Program Overview
About The Africircular Innovators Programme
The AfriCircular Innovators Programme, funded by the African Development Bank's Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) and in collaboration with the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), promotes circular initiatives across Africa.
The programme supports Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 80% of the continent's businesses by providing technical and financial assistance. It further empowers young entrepreneurs, who are crucial to Africa's transformative circular journey.
Implemented by Impact Hub in Accra, Abidjan and Kigali, the first edition of the program supported 30 early-stage startups and SMEs in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and waste management equipping them with tools to integrate sustainability into their business models.
Strategic sector focus and tailored support for innovation
Aligned with ACEA's "Five Big Bets", the AfriCircular Innovators Programme targets sectors with high potential for boosting circularity, economic growth, job creation, and long-term environmental benefits, such as packaging, the built environment, electronics, fashion and textiles, and food systems.
Our Reach
Through our programs in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda we've supported a growing ecosystem of change makers building sustainable solutions for people and the planet.
Each local Impact Hub serves as a catalyst offering mentorship, resources, and community to ventures tackling real-world environmental and economic challenges.
Cohort Ventures
Meet our innovators from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda building for people and the planet.
Africircular Venture Case Studies
Partner Highlights
The AfriCircular Innovators Program is made possible through the collaboration of visionary partners committed to driving sustainable change across Africa.
African Development Bank
AfDB is a multilateral development finance institution established during the 1960s with the objective of supporting the economic development and social progress of countries in Africa by promoting investment of public and private capital in projects and programmes that aim to reduce poverty and improve living conditions.
African Circular Economy Alliance
ACEA is a government-led coalition of African countries, with a mission to spur Africa's transformation to a circular economy that delivers economic growth, jobs, and positive environmental outcomes. ACEA's Secretariat is hosted by the AfDB and is supported by the ACEF).
Africa Circular Economy Facility
ACEF is the only trust fund dedicated to mainstreaming the circular economy as an inclusive and green growth strategy in Africa. It was established by the African Development Bank in 2022 with the support of the Government of Finland, the Nordic Development Fund, and, starting in late 2024, The Coca-Cola Foundation.
Impact Hub
Impact Hub is a global network of locally-owned and operated innovation hubs, with a reach spanning over 120+ Impact Hubs across 65+ countries, bringing together over 25,000 Impact Makers to drive positive change. Impact Hub’s community is a vibrant collective of entrepreneurs, creators, innovators, and leaders united by a shared mission: to build a regenerative economy where business and profit serve people and the planet.