Achieving Circular Economy in Cities: Recommendations for local governments to support enabling environments for circular businesses

Local government, communities and businesses have a key role to play in supporting the transition to a circular economy. To do so, these stakeholders need to be empowered to adopt circular economy principles and practices across all sectors, with the right understanding, tools and instruments. At present, in Africa, it is clear that the private sector is leading the transition to a circular economy. Local governments need to support these efforts and foster enabling and innovative environments for circular businesses to thrive.

This report presents recommendations, developed through the Accelerating Circular Economy in Africa Project (ACE Africa), to provide guidance for doing so. It draws on lessons from several engagements with circular economy stakeholders, including circular entrepreneurs and local government officials, involved in the project. It identifies key opportunities and actions for supporting circular businesses and entrepreneurs to contribute to the sustainability priorities of local governments in Africa. The report aims at influencing the wider governance of circularity and the creation of enabling environments for circular businesses to thrive in African cities. We hope that the report, and its accompanying resources, provide inspiration, evoke excitement to try things out, and provoke further questions.