Development of a Detailed and Costed Action Plan for Implementing Circular Economy in Rwanda

How can Rwanda successfully transition to a circular economy?

Rwanda is facing growing challenges of managing wastes and natural resource depletion. In addition to economic growth, accounting for population growth and changing urban-rural profiles, it is also projected that waste generation rates in Rwanda could increase by 63% over the next ten years, from approximately 700 tons being generated per day today to approximately 1,300 tons per day by 2030. This requires the Government of Rwanda to proactively opt for economically attractive options found in circular economy strategies that focus on increasing the utilization and lifetime of products.

While the circular economy presents great opportunities for sustainable growth in Rwanda and circular initiatives are already underway, there are some challenges that must be overcome for the transition to be successful. Some of these challenges include lack of clear road map and strategic framework to support these activities, low involvement of the private sector to lead the transition, nascent industrial symbiosis initiatives with ineffective connections between industries to close the production loop, among others.

The objectives of the development of the detailed and costed Action Plan for implementing Circular Economy in Rwanda are as follows:

  • Establish a strong and coherent product policy framework that will make sustainable products, services and business models and transform consumption patterns so that no waste is produced in the first place.
  • Support achieving the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
  • Enhance mobilization of public-private resources for SDG sensitive interventions by strengthening new private sector engagement models.

The project will be led by Trinomics in collaboration with ACEN Foundation.