African Circular Economy Network

What African Circular Economy Network does

African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) is a non-profit company (NPC) registered in South Africa, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cape Town. It operates as a pan-African membership network focused on advancing circular economy practices across the continent, serving 1,100+ expert members across 42 African countries. ACEN's stakeholder base spans circular economy practitioners, policymakers, researchers, corporate sustainability teams, and multilateral institutions. The organization functions as a convening body and knowledge intermediary rather than a product software company, with formal partnerships anchoring its reach: flagship institutional partners include the World Economic Forum, World Bank, UNEP, and African Development Bank, while core funders include the IKEA Foundation, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the EU, BMZ, and Swiss SECO.

ACEN's core offerings consist of a knowledge hub (publications, webinars, training resources), the Circularity Assessment Tool (CAT) targeted at agrifood SMEs, and structured programs such as the ADMIRe Coalition (medical instrument circularity with Roche Diagnostics, BD, Sysmex Europe, and The Global Fund), the Plastic Reboot Project (2025-2030, GEF-funded), and the Circular South Africa (CSA) Platform. The organization has co-hosted major international events including the World Circular Economy Forum 2022 (WCEF2022) in Kigali, and published a 10-Year Progress Report in 2024. There is no proprietary software platform; the underlying technology is largely knowledge distribution and convening infrastructure.

ACEN's revenue model is a hybrid of low-fee membership subscriptions and project-based grant funding from major international donors. Individual membership is priced at R600 (~$40) per year, while organizational tiers range from R4,200 to $8,400. The dominant revenue vector is project grants from marquee funders. Operationally, ACEN runs a small core team (4-5 staff) supplemented by a pro-bono network of volunteers and partner contributions, making it asset-light by design.

Name

African Circular Economy Network

Legal name

African Circular Economy Network

Website

https://acen.africa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

African Circular Economy Network is a Cape Town-based non-profit founded in 2016 that operates a pan-African network of 1,100+ circular economy experts across 42 countries, providing knowledge resources, assessment tools, and convening platforms to advance circular economy practices across the continent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circular Economy Network Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Circular economy network
• Sustainability advisory services
• Waste management consulting
• Circular business training
• Environmental policy support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual and organizational members. Individual tiers include Friend of ACEN (free), Core Member (R600/$40/annum). Organizational memberships range from R4,200/year for SMMEs to R8,400/year for SMEs/Corporates, with NGO/Government/Research tiers priced individually.
2. Project-based Funding: ACEN receives funding and grants from development partners (IKEA Foundation, GEF, EU, BMZ, Swiss SECO) and implementation partners for delivering circular economy projects across Africa. Projects include food systems transformation, e-waste management, plastic circularity, and policy development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ACEN operates a pan-African network for circular economy practitioners, delivering tiered membership programmes (Friend, Core Member, Organisational), a knowledge hub with publications, webinars, and case studies, CE training and masterclasses, and collaborative projects in food systems, e-waste, plastics, and medical instrument recycling across 42 African countries. The network is sustained by annual membership fees and project-based grants from development partners such as IKEA Foundation, GEF, EU, BMZ, and Swiss SECO.

Product overview

The African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) is a pan-African network organisation that serves as a central hub for circular economy advancement across the continent. Rather than a single software product, ACEN operates as a multi-faceted platform comprising several interconnected offerings: the core ACEN Knowledge Hub providing publications, webinars, case studies, and training resources; the Circularity Assessment Tool (CAT) for agrifood SME assessment; and regional platforms such as Circular South Africa (CSA). ACEN also coordinates specialised initiatives including the ADMIRe Coalition for medical instrument recycling, the Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI) for e-waste management, the Plastic Reboot Project, and the Materials as a Service programme. Through its publications library, webinar content, training masterclasses, and collaborative case study mapping, ACEN empowers individuals and organisations with practical guidance for advancing circular economy principles across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circular Food Systems for Rwanda (CIRF): A project funded by the IKEA Foundation to catalyse food systems transformation in Rwanda through circularity.
• Circular South Africa (CSA)
• African Diagnostics and Medical Instrument Recycling (ADMIRe)
• Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI)

