ACEN April 2023 Newsflash!

The Rwanda ACEN Chapter meeting was held at the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali on the 14th of March, hosted by Executive member Chris Whyte. 11 of the 15 Rwanda Chapter Members managed to attend, including Ronald, Christophe, Juan, Noel, Gitau, Kudzai, David, Elisée, Elke, Emile, and Yvan, some of them rather wet after a downpour. We discussed the ACEN Chapter Guidelines, but focused on the needs and aspirations of the members as to what makes this Chapter unique and their aims and objectives for the future. We are excited to follow the development of this inspired Chapter as they position themselves as the voice of Circularity in Rwanda.

Circular Food Systems for Rwanda Launch!

This month the Circular Food Systems for Rwanda project was officially launched and are now open for applications from SME's! This project aims to transform Rwanda's food system into a more circular and sustainable one. As part of this initiative, an SME fund and a multi-stakeholder platform were launched to support small and medium-sized enterprises in accessing technical support for implementing successful and sustainable circular business models. ACEN is the project’s lead partner providing technical assistance to SMEs. This three-year project is a collaboration between national, regional and global partners and supported by the IKEA Foundation.

JUST2CE co-creation Workshops are underway!

We had a fantastic time during the Cape Town and Johannesburg co-creation workshops in March! Apart from the South African workshops, four more workshops will take place in Thessaloniki (Greece), Campania and Taranto (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), and Sheffield (UK). The main aim of these co-creation workshops is to create a number of scenarios to implement a transition to a just circular economy and to reflect on the necessary technological and political interventions. Results of the workshops will be used to draft a policy brief, which will be published on the JUST2CE website. 

If you are interested in the project, please reach out to Katharina Gihring.

Circular use of Agricultural Residues in Benin

Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) tasked Trinomics, in association with the ACEN Foundation, to assess circular project opportunities with agricultural residues in Benin. Started in mid-2022, this project is now complete and huge thanks to the ACEN country members Fohla Mauftaou and Geoffroy Mele in providing such professional inputs to the report. The report indicates over a million tons of available residues and highlighted five key technology applications using Dutch and global providers where financial viability was based on available local information. The recommendations go forward to drive possible interventions in the country that maximise benefits to local farmers. To work on similar circular economy-related projects in Africa, sign up for the expert's database.

WCEF2023 Side Event: Lagos to the world: Next Steps

The ACEN Nigeria Chapter will host a WCEF2023 Side Event titled Lagos to the world: Next Steps on 12 April 2023 from 13:00 to 14:30 CAT online. This side event will focus on the recommendations, policies, and financing channels for circularity. Following the outcomes of the Nigeria Studio - WCEF2022 African Studio with a focus on circular trade and the built environment. At the Nigeria Studio, discussants and participants proffered sustainable solutions to accessing tools for cross-cutting circular initiatives, innovation, and models.

WCEF2023 Side Event: Circular Economy Water Solutions for Africa

ACEN is hosting its first online workshop for 2023 with the topic of Circular Economy Water Solutions for Africa on 20 April 2023 from 14:00 to 16:00 CAT. Africa is quickly running out of water, largely due to climate change, but also on account of institutional failings, governance and the lack of planning infrastructure. During this session, we will explore how the circular economy can be used as a sustainable water management framework to minimise waste and increase resource efficiency in businesses.

Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023

The Circular Economy Hotspot is in Africa for the first time! The Lagos State Government in collaboration with the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN), and the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), are organizing the Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot 2023 #LCEH2023. Lagos will welcome delegates from across the globe and showcase groundbreaking innovations and initiatives driven by talented Nigerian and African innovators. The event takes place in a hybrid format from 25 to 28 April 2023. For further information, please contact: Kemi from ACEN; Yomi from CEIP; or the hotline.

World Circular Economy Forum 2023

The time for WCEF2023 is coming closer! The forum will take place 30 May to 2 June, with 30 and 31 May taking place in Helsinki and online. Accelerator Sessions take place 1 and 2 June at locations across the city and online. ACEN will be part of two sessions on 1 June, of which the first is African Voices with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA). The second session will look at the importance of Circular Hotspots and Hubs in partnership with Nordic Circular Hotspot and Holland Circular Hotspot. To get involved, contact Lara Maritano

Ellen MacArthur Foundation: An adaptive strategy for circular design

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched six ‘design leverage points’ that can be used to unlock the potential of circular design. Organisations can employ this strategy to rethink design and develop regenerative solutions. It’s the tool we’ve been waiting for!

Mebl’s Circular Design Glossary

Mebl | Transforming Furniture, in collaboration with Sustainable Furnishings Council and Soma Studio Milano created a Circular Design Glossary with 40+ circular economy design concepts, case studies and photographs of innovative furniture and furnishing companies displaying concrete applications of circular materials and processes.

Sitra and Deloitte’s playbook for businesses

 The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and Deloitte developed a practical guide comprised of five business models that can help businesses transition to a circular economy. The handbook presents insight, examples and hands-on tools that companies can use to get ahead of the curve, keep up to date with what consumers and customers demand, and add value with fewer resources.

Copy and design by Tashma Kritzinger