased formal recognition, safer working conditions, and improved income stability for more Eco Warriors.

• Development of new community-led circular enterprises that generate inclusive green jobs.

• Strengthened policy alignment with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, the National Plan of Action for Marine Litter (NPOA-ML), and the Philippines’ commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Since its inception, Eco Kolek has formalized over 100 Eco Warriors, established Puerto Princesa’s first Circular Economy Learning Hub in partnership with USAID CCBO and the City Government, and diverted hundreds of metric tons of recyclables from the environment. These milestones were achieved through strong collaboration with national agencies such as DOST, local government units, private sector partners including Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, academia, TESDA, international development agencies such as PEMSEA, and CSOs/NGOs. Together, these efforts laid the groundwork for scaling—now made possible with the support of UNDP.

The initiative is implemented in close partnership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, particularly the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) and the Local Circular Economy Action Team (LCEAT), which has positioned Puerto Princesa as a priority LGU for circular economy innovation.

“We are honored to receive these two UNDP grants, which affirm the relevance of Eco Kolek’s grassroots-led approach in tackling marine plastic pollution and promoting inclusive green livelihoods,” said Shellemai Roa, Project Director of Eco Kolek. “This recognition strengthens our partnership with the City Government and inspires us to broaden collaboration with the private sector, academia, civil society, national agencies, and international development partners.”

With innovation, partnerships, and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) at its core, Eco Kolek will continue to co-create with local and global stakeholders—ensuring that Puerto Princesa emerges as a model hub for inclusive, climate-resilient circular economy transformation in Palawan and beyond.