Rwanda to host global circular economy event

The central African nation of Rwanda will host the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) in 2022. That event is described by its organizer, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, as an annual event that “brings together business leaders, policymakers and experts to present the world’s best circular economy solutions.”

WCEF2022, says Sitra, will be hosted jointly by the Republic of Rwanda, the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and Sitra, along with more potential international partners. The organizers say the event is “expected to take place in early October” in the Rwandan capital of Kigali and online, but exact details on the program and the precise dates “will be announced later.”

“The circular economy can be a game changer for Africa’s development,” said Rwanda’s minister of environment, Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, during an address at an ACEA event held in February. “WCEF2022 is an opportunity for Rwanda and the continent as a whole to showcase our traditions of environmental stewardship, and to explore ways of making the transition to a fully circular economy a reality,” she added.

ACEA describes itself as a government-led coalition whose mission is to spur Africa’s transition to the circular economy through policy development, business scale-up as well as leadership and advocacy.

“Africa is a vast continent and plays a crucial role in the circular economy also globally,” says Sitra’s president Jyrki Katainen, who is a former prime minister of Finland and former European Commission vice president for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness. “Finland supports the global transition towards circularity, and hosting WCEF2022 in Africa is a natural step for this global collaboration arena,” he adds.

WCEF2022 will explore major themes relevant to Africa’s development, in which circularity could play a major role, says Sitra. The themes to address include climate and nature, youth, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and innovation, plus trade and value chains.

The organizers also are seeking presentations focused on “some of the world’s best circular economy solutions [to] examine how businesses from Africa and elsewhere can seize new opportunities and gain a competitive advantage in the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies.”