Across Africa, an economic transformation is underway that is redefining the very concept of waste and turning ecological challenges into unprecedented opportunities.
This tangible vision of the circular transition was on full display at the recently concluded 2025 Annual Meeting of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), where local entrepreneurs proved that Africa’s green economy is already taking root and growing.
From Kenya, where the E-Waste national guidelines and implementation framework provides a structured roadmap for managing electronic waste, to Madagascar, where polyethene sachets are ingeniously recycled into durable thread for handbags, and Burkina Faso, where plastic waste is reborn as paving stones and school desks, these projects are the living essence of the circular economy.
The urgency of this transition is quite clear. Every year, over 10 million young Africans enter the job market, yet only 3.1 million jobs are created. This is where the circular economy comes in, presenting a game-changing opportunity.
With the global circular market valued at a staggering Sh70.54 trillion ($546 billion) and the potential to create 11 million new jobs worldwide by 2030, Africa’s embrace of this model could be the key to unlocking inclusive growth and harnessing the immense potential of its youth.
Guiding this ambitious shift is the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), a coalition of 21 nations dedicated to embedding circular principles into the heart of the continent’s development strategies. Its mission is clear: to turn the ecological transition into a catalyst for integration and prosperity.
The 2025 ACEA Annual Meeting served as a critical platform for this mission, bringing together member states and 19 partner institutions including the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), and UN agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Its central theme was how to scale these successful circular models to deliver both environmental health and economic dividends. Discussions focused on the practical steps needed to build a cohesive ecosystem, including harmonizing standards, unlocking financing, and aligning industrial policies.
Groundbreaking initiatives are already paving the way. The African Circular Economy Fund (ACEF), a catalytic instrument from the AfDB, and the AU’s Continental Circular Economy Action Plan are driving progress in line with the continent’s Agenda 2063.
This is further solidified by the AfDB itself, which has made the circular economy a foundation of its Ten-Year Strategy for 2024–2033. This ethos is reflected in the Bank’s new agenda, which focuses on expanding access to capital, reforming financial systems, harnessing demographic potential, and investing in resilient infrastructure.
