EBRD Circular Economy Regional Initiative (CERI)

Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 11:10

EBRD initiative promoting circular economy practices within projects, supporting regional expansion and embedding circular economy principles. EUR 1.8 million from GEF under CERI as part of EUR 9.9 million financing package.

Source: https://ebrd.com/home/news-and-events/news/2025/ebrd-supports-regional-fast-food-expansion-with-first-circular-e.html

Funding Details

Funder

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) / Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Funding Goal

Support businesses in embedding circular economy principles into their operations and regional expansion, with a focus on green economy transition in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe.

Funding Amount

€1.8 million from GEF under CERI, as part of a broader €9.9 million EBRD financing package (€8.1M EBRD + €1.8M GEF/CERI) (up to 1.800.000 €)

How to Apply

CERI financing is accessed through direct engagement with the EBRD, not via a public open call. Businesses must contact the EBRD's corporate sector team to explore eligibility and structure a financing package. The GEF component is layered in by the EBRD as part of the loan structure.

Target Region

Western Balkans, Croatia, Slovenia, Southeast Europe

Contact

EBRD Media enquiries: https://ebrd.com/home/contacts/ebrd-media-enquiries.html | General contact: https://ebrd.com/home/contacts.html | A-Z contacts list: https://ebrd.com/home/contacts/ebrd-contacts-list.html

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:22

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a company or business entity (not an NGO or non-profit) registered in an EBRD country of operation
• Project must operate in or expand into the Western Balkans, Croatia, Slovenia, or other EBRD target economies

Project Scope

• 100% of CERI-financed investment must support green economy transition (renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy)
• Project must embed circular economy principles within its core business or operational model
• Project should generate measurable social co-benefits, including employment for women and people with disabilities

Required Documents

• Access requires direct negotiation with EBRD corporate sector teams — no open public call or standardized application form

Constraints

• Financing is structured as a loan (not a grant); applicant must demonstrate ability to service debt
• GEF concessional tranche is layered in by EBRD; applicant does not apply separately to GEF

Summary

The EBRD Circular Economy Regional Initiative (CERI) is a blended finance program co-funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), designed to embed circular economy practices into business investments in the Western Balkans and broader EBRD region. The program provides concessional GEF funding layered with EBRD loan financing to make circular economy-compliant projects financially viable where commercial financing alone would not suffice. In this featured transaction, EBRD extended a €9.9 million loan package to two Bosnian companies — Aptha Global and Tastra — to finance the rollout of KFC and Taco Bell restaurants across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Western Balkans, Croatia, and Slovenia. Of this total, €8.1 million came from EBRD's own funds and €1.8 million was provided by GEF under CERI. The project represents the first CERI deployment in the Western Balkans. CERI financing requires that 100% of the supported investment contributes to green economy transition, including renewable energy use, energy efficiency, and circular economy practices. Projects are also expected to deliver social co-benefits such as job creation, particularly for underrepresented groups including women and people with disabilities. The EBRD positions CERI as a tool for closing market gaps in green and inclusive economic development. This news article describes a specific deal rather than an open call; EBRD/CERI financing is typically accessed through direct engagement with the EBRD, not a public grant application process. Eligible borrowers are primarily companies and businesses operating in EBRD's countries of operation, not NGOs or non-profits.

Historical Context

This is the first CERI project deployed in the Western Balkans. The EBRD has been operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996, investing more than €3.3 billion across 244 projects. The news article was published on 09 May 2025.

Why it was added

World Bank/dev bank waste management program

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