Trends to watch in Africa’s circular economy in 2026

January 11, 2026

Dear subscriber,

Happy New Year and welcome to our first newsletter of 2026. To kick things off, we peek ahead at the trends likely to keep Africa’s circular economy busy and honest this year.

Mercy Maina – Editor

Stakeholders in Africa’s circular economy are hoping for an acceleration beyond a linear economic model. And while the scale is still small, momentum is expected to build in 2026 as governments take a greater interest in circularity. This analysis examines the developments likely to shape that trajectory in the year ahead.

  • The emerging trends cut across funding flows, technological adoption, policy implementation and community participation.

  • They include rising investment in startups, accelerated technological adoption, stronger policy implementation and enforcement, and deeper integration of informal sector actors.

  • Our take: If current momentum holds, Africa’s circular transition could move from ambition to execution… Read more (2 min)

Circular economy initiatives in Africa attracted $20.8 million in investments in December 2025, marking a 98% decline from the monthly average last year. Funding was dominated by West Africa, where four of the five deals are focused. The deals, spread across Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria, comprised a mix of grants and early-stage venture investments.

  • Egypt recorded the single largest investment, securing $17 million in Series A funding for an electronics recycling startup. 

  • Startups secured most of the investments, accounting for four of the five deals, with the remaining funding directed at a metropolitan government in West Africa.

  • Our take: Investment patterns highlight the growing role of startups as the primary entry point for private capital in Africa’s circular economy …Read more (2 min)

Policymakers across the region doubled down on efforts to strengthen governance in the circularity sector by developing three new policies in the final quarter of 2025. The measures focus on extended producer responsibility as well as national circular economy planning and regional plastic pollution prevention.

  • The policies were developed at different governance levels, including national frameworks in Kenya and Benin and a regional framework covering the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states.

  • They comprise regulatory requirements, long-term planning instruments and regional coordination mechanisms addressing waste management, resource efficiency and cross-border environmental challenges.

  • Our take: The new frameworks signal growing policy maturity across Africa, but the real test will lie in enforcement, financing and institutional follow-through … Read more (2 min)

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Source: Moumouni Garba

Aképé Technical Landfill Site (CET) in Lomé, Togo

Events

🗓️ Network at the Conference on Packaging & Circular Economy (March 9)

🗓️ Register for Africa’s Green Economy Summit in South Africa (February 24)

 

Jobs

🧑‍💼 Supervise mining waste at Interwaste (South Africa)

🧑‍💼 Protect employees’ health and safety at Interwaste (South Africa)

🧑‍💼 Oversee waste management operations at Interwaste (South Africa)

🧑‍💼 Work as a sales executive at Compass Medical Services (South Africa)

🧑‍💼 Manage client relationships at Mrkoon (Egypt)

Various 

🪜 Why Africa should step up efforts to reduce methane emissions

💹 Global waste to energy market projected for massive growth by 2032

🪧 Waste workers decry stigma and health risks, demand inclusion in national policies

🗑️ Best practices for managing end-of-life solar PV waste 

♻️ Circular economy pathways for cleaner East African cities

Seen on LinkedIn 

Dusabimana Ally, Data Scientist at Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd, says, “To protect health and the environment, we must prioritize investment in modern waste treatment technologies, regulatory enforcement, and capacity building across Africa’s healthcare systems.”