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Tag: Ethiopia

Advancing Circular Economy Capacity for Resource Efficiency

Written by hanno.fuehren on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Adama, Ethiopia

From 2 to 4 December 2025, a diverse group of public, private, and civil society stakeholders convened in Adama City for a Capacity Building Training on Circular Economy for Resource Efficiency. The three-day training strengthened both national and local capacities to support Ethiopia’s transition towards a more circular, resource-efficient, and resilient economy.

The training was financed by the GIZ-implemented Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) under the Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa and brought together decision-makers and practitioners who play critical roles in shaping policies, investments, and implementation on the ground.

Participants in the training workshop in Adama, Photo © GIZ, Eshete Sitotaw

Why Circular Economy Capacity Matters

Ethiopia’s rapid urbanization and industrial expansion are driving increased demand for raw materials, energy, and land, while at the same time leading to rising levels of waste and environmental pressure. Cities such as Adama face growing challenges related to inefficient resource use, limited recycling, and waste management systems under strain.

Against this backdrop, the training highlighted the urgent need to move away from the traditional linear economic model—take, make, dispose—towards a circular economy that prioritizes resource efficiency, waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Strengthening institutional and technical capacity is essential to translate national strategies and policies into effective local action.

Strengthening Practical Skills and Institutional Capacity

The training combined expert inputs with interactive discussions, enabling participants to build both conceptual understanding and practical skills. Key learning areas included:

  • Core principles of the circular economy and international best practices
  • Material Flow Analysis (MFA) as a tool to track resource use, identify inefficiencies, and uncover opportunities for industrial symbiosis
  • Policy and regulatory frameworks, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the National Circular Economy Roadmap (NCER), and Ethiopia’s new solid waste management proclamations

Through group discussions and applied exercises, participants explored how these tools and frameworks can be used to improve planning, enforcement, investment decisions, and cross-sector collaboration at city and national levels.

Participants engaging in group work, Photo © GIZ, Eshete Sitotaw

Enabling Coordination Across Institutions and Sectors

The training brought together 20 participants, including representatives from federal, Addis Ababa, and Adama City Environmental Protection Authorities, the Addis Ababa Cleansing Management Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and the Ethiopian Standards Agency. Private sector and civil society organizations, including EKT Trading PLC, CIFA, Reach for Change, and private consultants, also participated. Women represented 20% of participants.

This multi-stakeholder composition strengthened mutual understanding and coordination across institutions that are jointly responsible for advancing circular economy implementation—from policy development and regulation to investment promotion and business practice.

From Theory to Practice: Circular Economy in Action

A highlight of the training was a field visit to the Kuriftu Paper Mill in Adama, where participants observed circular economy principles applied in an industrial setting. The visit demonstrated how recycling and resource efficiency can be integrated into viable business models, offering concrete inspiration for scaling similar approaches in other sectors and cities.

Field visit to the Kuriftu Paper Mill in Adama, Photo Photo © GIZ, Eshete Sitotaw

Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Impact

The training was officially opened by H.E. Mr. Negus Lemma, Deputy Director General of the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and concluded with reflections and a certificate handover ceremony led by Dr. Lemlem Tajebe, Environmental Management Lead Executive at the EPA.

Opening remarks by H.E. Mr. Negus Lemma, Deputy Director General of the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Photo © GIZ, Eshete Sitotaw

By equipping key stakeholders with practical tools, policy knowledge and shared understanding, the training contributes to stronger institutional capacity and more coordinated action on circular economy and resource efficiency. These capacities are essential for reducing environmental pressures, supporting green economic growth, and advancing Ethiopia’s broader sustainable development goals.

Fostering South-South Cooperation: A Learning Exchange on Circular Economy in Addis Ababa

Written by Johanna Lübbers on . Posted in Countries, Ethiopia.