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% shift to regenerative agricultural practices across 38 hectares documented at Glory Poultry Farm in Rwanda
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Sysmex EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Joined ADMIRe Coalition in November 2025 to contribute to sustainable recycling models aligned with local policies and international regulations.
• Roche DiagnosticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Founding coalition partner in the African Diagnostics and Medical Instrument Recycling (ADMIRe) initiative addressing safe end-of-life management of diagnostic and medical instruments across Africa to mitigate environmental, health, and information security risks.
• BD (Becton Dickinson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Founding coalition partner in ADMIRe working to promote recycling, reduce harmful effects of improper disposal, and foster economic opportunities through resource recovery.
• The Global FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Coalition partner in ADMIRe addressing environmental, health, and information security risks through sustainable recycling of medical instruments.
• UNIDOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Implementing agency for GEF-funded Plastic Reboot project. ACEN provides technical delivery on policy and finance components for circular plastic packaging solutions.
• WWF South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Lead organization for GEF-funded Plastic Reboot project in South Africa. ACEN delivers policy and finance expertise for circular economy solutions.
• Sustainable Inclusive Business KenyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in hosting South African Circular Economy Hotspot 2024, fostering holistic and inclusive approach to circular economy in Africa.
• TheRockGroup (TRG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in hosting South Africa Circular Economy Hotspot 2024 with over 200 delegates participating.
• Expertise FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joint implementer with GIZ of SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa programme, co-funded by EU and BMZ.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joint implementer with Expertise France of SWITCH-2-CE in ESA programme. ACEN produced mapping factsheets with Circle Economy Foundation.
• Circle Economy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner with ACEN in producing regional circularity maturity assessment and plastic packaging/e-waste factsheets for East and Southern Africa.
• WRI AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing partner in the Circular Food Systems for Rwanda project providing technical and business development support.
• Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing partner in CIRF project contributing to circularity in food systems transformation.
• ResonancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing partner in CIRF providing business development support to SMEs adopting circular models.
• CPCIC RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Implementing partner in CIRF working on catalyzing circularity in Rwanda's food systems.
• World Resources Forum AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Implementing body of the Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI), a four-year programme funded by Swiss SECO. ACEN serves as South Africa Country Coordinator.
• Sitra (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-host of WCEF2022 together with ACEN, African Circular Economy Alliance, and Rwandan Government. Organizer of World Circular Economy Forum.
• African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-host of WCEF2022 and collaborative partner on African circular economy initiatives, African Studios, and workshops.
• Rwandan GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Host of WCEF2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda is founding member of ACEA and GACERE, demonstrating leadership in circularity.
• DSI/NRF/CSIR Chair in Waste and Society (University of Western Cape)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Academic collaborator on JUST2CE project with ACEN's Katharina Gihring as appointed responsible person.
• World Economic ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership amplifying African perspective globally in circular economy discussions and collaborative initiatives.
• World BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for advancing circular economy transformation across Africa.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership strengthening global influence and African representation in circular economy transformation.
• African Development BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership elevating African perspective in circular economy discussions and strengthening collaborative initiatives.
• University of the Free State (UFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering training courses for the mer-sector (manufacturing, engineering, related services) on circular economy, with CPD accreditation.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator with ACEN and Circular South Africa on South Africa's National Circular Economy Dialogue series.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment collaborator on National Circular Economy Stakeholder Dialogue series and policy development.
• Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead of South African Food Loss and Waste Initiative with ACEN developing social business case and CSIR developing environmental case.
• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner developing environmental business case for South African Food Loss and Waste Initiative.
• Circular South Africa (CSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform established following ACEN's exploratory study, facilitating cooperation between businesses, government, knowledge institutions, and civil society for circular economy transition.
• SitramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that has collaborated with ACEN on projects and events.
• University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating with ACEN on circular economy initiatives.
• Baker McKenzieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that has collaborated with ACEN on projects and events.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partner providing education and learning resources on circular economy through their hub.
• Circle EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Knowledge Hub for circular economy case studies and resources.
• Chatham HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic advisor on Materials as a Service initiative and global circular economy roadmap. Provides strategic guidance alongside academic researchers.
• GRID-ArendalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner creating circular economy case study map powered by Esri in collaboration with Footprints Africa and ACEN.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating with ACEN on circular economy transformation.
• Footprints AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner developing circular economy case study map with GRID-Arendal and ACEN.
• Circular Economy ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing global database of circular economy organizations.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability (Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner collaborating on circular economy initiatives for local governments in Africa.
• VulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing SME finance matchmaking services for ACEN members (trial).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum: Flagship global convener and ACEN strategic partner amplifying African perspectives in CE discussions. Comparable in convening power and policy influence, though vastly broader in scope.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): Global CEO-led business association on sustainability, and a stated ACEN partner. Comparable in convening business, government, and civil society around CE and sustainability — but at much larger scale and broader mandate.

Direct peers

• Green Economy Coalition: Global multi-stakeholder coalition working on inclusive green-economy policy and practice. Comparable as a network- and advocacy-driven organization working at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and inclusive economic transition.
• Circle Economy Foundation: Dutch non-profit producing the annual Circularity Gap Report and operating a Knowledge Hub of CE case studies — closely comparable to ACEN's publication, training, and assessment-tool offerings, and a stated ACEN partner (e.g., regional maturity assessment work).
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global circular-economy foundation and ACEN partner providing education and learning resources via its hub. Most directly comparable in mission (CE knowledge dissemination and convening) and structural model (foundation-led, content- and network-driven).
• African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA): Government-led African CE alliance and co-host of WCEF2022 alongside ACEN. Most directly comparable in geographic mandate (pan-African) and policy-advocacy role.
• Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE): Public-private collaboration platform accelerating CE globally; ACEN is a stated implementing partner on the CIRF Rwanda project. Comparable as a coalition-driven CE accelerator working across food, plastics, and electronics.
• Sitra: Finnish Innovation Fund and originator of the World Circular Economy Forum series; co-hosted WCEF2022 with ACEN. Comparable as a mission-driven fund operating a global CE convening and knowledge platform.
• World Resources Forum Association: Implementing body of the Circular Electronics Initiative (CEI) programme with ACEN as South Africa Country Coordinator. Comparable as a non-profit operating multi-country CE project portfolios with member-based engagement.

Regional players

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments advancing sustainability, including in Africa. Comparable as a membership-based sustainability network, but focused on sub-national governments rather than circular-economy practitioners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AfriCANcircular
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@africancircular
• Facebookfacebook.com/africancirculareconomynetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-circular-economy-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African Circular Economy Network