Thank You For Participating

Thank you for your participation in the Introductory Webinar on Circular Economy on 13th and 14th July 2021. The virtual training event was collaboratively organised by AUDA-NEPAD and UNIDO and brought together participants from the private sector, governments, International Development organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to learn about the circular Economy concept and how it can apply to current line of work as well as future programming in their respective organisations and sectors.

This first introductory Circular Economy webinar compared the conventional linear economy with innovative circular economy approaches. Persistent challenges for Africa’s sustainable economic development that are driven by traditional linear economy pathways were highlighted alongside the potential opportunities offered for improvement by embracing more circular approaches. Circular economy enablers and innovations were also featured by showcasing how the sustainable design of products contributes to cost-effective use of materials, product maintenance and industrial efficiency which promotes efficient use of natural resources.

For emerging economies and those in transition, a circular economy offers relevant and innovative approaches to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, improved technology, and resilient infrastructure. The content of the webinar covered how circular economy principles contribute to increased productivity and innovation and the creation of both new and stronger business models.  Participants shared how local circular economy solutions could mitigate global issues such as the climate change impacts, biodiversity losses, and ocean and land degradation. Clear evidence was presented via case studies on how the application of circular economy practices could enhance the well-being of our societies through improved waste management and pollution reduction, cost-efficient manufacturing using alternative energy, product lifetime extension the reuse and recycling across multiple sectors and value chains.

The strong interest shown in the introductory webinar heralds the way forward for the organisation of follow-up circular economy initiatives by AUDA-NEPAD in collaboration with UNIDO and partners.

Visit the AUDA-NEPAD website to view presentations and recordings of the webinar. Please watch for announcements regarding our upcoming webinar series and other initiatives on circular economy - we look forward to your participation.

We value your feedback. Please click here to complete the short questionnaire if you did not have the opportunity to do so during the webinar. This will guide us further on the content of future events and on your communication and information needs for informing your programming and integration of the circular economy concept into already existing programmes.

Once again, thank you for being part of our mission to help ensure Africa's sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth.

Meeting Recordings

Start Time : Jul 13, 2021 10:37 AM

Topic: Webinar on Circular Economy: Supporting Africa's Sustainable and Resilient Development

Meeting Recording:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/mUR9lU-KuxKt6W2G-BtB9trwMNE-wVwyPi1OJh80qC2_sAotR-jg4taqK-CnAZYI.mfBDVRvBm4Xw5ul_

Start Time : Jul 14, 2021 10:36 AM

Topic: Webinar on Circular Economy: Supporting Africa's Sustainable and Resilient Development

Meeting Recording:

ttps://zoom.us/rec/share/Izdz_ksuWaBtbJuTsASC1elLZttuD3svxGVcD5hndv6t8KSQgtFoOqFMeyx_rh9z.e2WM9GYy1oMv_ahV

The Concept

A circular economy is commonly defined as an industrial approach that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. It replaces the end-of-life concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair reuse and return to the biosphere, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems and business models.

In order to achieve the legitimate aspirations of African people as stipulated in Agenda 2063, it is important to strive to build a well-functioning African economy that generates well-being and prosperity for all its people through new forms of economic production and consumption which maintain and regenerate its environmental resources.

The significance of circular economy is increasing given the socio-economic havoc caused by the COVID-19, which necessitates a re-configuration of Africa’s development narrative towards achieving Agenda 2063. Equally important, trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area, launched on the first of January 2021,  will further glavanize the importance of mainstreaming the circular economy into Africa’s development narrative.

The Global Consultations on Circular Economy, held by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), on 10-12 May, 202,1 confirmed the keen interest of UNIDO Member States for just transitions to circular economy to address climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution and waste challenges, while at the same time creating decent jobs and markets for circular products, supporting green investments, and facilitating innovation, all with the ultimate objective of achieving the sustainable development goals.

The organisation of the webinar on Circular Economy, was identified as an important joint initiative by AUDA-NEPAD, as the Development Agency of the African Union, and UNIDO, as part of our partnership to foster opportunities for contributing to achieving Africa’s development aspirations.

Goal and Objectives:

The overall goal of this webinar is to provide an introduction to the concept of a circular economy approach and the tools and best practices around its application. The objective of the webinar is to capcitate participants to understand how the approach may be applied in their work programming so that participants will:

1. Have a greater understanding of the evolution of the concept of Circular Economy, its principles, and the required effective circular transformations.

2. Explore the lessons learned and best practices to create more sustainable, equitable and prosperous societies across Africa through the application of circular economy approaches to development

3. Recognise the synergies between Circular Economy and implementation of Agenda 2063, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the AfCFTA.

4. Be able to identify potential strategies to mainstream Circular Economy into existing and new programmes at all levels; continentally, regionally, nationally and locally.

5. Be able to identify some of the barriers and enablers to mainstreaming circular strategies.