Grant Awards for Circular Economy Businesses in Plastic Packaging and E-Waste - East and Southern Africa

Expired International · Found: 2026-03-11 11:11

Technical assistance grants for circular economy businesses working in plastic packaging and e-waste value chains in Eastern and Southern Africa, supporting recycling enterprises and sustainable waste management.

Source: https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/02/18/grant-awards-technical-assistance-for-circular-economy-businesses-in-plastic-packaging-e-waste-value-chains-east-southern-africa

Funding Details

Funder

SWITCH-2-CE in ESA (EU/BMZ via GIZ & Expertise France)

Funding Goal

Support Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) to design and run programmes providing grant funding and technical assistance to circular economy startups and MSMEs in plastic packaging and e-waste value chains across East and Southern Africa, with priority for women-owned enterprises.

Funding Amount

Total indicative envelope of EUR 6,000,000 for grants, technical assistance, and management costs (distributed through selected ESOs to startups/MSMEs) (up to 6.000.000 €)

Deadline

2026-03-16 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Apply via restricted "Appel à projets" procedure through Expertise France's POPS portal. Reference: 26-24EDI0C063-APR-01. Portal: https://pops.expertisefrance.fr/sdm/ent2/gen/ficheCsl.action?PCSLID=CSL_2026_T_bAOnyuLT

Target Region

East and Southern Africa (Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, and others)

Contact

Expertise France — via POPS portal: https://pops.expertisefrance.fr (Reference: 26-24EDI0C063-APR-01)

Last Checked

2026-03-11 16:18

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be an Entrepreneurial Support Organisation (ESO) — startups and MSMEs apply indirectly through selected ESOs
• ESO must have proven experience in incubation/acceleration or supporting startups and MSMEs in circular economy
• ESO must have demonstrated capacity to deliver technical assistance and manage grant disbursement schemes

Project Scope

• Proposed programme must target plastic packaging or e-waste value chains in one or more eligible East & Southern African countries (Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, etc.)
• Programme design must include both grant funding and customised technical assistance components for supported businesses

Required Documents

• Follow the restricted 'Appel à projets' application procedure as specified in the official tender notice

Constraints

• Programmes should include priority access for women-owned and women-led enterprises
• Submit application via Expertise France's POPS portal by 16 March 2026 at 14:00 Paris time; reference 26-24EDI0C063-APR-01

Summary

The SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE in ESA) programme has launched a major Call for Projects co-financed by the European Union and BMZ, jointly implemented by GIZ and Expertise France. It targets 16+ countries across East and Southern Africa and allocates a total indicative envelope of EUR 6,000,000 to strengthen circular economy entrepreneurship in plastic packaging and e-waste value chains. The call is directed at Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) — not directly at startups or MSMEs. Selected ESOs will design and deliver programmes combining grant awards and customised technical assistance to support circular economy businesses at two stages: Lot 1 (Innovation) for early/pre-seed solutions needing development and validation, and Lot 2 (Scaling) for post-revenue businesses aiming for growth and investment readiness. Key programme objectives include strengthening the technical, operational, and financial capacity of circular economy businesses; providing flexible grants; fostering ecosystem linkages with investors and value-chain actors; and promoting inclusive entrepreneurship with particular focus on women and youth. Eligible countries include Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, and others across the region. Applications must be submitted via Expertise France's POPS portal using the restricted "Appel à projets" procedure. The submission deadline was 16 March 2026 at 14:00 (Paris time), with the call having opened on 10 February 2026.

Why it was added

GIZ/bilateral waste capacity building

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