The classification of stakeholders according to Scheinberg et al. (2010) into providers, users and external agents is used here to present the different stakeholders, functions and their inter-linkages in the SWM system of Bahir Dar (Fig. 1). Arrows depict either different service functions (waste collection, recycling, etc.) support functions (financial, research) or regulatory and legal functions (e.g. national regulation and legislation). A more detailed description of the stakeholders involved is depicted in the interest-power matrix in Lohri et al. (2013).