ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 28, 2025 – Africa’s Circular Economy is accelerating rapidly as innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic investment converge to create a new path for sustainable growth across the continent.
With governments, development banks, and the private sector aligning to embrace circularity, the vision for a greener, more resilient Africa is becoming a tangible reality.
At the heart of this transformation is Behailu Seboka, a 30-year-old Ethiopian entrepreneur and founder of Askema Engineering, who manufactures brake pads from discarded slaughterhouse materials.
What began as a student project now employs 268 people and serves 6,400 customers nationwide.
“With the right support, we can prove that the circular economy is not only good for the environment but also for business,” Seboka says.
Askema Engineering’s success, showcased at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), demonstrates how circular innovation can empower African enterprises to compete globally while solving pressing environmental challenges.
Driving Africa’s Green Transition Through Circular Innovation
Across the continent, similar breakthroughs are emerging.
In Madagascar, the Ministry of the Environment collaborates with local innovators to turn discarded polyethene sachets into durable handbag thread, while in Burkina Faso, recycled plastics are transformed into paving stones and school furniture.
These pioneering initiatives reflect the essence of Africa’s Circular Economy—a transformative model that emphasizes reusing, recycling, and regenerating resources while eliminating waste. This shift is not just ecological—it is economic.
Unlocking Growth and Job Creation in Africa’s Circular Economy
Every year, over 10 million young Africans enter the job market, but only about 3.1 million new jobs are created.
The global circular economy, valued at $546 billion, offers immense potential to bridge this gap, with projections suggesting it could generate 11 million new jobs by 2030.
The African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA)—a coalition of 21 African nations—is leading the charge to integrate circular principles into national development strategies.
Its mission is to transform the ecological transition into a lever for inclusive economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and regional integration.
The 2025 ACEA Annual Meeting, held in Addis Ababa from October 14–16, served as a dynamic platform for governments, investors, and innovators to discuss how circular models can yield both environmental and economic dividends.
Representatives from 19 partner organizations, including the African Union, European Union, African Development Bank, UNDP, and UNEP, participated in the discussions, reinforcing the growing international collaboration behind the circular transition.
Strategic Partnerships Fueling Circular Growth
High-level dialogues focused on harmonizing standards, policies, and financing mechanisms to create an enabling environment for Africa’s circular ecosystem.
Instruments like the African Circular Economy Fund (ACEF)—supported by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)—and the African Union’s Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) are driving impactful change in line with Agenda 2063.
Finland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sinikka Antila, commended these efforts, saying:
“I congratulate the African Circular Economy Alliance and the African Development Bank for their unwavering commitment.
The growing number of ACEA members shows a strong belief in this shared vision.”
Aubin Ndodjide, Chad’s representative to Ethiopia, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the circular economy represents a real opportunity to create sustainable livelihoods for Africa’s youth.
Africa’s Circular Economy: A Cornerstone of AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy
The African Development Bank Group has embedded circularity at the core of its Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), recognizing it as fundamental to achieving sustainable prosperity.
The Bank’s Four Cardinal Points Agenda—expanding access to finance, reforming economic systems, investing in resilient infrastructure, and unlocking human capital—embodies this principle.
“The circular economy connects all four cardinal points in one equation: transforming Africa’s resources, ideas, and youth into levers of economic power,” said Nathaniel Oluoch Agola, Acting Country Director of the AfDB in Ethiopia.
As circular innovation spreads across Africa, it is proving to be more than a sustainability model—it is a powerful driver of industrialization, resilience, and economic independence.
About the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
The African Development Bank Group (www.afdb.org) is Africa’s premier financial institution, committed to promoting sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty across its regional member countries.
Media Contact:
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
