Centre of Excellence for the Circular Economy in Ghana

This project aims to enhance inclusive economic growth in Ghana while finding innovative ways to reduce negative environmental impacts. It supports the transition to a circular economy an approach that contributes to increased resource efficiency and reduced waste. The project also seeks to improve the ability of 6 000 women and youth entrepreneurs and women and youth-led businesses and organizations including the informal sector to access resources and technologies. The resources and technologies contribute to them identifying designing developing and scaling up the circular economy business models thereby increasing job and value creation that results in positive economic and environmental outcomes. Project activities include: (1) establishing a Centre of Excellence for the Circular Economy; (2) training small-scale entrepreneurs particularly women and youth on circular economy business and technology development; (3) strengthening the capacity of financial institutions and intermediary support services on assessment and financing of circular economy businesses and technologies with a gender smart investing lens; (4) developing and delivering gender-responsive training on circular economy technology and practices adoption to a local ecosystem composed of government institutions private sector actors informal sector associations women and youth-focused civil society organizations international organizations and academia; and (5) piloting and testing technologies to support private and informal sectors on circular economy technology adoption/adaptation.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of financial and/or business and clean technology development services by small-scale women and youth entrepreneurs supported by the Centre of Excellence for the Circular Economy; and (2) increased adoption of circular economy-based clean energy and energy efficient solutions by the private and informal sector businesses and organizations led by women and youth with support from a local ecosystem.