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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Funding Goal

Foster an inclusive transition to a circular economy in Eastern and Southern Africa through supporting green and circular business models for MSMEs in two key value chains: plastics and electronic waste. Activities include policy framework development, access to financing for circular economy businesses, and participation of formal and informal workers and SMEs (with special focus on women and youth) in circular economy models.

Funding Amount

Total programme: EUR 42.5 million (EUR 40M from EU + EUR 2.5M from BMZ). GIZ component: EUR 25M; Expertise France component: EUR 15M. Funding for SMEs and businesses through sub-grants or technical assistance (amounts not specified in factsheet).

Deadline

Programme runs April 2025 to July 2029; no public open call deadline (Rolling)

How to Apply

This is a GIZ-implemented programme, not an open grant scheme. MSMEs and stakeholders in Eastern and Southern Africa engage through GIZ's country offices and project teams based in Zambia. International organisations may be engaged as sub-contractors through GIZ procurement processes.

Target Region

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA); COMESA member countries; project team based in Zambia

Contact

GIZ project team based in Zambia. For more information: giz.de

Last Checked

2026-05-07 03:30

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organisation must operate in Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA region)
• Target beneficiaries: MSMEs in plastics or e-waste value chains, with preference for women-owned businesses
• Policy-level engagement requires COMESA member country government involvement

Project Scope

• Programme focuses on plastics AND e-waste value chains — plastic-only organisations should check if e-waste component is required

Constraints

• Programme is GIZ-implemented — not an open grant call; engagement via GIZ country offices in Zambia
• International organisations may only engage as sub-contractors through GIZ procurement
• Programme runs April 2025 – July 2029 (52 months total)

Summary

The SWITCH to Circular Economy in Eastern and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE in ESA) is a multi-donor programme implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with Expertise France, running from April 2025 to July 2029. The programme is co-financed by the European Union under its Global Gateway initiative (EUR 40 million) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ, EUR 2.5 million), with a total budget of EUR 42.5 million. The programme focuses on fostering an inclusive transition to a circular economy in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, addressing two priority value chains: plastics and electronic waste (e-waste). All activities target green and circular business models that simultaneously mitigate climate change, improve resource efficiency, and create economic opportunities. Political engagement is channelled through COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa). Three strategic objectives structure the programme: (1) establishing an enabling and inclusive policy framework for circular economy across the ESA region; (2) improving access to and use of financing by circular economy businesses, with a special focus on women-owned and women-led enterprises; and (3) enhancing the participation of formal and informal workers and SMEs, including women and youth, in circular economy models. Eligible actors include national and regional governments in COMESA member states, MSMEs operating in plastic or e-waste value chains, informal sector workers, women entrepreneurs, and youth. The programme is not an open grant scheme for international organisations — it is a GIZ-led technical assistance and capacity-building programme that works directly with in-country stakeholders through project offices based in Zambia. Geographically, the programme targets the Eastern and Southern Africa region, with implementation across COMESA member states. Budget split: GIZ leads the EUR 25 million component while Expertise France implements the EUR 15 million component. International organisations could potentially engage as sub-contractors or service providers through GIZ's procurement processes.

Historical Context

Programme launched April 2025 as part of EU's Global Gateway initiative. The SWITCH brand has precedent in other regions. Joint co-funding by EU (EUR 40M) and German BMZ (EUR 2.5M).

Why it was added

Africa waste/plastic development funding

Sources

• https://giz.de/sites/default/files/media/pkb-document/2026-01/giz2025-en-switch-2-ce-esa-factsheet.pdf
• https://giz.de/en/worldwide/switch-to-circular-economy-in-east-and-southern-africa.html

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