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Circular development

Circular development

The circular development pathway and new models of production and consumption build sustainable societies that use recyclable, sharable and replenishing resources to end the linear model of produce, consume, discard.

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This pathway’s focus areas

Promote

Promote

practical strategies for circularity in cities

Prioritise

Prioritise

sustainable waste management

Enable

Enable

entrepreneurial environments for circularity

Through this pathway, local and regional governments decouple urban and economic development from resource consumption and factor environmental and social costs into the price of goods and services. They encourage equitable access to resources and create closed-loop urban and peri-urban systems. They support new local economies that are productive and not extractive, where resources are exchanged and not wasted. Local and regional governments prioritise sustainable waste management and work with the business sector from early-market engagement to the delivery of solutions that support local sustainability goals and that meet the needs of all citizens. They use procurement power to green economies.

Pathway resources

No time to waste: Improving waste management in African cities
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No time to waste: Improving waste management in African cities

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Publications & reports
Circular and Resilient Urban Water Management
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Circular and Resilient Urban Water Management

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Case studies
End open burning: An awareness-raising framework and guide for local government authorities
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End open burning: An awareness-raising framework and guide for local government authorities

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Publications & reports

Pathway projects

Strengthening African waste management initiatives

Strengthening African waste management initiatives

We provide technical assistance to Cities seeking to improve sustainable waste management projects through technical support and peer learning.
Sharing and Learning for Water Governance in South Africa

Sharing and Learning for Water Governance in South Africa

WaterSOURCE utilises knowledge sharing, toolkit development and pilots to support circular governance and reduce non-revenue water loss in South Africa
The Campus: A One Hectare Circular Farm and Learning Hub

The Campus: A One Hectare Circular Farm and Learning Hub

Potsdam One Hectare Circular Farm. A ‘One hectare circular economy farm and learning hub’ where different circular and food systems approaches are piloted.

Pathway news updates

ICLEI Implementing for IMPACT in African cities and regions
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News
27 October 2025

ICLEI Implementing for IMPACT in African cities and regions

ICLEI Africa turns 30: Decades of partnerships, progress and purpose
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News
5 September 2025

ICLEI Africa turns 30: Decades of partnerships, progress and purpose

ICLEI Africa mid-year news roundup
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Newsletters
8 July 2025

ICLEI Africa mid-year news roundup

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