What Africa Circular does

Africa Circular is a Netherlands-registered non-profit organisation founded in 2021 that provides technical expertise, policy advisory, and strategic guidance to African governments, multilateral institutions, and development partners to accelerate circular economy adoption. The organization operates through a pan-African delivery model consisting of regional coordinators, more than 40 national focal points, and a 19-person core team of consultants, programme managers, and development staff, delivering flagship products such as national circular economy roadmaps, action plans (e.g., Benin's PAEC 2025-2035 with 134 actions), sector studies, and the Continental Circular Economy Action Plan 2024-2034 developed for the African Union Commission.

The organisation does not develop proprietary technology; its core capability is policy advisory, expert network curation, and capacity building, executed primarily through project-based engagements funded by international development institutions. Revenue is sourced via development project grants from funders including GIZ, EU Delegations, UNDP, the African Development Bank, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and the Switch2Green Facility. Since 2025, Africa Circular has operated independently from its original co-founders, the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) and Trinomics, governed by its own board and structured around its regional and national coordinator network.

Name

Africa Circular

Legal name

Africa Circular

Website

https://africacircular.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Africa Circular is a non-profit policy advisory organisation providing African governments and multilateral institutions with circular economy technical expertise, policy guidance, and capacity building, delivered via regional coordinators and 40+ national focal points.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Advisory

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Circular economy advisory
• Policy consulting
• Environmental consulting
• Sustainability advisory
• Waste management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Development Project Funding: As a non-profit organisation, Africa Circular operates primarily through development project funding from international institutions, governments, and development partners. Projects are delivered through competitive bids and direct commissions from organizations such as GIZ, EU Delegations, UNDP, and other development agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Africa Circular provides circular economy policy advisory, technical expertise, and strategic guidance to African governments and public institutions. It supports the design and implementation of circular economy frameworks through a network of regional coordinators and 40+ national focal points across the African continent.

Product overview

Africa Circular is a non-profit organization providing circular economy advisory services to African governments and institutions. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected services centered around policy advisory, capacity building, and project development. Its core offerings include Circular Economy Policy Advisory Services, Expert Pool & Capacity Building programs, Project Development & Implementation support, and Circular Economy Roadmaps & Action Plans development. The organization leverages a pan-African network of regional coordinators and national focal points to deliver services across the continent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Economy Policy Advisory Advisory service providing strategic guidance and policy frameworks to African governments and public institutions for designing and implementing circular economy policies.
• Technical Assistance Programs Hands-on technical expertise delivered to African public-sector clients to support the operationalization of circular economy strategies and frameworks.
• Strategic Guidance Services Strategic advisory services supporting African governments and institutions on long-term planning and implementation pathways for circular economy transition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of Continental Circular Economy Action Plan adopted by African Union Ministers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEN is the network for circular economy practitioners in Africa. Africa Circular (formerly ACEN Foundation) was initially founded by ACEN in 2021. While now operating independently, the relationship remains foundational to the organization's mission and network.
• TrinomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the key international policy consultants in environment, energy and climate change. Trinomics co-founded Africa Circular and continues to collaborate on projects. Koen Rademaekers, founder of Trinomics, chairs Africa Circular's board.
• African Union (AU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Circular developed the Continental Circular Economy Action Plan for Africa (2024-2034) for the African Union Commission with funding from the EU Delegation to the African Union.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency collaborating on circular economy projects including the identification and dissemination of technologies and practices for CE transition in Côte d'Ivoire.
• UNECA (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN regional commission contributing to continental circular economy development and supporting the Continental CE Action Plan implementation.
• Prevent Waste AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance that launched the BUGS project to develop Black Soldier Fly technology opportunities in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast. Africa Circular implements this project.
• ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of local governments collaborating with Africa Circular on South Africa's STI-led CE Roadmap project.
• ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic community for West Africa partnering on Nigeria's Circular Economy Roadmap development.
• CTCN (Climate Technology Centre and Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN climate technology body collaborating on circular economy technology identification projects in Côte d'Ivoire.
• AdelphiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent think tank and consulting firm collaborating on EU-Africa cooperation project and Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap.
• GreenCapeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSouth African sustainability industry cluster collaborating on Market Study for Circularity in South Africa's Plastics Value Chain.
• EcloseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization collaborating on BUGS project implementing Black Soldier Fly technology in Africa.
• EAWAGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwiss water research institute collaborating on BUGS project for Black Soldier Fly technology implementation.
• Cambridge EconometricsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEconomic consultancy collaborating on EU-Africa circular economy cooperation project analyzing CE transition impacts.
• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUK-based charity collaborating on South Africa Market Study for Circularity in Plastics Value Chain.
• WWF South AfricaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental organization collaborating on South Africa plastics circularity market study.
• SAPRO (South African Producer Responsibility Organisation)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProducer responsibility organization contributing to South Africa plastics circularity market study.
• TOMA-NowminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner collaborating on EU-Africa circular economy cooperation project.
• Living ProspectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm collaborating on Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap development.
• ASF ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm collaborating with Trinomics and ACEN Foundation on Tunisia Circular Economy study.
• Indian Ocean CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional intergovernmental organization for Indian Ocean islands partnering on circular economy development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Circle Economy: Amsterdam-based social enterprise producing the annual Circularity Gap Report and advising governments on circular economy strategy. Direct peer in CE policy advisory and knowledge production, also headquartered in the Netherlands.
• Trinomics: Rotterdam-based policy consultancy in environment, energy and climate change that co-founded Africa Circular and continues to collaborate on projects. Operates in the same circular economy policy advisory space, often as a partner or subcontractor.
• adelphi: Berlin-based independent think tank and public policy consultancy on environment, climate, and sustainable development. Active collaborator with Africa Circular on EU-Africa CE cooperation and Nigeria roadmap, and a direct competitor for similar development-funded mandates.
• GreenCape: South African sustainability industry cluster supporting the green economy with market intelligence and policy advisory. Direct peer collaborating with Africa Circular on the South Africa plastics value chain market study, operating in the same CE advisory niche at national level.
• African Circular Economy Network (ACEN): Pan-African network of circular economy practitioners that founded Africa Circular (formerly ACEN Foundation). Closest institutional peer as the network/community counterpart to Africa Circular's advisory mandate.
• ICLEI: Global network of local and regional governments for sustainability. Direct peer collaborating with Africa Circular on South Africa's STI-led CE Roadmap and providing similar government-facing sustainability advisory services.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Global thought leader and grantmaker on circular economy, engaging governments and corporates worldwide. Adjacent incumbent setting the global CE agenda that Africa Circular's national advisory work implements at country level.
• UNIDO: UN Industrial Development Organization collaborating with Africa Circular on CE projects (e.g., Côte d'Ivoire) while running its own industrial circular economy programs. Functions as both partner and broader incumbent in CE advisory to African governments.
• GIZ: German development agency implementing circular economy programs in Africa and beyond. Functions simultaneously as a major funder and an implementing peer delivering comparable CE advisory and capacity-building mandates on the continent.
• WRAP: UK-based climate action NGO working on circular resources and food waste. Peer on South Africa plastics circularity study and a broader incumbent in CE program delivery and government advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acen-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Africa Circular