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Building a Resilient Economy – Rwanda hosts World Circular Economy Forum 2022

Kigali, Rwanda – 7 December 2022 – Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is delighted to support the Government of the Republic of Rwanda partners, regional and global partners to organize and host the World Circular Economy Forum 2022 (WCEF 2022). Organized between 6-8 December, and for the first time in the Global South, WCEF 2022 presents a unique opportunity for African nations and the world to join transition efforts towards an inclusive low-carbon and climate resilient economy. With vast natural resources, a young population, strong entrepreneurship and new forms of collaboration, the African continent can offer inspiration to the world towards a new, more resilient economy – the circular economy.

With more than 4,500 people registering from 150 countries, it looks like our message was heard – From Africa to the world, Rwanda successfully hosted WCEF2022

“Circular economy is at the heart of climate action. WCEF 2022 is an opportunity for all to get involved and work together towards finding solutions to achieving a sustainable approach to production and consumption,” Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, GGGI’s Rwanda Country Representative said. “The concept of circular economy, closing the loop in the waste management life cycle, has been the core of GGGI’s programmatic solutions in solid and liquid waste management. GGGI has been developing policy, bankable business models and mobilizing green investment for resource recovery and waste-to-energy facilities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in partnership with agencies such as, Government of Luxembourg, EU, Government of UK, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and KOICA,” Mr. Ogbonnaya added.

WCEF 2022 will explore major themes relevant to Africa’s development in which circularity could play an important role, including climate and nature, youth, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and innovation, as well as trade and value chains. WCEF will be held both in person and online complemented by ‘African Studios’ live broadcasting the main event from Cape Town, South Africa; Kigali Rwanda; Lagos, Nigeria; Lusaka, Zambia; and Yaoundé, Cameroon.

GGGI highlights at the event include “Closing + From Africa for a circular future” on 7th December from 13:30 CAT (UTC+2) ;and under the theme Catalysing Finance for Circular economy in Africa ; and on 8th December 10-12 midday CAT (UTC+2) under the theme Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR ) Accelerator session.

GGGI Rwanda team organized  the Accelerator Session with the theme Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR ) Schemes, Lessons learned and best practices.

GGGI staff participated as panelist in the the dialogue on how disruptive technologies can lead the way to a circular economy in Africa, emphasizing the gravity of scaling local youth innovation, by elaboration on how GGGI  supports member countries by identifying the best innovations, align solutions to national priorities, and contextualize them to the country context.Za

GGGI staff in Zambia were also in the organizing committee that supported in organizing  a successful WCEF Zambia studio that took place on the 6th and 7th of December at the Quorum hotel in Lusaka, Zambia. The studio was opened by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Mr. John Msimuko and was attended by over 100 people including development partners, speakers, participants  and exhibitors. The programme included a mix of live broadcasts from  the main event, local panelist sessions and round table sessions on ACEA’s Five Big  Bets. The topic areas for the panel discussions  and presentations were:

  1. Circular Economy, Nature, COP27 and Innovation – WWF, Prospero Zambia, Z4ABC
  2. Presentation by Finland-supported Accelerated Growth  for SMEs in Zambia (AGS) and Tandem Consulting on the Circular Economy Market  Ecosystem in Zambia
  3. Finance and partnerships in the circular economy from different angles – Mayor of Lusaka office, Manja Pamodzi, Zambia National Commercial Bank, ICU, EU Delegation
  4. Presentation on ACEN projects and Chapter membership

 

WCEF2022 had altogether more than 4,500 registered participants representing 150 nationalities – another record-breaking number. If you missed a bit from here and there, the recordings of all seven joint sessions are available on WCEF’s YouTube channel.

Highlights for Day 1 , click here 

Highlights for Day 2 , click here

You can watch the recordings from all these sessions on WCEF’s YouTube, on the event website or on the event platform (available until 31 December to those registered).