SWITCH-2-CE Grants for Circular Economy Businesses in Africa

Expired EU · Found: 2026-03-11 12:31

Grants and technical assistance for businesses in East and Southern Africa innovating in plastic packaging and e-waste value chains. Part of EU-GIZ SWITCH programme.

Source: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/youth-adolescents/grant-awards-and-technical-assistance-provision-for-circular-economy-businesses/amp

Funding Details

Funder

European Union and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), administered by Expertise France SAS

Funding Goal

Foster inclusive circular economy transition in East and Southern Africa, focusing on plastic packaging and e-waste value chains through grants and technical assistance to ESOs

Funding Amount

Lot 1 (Innovation): EUR 200,000–500,000; Lot 2 (Scaling): EUR 500,000–2,500,000; total budget EUR 6,000,000 (200.000 € – 2.500.000 €)

Deadline

2026-03-16 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Submit proposal via Expertise France SAS portal. Full application details available on the Expertise France and DevelopmentAid platforms. Applications demonstrate capacity to manage multi-beneficiary grants and provide structured technical assistance to circular economy businesses.

Target Region

East and Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Contact

Expertise France SAS; full contact details via Expertise France portal and DevelopmentAid platform

Official Page

https://www2.fundsforngos.org/youth-adolescents/grant-awards-and-technical-assistance-provision-for-

Last Checked

2026-03-15 13:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Lead applicant must be a legal entity in one of the 13 eligible African countries (or external org with local partner)
• Acceptable entity types: ESOs, incubators, accelerators, venture builders, grant managers
• Must demonstrate capacity for multi-beneficiary grant management and TA delivery

Project Scope

• Gender-responsive approach supporting women-led enterprises required
• Focus: plastic packaging and e-waste value chains in East/Southern Africa

Constraints

• For-profit entities eligible but cannot retain profits
• Deadline: March 16, 2026 — likely passed

Summary

The SWITCH-2-CE Grant Awards and Technical Assistance Programme is a EUR 6 million initiative funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), administered by Expertise France SAS. The programme aims to foster an inclusive circular economy transition across East and Southern Africa, with a primary focus on plastic packaging and e-waste value chains. The programme operates through two funding lots. Lot 1 (Innovation) allocates EUR 1 million in grants of EUR 200,000 to EUR 500,000 each to organisations with innovative approaches to circular economy business models. Lot 2 (Scaling) allocates EUR 5 million in grants of EUR 500,000 to EUR 2,500,000 each to organisations ready to scale proven interventions. The programme targets Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) such as incubators, accelerators, venture builders, and grant-managing organisations. Lead applicants must be legal entities established in one of the 13 eligible African countries, or external organisations applying in partnership with at least one local entity. Both nonprofit and for-profit entities are eligible, though for-profit entities may not retain profits from programme activities. Key selection criteria include demonstrated operational and financial capacity to manage grants and provide technical assistance to multiple beneficiaries, a track record with donor-funded programmes, experience in circular economy business support, and gender-responsive approaches that specifically benefit women-led enterprises. The programme prioritises access to finance for circular economy businesses, policy reform, and inclusive entrepreneurship as thematic pillars. This entry represents the fundsforNGOs listing of the same SWITCH-2-CE call also listed under the DevelopmentAid source (ID 2002). Both entries point to the same Expertise France programme with a March 16, 2026 deadline.

Historical Context

Part of the SWITCH-to-CE EU programme series. The call opened in late 2025 with a March 16, 2026 deadline. This is part of the EU-Africa Green Deal circular economy agenda and the broader Team Europe Initiative on Green Transition in Africa.

Why it was added

EU-GIZ grants specifically for plastic packaging circular economy businesses in Africa

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