GIZ - SWITCH to Circular Economy in Eastern and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE)

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-11 10:51

EU co-funded program (EUR 40 million EU + EUR 2.5 million BMZ). GIZ-led EUR 25 million component. Supports governments, MSMEs, women and youth in plastics and e-waste value chains in Eastern and Southern Africa. Duration April 2025 to July 2029.

Source: https://giz.de/sites/default/files/media/pkb-document/2026-01/giz2025-en-switch-2-ce-esa-factsheet.pdf

Funding Details

Funder

European Union and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); implemented by GIZ and Expertise France

Funding Goal

Foster an inclusive transition towards a circular economy in East and Southern Africa through policy reform, SME support, workforce inclusion, and improved access to finance for circular economy businesses

Funding Amount

Programme total: EUR 42.15 million. Matching grants via Call for Projects: Lot 1 EUR 200K-500K (Innovation), Lot 2 EUR 500K-2.5M (Scaling) (200.000 € – 2.500.000 €)

Deadline

Programme runs April 2025 to July 2029; individual call deadlines vary (Call for Projects deadline was 16 March 2026) (periodic)

How to Apply

Businesses and organisations apply through competitive Calls for Projects managed via the Innovation Bridge portal (innovationbridge.info). Technical assistance applications channelled through Expertise France and GIZ country offices. Policy engagement through COMESA regional secretariat.

Target Region

East and Southern Africa — South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia; plus COMESA regional level

Contact

Expertise France programme page: expertisefrance.fr/en/projects/switch-circular-economy-east-southern-africa. GIZ: giz.de. Innovation Bridge portal: innovationbridge.info. Email for INTPA enquiries: INTPA-F2@ec.europa.eu

Official Page

https://www.expertisefrance.fr/en/projects/switch-circular-economy-east-southern-africa

Last Checked

2026-03-15 13:24

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must operate in plastic packaging or e-waste value chains in eligible countries
• Eligible countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia
• SMEs, start-ups, NGOs, and BDS providers eligible — formal and informal sector

Project Scope

• Lot 1 (Innovation) EUR 200K-500K; Lot 2 (Scaling) EUR 500K-2.5M

Required Documents

• Applications via Innovation Bridge portal; technical assistance through Expertise France/GIZ

Constraints

• Gender equity (women-owned/led enterprises) is a cross-cutting evaluation criterion
• Call for Projects deadline was 16 March 2026 — monitor for next call

Summary

SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE in ESA) is a EUR 42.15 million regional programme co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is jointly implemented by Expertise France and GIZ, with programme operations spanning April 2025 to July 2029 across 14 African countries. The programme pursues three interconnected objectives. First, it works to establish an enabling policy framework for the circular economy across Eastern and Southern Africa, engaging national governments and the COMESA regional secretariat. Second, it aims to enhance the participation of formal and informal workers, SMEs, women, and youth in circular economy business models. Third, it improves access to and use of financing by circular economy businesses through a Matching Grant Facility and technical assistance mechanisms. Priority value chains are plastics and packaging, and electronic waste (e-waste). These sectors were selected based on their economic scale, the severity of their environmental impact, and their potential to generate inclusive employment and enterprise growth across the region. Geographic coverage spans 14 countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia (East Africa) and South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia (Southern Africa), with multi-country initiatives supported at the COMESA level. Financial support is provided through a Matching Grant Facility deployed via competitive Calls for Projects. The first Call for Projects, with a deadline of 16 March 2026, offered Lot 1 grants of EUR 200,000 to EUR 500,000 for innovation-stage businesses and Lot 2 grants of EUR 500,000 to EUR 2,500,000 for scaling-stage businesses. Grant awards are accompanied by tailored technical assistance from programme experts. Eligible applicants include businesses, start-ups, NGOs, and business development service providers operating in the target value chains. The programme places explicit emphasis on gender equity, requiring attention to women-owned and women-led enterprises as a cross-cutting evaluation criterion across all calls and activities.

Historical Context

SWITCH-2-CE in ESA is part of the EU SWITCH to Green family of programmes, which has operated similar regional circular economy transitions in Asia and North Africa. The ESA programme launched in April 2025 and is planned through July 2029, making the 2026 Call for Projects likely one of multiple calls over the programme lifetime.

Why it was added

Africa waste/plastic development funding

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