The Natural Resources Stewardship (NatuReS II) Programme was honoured to play a key role in the learning exchange visit of a Sierra Leone delegation on Circular Economy & Solid Waste Management to Addis Ababa. The pivotal event aimed at building a sustainable future through collaboration, fostering knowledge transfer on Ethiopia’s pioneering approaches to the circular economy and sustainable solid waste management. The programme provided actionable insights for the participating Sierra Leonean institutions, incl. local government and NGOs.

Group photo of the knowledge sharing workhop on October 14, 2025, in Addis Ababa. ©PETCO Ethiopia

Exchange on stewardship partnerships for a Circular Economy

A cornerstone of the week was the knowledge-sharing workshop held on October 14, 2025, in Addis Ababa. Organised by PETCO Ethiopia, a producer responsibility organisation promoting a circular transition, the event convened a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders, including members of the Partnership for Circular Value Chains. Mr James Njeru, Implementation Manager for NatuReS Ethiopia, contributed as a panellist. He emphasised the critical role of stewardship partnerships in bringing about inclusive and sustainable change in the Circular Economy and waste management arena. 

Panel discussion during the knowledge-sharing workshop. ©PETCO Ethiopia

The engagement deepened on October 15, when we had the pleasure of hosting the delegation at our office for a deep dive into the NatuReS approach and our Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF). Working across countries and in different settings from catchments to cities and industrial parks, this approach has developed over time and proven to be adaptable also beyond NatuReS. As a regional programme, learning from others’ experiences and replicating successful approaches is a core value of our work and enables us to tackle shared challenges more effectively. Thus, it was a great opportunity to share best practices, success stories, and transparently discuss the standing challenges in the sector with the Sierra Leonean colleagues.

South-South cooperation between Ethiopia and Sierra Leone

This learning exchange was a powerful example of leveraging Ethiopia’s tested approaches to accelerate Sierra Leone’s journey in building robust circular economy frameworks. The expected outcomes are to strengthen institutional partnerships and support the development of adaptation strategies tailored to Sierra Leone’s context. We extend our sincere thanks to PETCO Ethiopia for spearheading this initiative and hosting the high-level delegation.

Visit of the Sierra Leonean delegation to the GIZ office for a deep dive into the NatuReS approach. ©Tsedeniya/PETCO Ethiopia

Ethiopia Circular Economy Hotspot 2025: Advancing Sustainable Development Through the “Waste to Wealth” Movement

Written by Johanna Lübbers on . Posted in Countries, Ethiopia.

Group picture of participants of the Ethiopia Circular Economy Hotspot 2025. ©Kuru Captures

On October 1, 2025, Ethiopia took center stage in Africa’s circular economy movement by hosting the Circular Economy Hotspot 2025 in Addis Ababa. The event was held under the theme “Waste to Wealth: Advancing Sustainable Development through Circular Innovation”. It gathered hundreds of delegates from Ethiopia and abroad, including government officials, business leaders, entrepreneurs, development partners, and civil society representatives.

Organised by the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Hotspot event provided a platform to showcase Africa’s growing momentum in turning waste into valuable resources, promoting sustainable production and consumption, and fostering green economic transformation. GIZ, through the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS II), is proud to have contributed both technical and financial support for the organisation and facilitation of the event, helping to catalyse the partnerships and innovations that will shape Ethiopia’s sustainable future.

Left: H.E. Eng. Lelise Neme, Director General of the EPA, during her welcoming remarks. Right: Handing over a certificate to James Njeru, Component Manager of GIZ NatuReS Ethiopia, acknowledging the support of GIZ NatuReS for co-organising this event. ©Kuru Captures

In her welcoming remarks, H.E. Eng. Lelise Neme, Director General of the EPA, emphasised Ethiopia’s strong commitment to circular economy principles as part of its broader Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy. Hosting the Circular Economy Hotspot, she noted, demonstrates Ethiopia’s leadership and readiness to collaborate regionally in achieving a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.

The event featured two high-level panel discussions exploring key drivers of circular transformation: “Enabling Environments for a Circular Economy” and “Fostering Partnerships to Unlock Circular Economy Potential.” These sessions highlighted the importance of policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and cross-sectoral collaboration in accelerating circular innovation across Africa.

