Events

This regional meeting was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mauritius. The forum brought together various stakeholders from the SWITCH Africa Green partner countries and other stakeholders involved in promoting an inclusive green economy and circular economy such as policy makers, business associations, the private sector, financial institutions, regional economic communities, international development organisations and partners, and civil society organisations.

Background and Objective

Background and Objective

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Africa Development Bank (AfDB), with funding from the European Union through the SWITCH Africa Green programme, developed the ‘Guidelines for Accelerating the Circular Economy Transition in Africa’ through a consultative process with African countries, RECs and Civil Society Organisations.

The agri-food sector is a large greenhouse-gas emitter, estimated to account for 21-37% of global emissions (IPCC 2019). Previously, the sector was sidelined in climate targets and strategies due to significant difficulties in reducing sector emissions and conflict with other goals such as food security (hard-to-abate sector).

This policy dialogue was held from 11-12 October 2022 in Kampala, Uganda bringing various stakeholders.Uganda as a country has been geared towards a green economy. Uganda’s Vision 2040 affirms the attainment of a green and clean environment through sustainable utilization of the Environment and Natural Resources. This has been laid out in the National Development Plan III (NDPIII) (years) that prioritized Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Tourism sectors for green growth.

This side event was held in the margins of the 18th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Dakar Senegal. It was organised and managed by the EU-funded SWITCH Africa Green Programme and included participants from countries, financial institutions, development banks, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), development partners, the private sector, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

SWITCH Africa Green Programme in Ethiopia organized the national policy dialogue to discuss identified policy interventions that promote nature-based solutions, and Sustainable Consumption and Production practices in Ethiopia. The platform also provided a platform for policy makers and key stakeholders to discuss policy responses required and to be strengthened to build back green, inclusive, and better.

The Regional Validation Meeting on Circular Economy and Green Finance was held in Accra, Ghana between 24 - 25 August 2022. During the SWITCH Africa Green regional meeting on integrated waste management in Africa, held in June 2019 in Accra, Ghana, it was emphasized that Africa should develop a regional framework on Circular Economy (CE).

The National Policy Dialogue for Ghana was held on 22nd August 2022 in Accra, Ghana. Implementation of the SWITCH Africa Green Program started in March 2014 and Ghana has implemented a number of activities under the different components of the project. A National Implementation Plan was developed which identified areas such as policies, capacity building, regulatory frameworks, incentive structures, tax and market based instruments, awareness creation, etc.

The need for better management of our resources is becoming more and more evident as resources are becoming scarce and improvements in resource management have been demonstrated to have positive impacts on climate change mitigation, economic savings, resilience and poverty eradication, amongst others. There is a need to transition to a cyclic model all throughout the value chain wherein we do more and better with less resources.

The Government’s vision is to promote an inclusive, high income and green Mauritius. In line with this vision and to support this transition to a green economy paradigm, it is important to align the national vision with sectoral policies and engage the collaborative efforts of all key stakeholders.

The UNEA 5.2 theme calls for strengthened action to protect and restore nature and the nature-based solutions to achieve Agenda 2030. The circular economy approach provides an opportunity to promote nature-based solutions, stimulate a sustainable consumption and production economy, create employment, address resource efficiencies, promote SCP practices and protect the environment. This event provides a platform for Member States and stakeholders to share and discuss how to implement Circular Economy policies, principles, practices and action plans in Africa.

This SWITCH to Green experience promoting circular business models in key value chains summit took place in Belgium between 15 - 16 June 2021. Re-use, recycling and recovery are at the heart of a circular economy – as envisioned by the new Circular Economy Action Plan of the EU. The transition to such an economy poses challenges to raw materials supply, manufacturing and recycling in Europe as well as in partner countries.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT:

Over the last two decades, Africa experienced an average annual GDP growth of 4.6% and, this growth rate is expected to be sustained until 2022. However, the COVID -19 pandemic has greatly eroded these gains resulting in livelihoods disruption because of food insecurity, lack of medical supplies, loss of income and a looming debt crisis. The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic have inevitably slowed progress towards achieving SDGs in the continent.

The SWITCH Africa Green Networking Session in South Africa will be held on 09 February 2021. The purpose of this session is to share the success stories, challenges and opportunities, in promoting green business development within the second phase of SWITCH Africa Green and also share information on Green Financing. 

The Government of Uganda (GoU) is committed to the realization of the Goals and targets enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thence, the GoU has integrated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the National Development frameworks, including the Uganda Vision 2040, the Second National Development Plan (NDP II & III under development), and the Sector Development Plans.

Implementation of the SWITCH Africa Green Programme started in March 2014 and Ghana has implemented several activities under the 3 components of the programme (Policy support, Green Business Development and Networking Facility). A National Implementation Plan has been developed which identified areas such as policies, capacity building, regulatory frameworks, incentive structures, tax and market-based instruments, awareness creation, etc. A synthesis of the implementation plan which narrows down on the priority areas where SWITCH Africa Green programme can intervene has been developed.

Theme: Advancing Green Business and Circular Economy in Africa

The SWITCH Africa Green Programme held a regional meeting on “Advancing Green Business and Circular Economy in Africa” in Kampala Uganda, 24-25 February 2020. participants attended the regional meeting that gathered senior government officials from over 25 African countries, representatives from the European Union, Regional Economic Communities, Financial Institutions, Academia, United Nations agencies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The SWITCH Africa Green Regional Sector meeting on Sustainable Agriculture, was held on 27-28 November 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya. In attendance were stakeholders from the government, private sector and Micro-, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the agriculture sector to promote the scale-up & replication of best practices in the sector.

SWITCH Africa Green organized the Regional meeting on Sustainable Tourism, that was held from 29-30 October 2019, in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting discussed the economic viability of enterprises in the sustainable tourism sector that have led to improved livelihoods, income generation and creation of jobs while preserving the environment. In attendance were Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) experts, policy and decision makers, financial institutions and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The SWITCH Africa Green regional sector meeting on green manufacturing, took place from 26-27 September 2019, in Entebbe, Uganda. The meeting was attended by Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) experts, policy and decision makers, financial institutions and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Others were government officials from Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Uganda, among others, Regional Economic Communities, the European Union (EU), UN agencies, and experts in green manufacturing sector.

Speakers

In 2011, Ethiopia launched the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy, its blueprint for green development, outlining the vision, strategy, financing and institutional arrangements that it will pursue to become a middle-income country by 2025. The strategy has the triple goals of economic growth, net-zero emissions and climate resilience and is mainstreamed into the country’s development plan and green initiative guidance. 

The SWITCH Africa Green Regional Sector meeting on Integrated Waste Management, was held on 11 - 12 June 2019, in Accra, Ghana.

The government of Uganda recognizes the importance of tourism for overall economic and social development. Tourism can boost economic revenue, reduce poverty through job creation, develop infrastructure, generate a sense of cultural exchange between nationals and foreigners, and help realize the Second National Development Plan and Uganda’s Vision 2040 – both designed to strengthen the country’s competitiveness. 

The agricultural sector in South Africa is a vital for economic development and the creation of a green economy despite its contribution of just 2 percent to the country’s total gross domestic product. That’s because agriculture indirectly feeds the national economy since almost 70 percent of agricultural output gets utilized as intermediate products in manufacturing.