Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) - African Development Bank

Enriched UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-11 12:26

Dedicated trust fund mainstreaming circular economy in Africa. In 2024 initiated National CE Roadmap projects in Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda. Provides catalytic finance and supports MSMEs through AfriCircular Innovators program.

Source: https://afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/initiatives-and-partnerships/africa-circular-economy-facility-acef

Funding Details

Funder

African Development Bank (AfDB) — Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), co-funded by Finland and Nordic Development Fund

Funding Goal

Mainstream circular economy as an inclusive and green growth strategy in Africa, supporting MSMEs, governments, and advocacy organisations across the continent

Funding Amount

ACEF aims to secure EUR 10 million additional by 2026 for grants; AfriCircular Innovators Programme distributes mini-grants and technical support to 30 MSMEs per round; individual grant amounts not publicly specified

Deadline

periodic (periodic)

How to Apply

AfriCircular Innovators Programme applications are managed through Impact Hub offices in Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), and Kigali (Rwanda). Contact: aceasecretariat@afdb.org or acef@afdb.org. New hubs and programme rounds expected in 2025-2026. Monitor africircularinnovators.com for open calls.

Target Region

Africa; current AfriCircular hubs in Ghana (Accra), Cote d'Ivoire (Abidjan), Rwanda (Kigali); expanding to three additional hubs in 2025; national roadmap support in Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda

Contact

aceasecretariat@afdb.org; acef@afdb.org; africircularinnovators.com; aceaafrica.org

Official Page

https://afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/initiatives-and-partnerships/africa-circular-economy-facility

Last Checked

2026-03-15 13:27

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• AfriCircular Innovators Programme targets MSMEs and young entrepreneurs — not established NGOs
• Government roadmap support available only to AfDB sovereign member states

Project Scope

• Current hubs: Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Kigali (Rwanda) — Ghana is an org operating country
• Priority sectors include plastic packaging and waste management

Required Documents

• Contact acef@afdb.org to inquire about upcoming rounds and new hub locations
• Monitor africircularinnovators.com for new programme calls

Summary

The Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) is a trust fund established by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2022, with co-funding from the Government of Finland, the Nordic Development Fund, and since late 2024, The Coca-Cola Foundation. ACEF is the only trust fund dedicated exclusively to mainstreaming the circular economy as an inclusive and green growth strategy across Africa. ACEF operates across three main pillars. First, it supports governments in developing national circular economy roadmaps, with current programmes in Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Second, it funds and manages the AfriCircular Innovators Programme, which provides mini-grants, mentorship, training, and technical assistance to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and young entrepreneurs in Africa, with current hubs in Accra (Ghana), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), and Kigali (Rwanda). Third, it supports the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), which focuses on continental advocacy, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue. ACEF aims to expand to three additional AfriCircular hubs in 2025 and secure an additional EUR 10 million in grant funding by 2026. The AfriCircular Innovators Programme is the primary direct grant window of ACEF for private sector and civil society actors. The first edition supported 30 early-stage startups and SMEs across the three hub cities, equipping them with tools, mentorship, and mini-grants to integrate circular economy principles into their business models. Priority sectors include packaging, the built environment, electronics, fashion and textiles, food systems, agriculture, energy, and waste management — with plastic packaging explicitly among the targeted value chains. For organisations seeking to engage with ACEF, the main pathways are through the AfriCircular Innovators Programme (for MSMEs and entrepreneurs in hub cities), through national government engagement for roadmap development, or through ACEA membership for advocacy and network access. The facility is managed by the AfDB and is accessible through African Development Bank member country channels and the AfriCircular Innovators platform.

Historical Context

ACEF established 2022 with Finnish and NDF co-funding. AfriCircular Innovators Programme first round completed in 2024 (30 startups in Accra, Abidjan, Kigali). Second round expected in 2025 with expanded hubs. Coca-Cola Foundation joined as co-funder in late 2024.

Why it was added

AfDB's dedicated circular economy fund for Africa, supports waste management and recycling MSMEs

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