A special event highlight was the circular economy hackathon, which brought together 49 innovators to develop practical solutions for turning waste challenges into business opportunities. Further, 25 exhibitors showcased their contributions to circular economy development in Ethiopia – from recycling enterprises to green technology start-ups. A jury recognised the top three start-up companies and hackathon ideas, awarding prize money to further advance their innovations.

Impressions from the event programme (left: panel discussion on “Fostering Partnerships to Unlock Circular Economy Potential” ©GIZ/Hanno Führen, right: H.E. Eng. Lelise Neme, Director General of the EPA, visiting exhibitors ©Kuru Captures).

Delivering keynote remarks, Mr James Njeru, Component Manager of NatuReS Ethiopia, underlined the role of partnerships in driving systemic change.

“Together, through the power of stewardship partnerships, we will build a circular economy that is not only environmentally sustainable and economically viable, but also socially just, ensuring that Ethiopia’s transformation benefits all its people.” 

GIZ, through its NatuReS II programme, has been a close partner in Ethiopia’s circular economy transition. Beyond financial support to the Hotspot, GIZ has provided technical assistance to the development of the National Circular Economy Roadmap. This serves as a blueprint for reimagining how Ethiopia’s 120 million citizens interact with natural resources and create value sustainably.

Ethiopia hosting the Africa Circular Economy Hotspot 2025 is a milestone that demonstrates that the journey toward a circular economy is well underway. It shows that through innovation, collaboration, and shared vision, Africa can turn its “waste to wealth” and unlock new pathways to prosperity.

Circular Economy in Practice: German Delegation Visit to Private Sector Champions in Ethiopia

Written by Johanna Lübbers on . Posted in Countries, Ethiopia.

The German delegation meeting representatives from pioneering recycling company Kubik. ©GIZ/Hanno Fuhren

How can plastic waste become an engine for jobs, climate action, and innovation?

In early September, a German Government delegation visited Kubik, a pioneering recycling company turning plastic waste into durable, low-carbon building materials. Their story shows how German Cooperation through the NatuReS programme strengthens the link between waste workers, businesses, and policymakers in building Ethiopia’s circular economy. Led by the German State Secretary Mr Jochen Flasbarth, the delegation comprised visitors from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Embassy in Ethiopia.

Kubik is a member of the Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa, a multi-stakeholder partnership facilitated by NatuReS on behalf of the German government. Active since 2020, the partnership empowers stakeholders along the solid waste value chain to protect natural resources from pollution and prevent loss of economic resources. Over the past year alone, Kubik sourced more than 218,000 kg of plastic waste from individual collectors and small and medium-sized enterprises. 81% of this came from partners trained by GIZ NatuReS. These efforts not only prevent plastics from polluting the environment, but also create reliable income opportunities for waste workers, many of whom are women.

Learning how Kubik makes durable, low-carbon building materials out of plastic waste sourced from partners trained by GIZ NatuReS. ©GIZ/Hanno Fuhren

German cooperation with the private sector

During the visit, the German delegation emphasised that cooperation with the private sector is central to Germany’s development priorities. “We are committed to increasing local added value, creating jobs, and supporting a socially compatible, gender-equitable and environmentally friendly transformation of economic systems,” one delegate noted. Kubik, in turn, expressed appreciation for the support received through NatuReS: “We are eager to contribute to our shared mission of multi-stakeholder collaboration and strengthened market links along the plastic value chain. This is not just about dialogue but structured collaboration towards common goals – creating market opportunities that align with societal and environmental needs.”

The delegation’s visit reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to working together with the private sector and local stakeholders to achieve sustainable transformation. NatuReS’ stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships are a great tool for this: By embedding principles of shared responsibility, long-term commitment, and collective action towards common goals, we can leverage the private sector’s unique capacities – technological, innovative, operational and financial – more effectively than conventional models. For Ethiopia, companies like Kubik demonstrate how circular economy models can create jobs, empower women, and contribute to climate action.