UNIDO’s Post

In the midst of the global financial crisis raking across all continents, a plethora of opportunities lies in circular economy businesses to navigate harsh economic terrains. African Development Bank Group Development Bank Group has certified that in Africa, the circular economy represents an annual market opportunity of approximately 8 billion US dollars. The Netherlands government and Circular Business Platform are spearheading laudable actions to ensure Nigeria taps into the significant economic gains that the circular economy can yield for its economy. Earlier this year, the CBP, led by its Executive Secretary Dr. Natalie Beinisch and Netherlands government held the Circular Economy Strategy Week to develop action plans necessary to build a circular economy system and foster relationships between the Dutch government and Nigerian businesses working in the circular economy across four sectors: Agriculture, Waste to Energy, Waste Management, and E-waste. Through the #CEStrategyWeek2024, businesses across these four selected industries are motivated to remain committed to adopting circular economy practices and ultimately turn their businesses into assets for employment, innovative solutions for people, the environment and economic development. Wouter Plomp Freek van Eijk Michel Deelen Yewande Ososanya Dr. Helen Emore Luuk Rietvelt Vesna Lavtizar, PhD Daan Sillen Muyiwa Gbadegesin, PhD Jonathan Ikeolumba FCCA, PMP Deborah Edward Ifebuche Madu Adejoke Lasisi Arese Onaghise Ayomikun Joshua Kukoyi Sope Afolayan Florence Ajiboye Lilian Van Hove Seun Olatunji Oluwatomisin A. Akinbami Abayomi Mrs Margaret Dara Oshodi Adebukola Adeogun Olugbenga Adebola Closing the Loop Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development Netherlands Enterprise Agency Circo Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) #Dutchgovernment #Circulareconomy #Netherlandsgovernment #CBP #CEIP #Circularlagos #CEStrategyWeek2024

Reflecting on my transformative experience at Circular Economy Strategy Week 2024 - a pivotal event driving sustainability and cleantech innovation. Grateful to the organizers and the incredible team for an unforgettable excursion! 🙌 Excited to reconnect at Circular Economy Strategy Week 2025 for more insights and collaborations in #CircularEconomy, #CleanTech, and #Sustainability. Let's drive positive change together! 🌱💡 #EcoInnovation #GreenBusiness #SustainableFuture #CircularEconomyWeek #CleantechInnovations #GreenTechLeaders #SustainableInnovation

Boitumelo N., a testimonial to your excellent dissertation on the Master on Commerce in Development Finance programme at the Graduate School of Business - University of Cape Town.

Following INC-4, the second webinar in a series co-hosted by the Financing Coordination Group will cover mobilizing resources for the international legally binding instrument (ILBI) objectives and aligning financial flows to help Member States and other stakeholders understand the necessary financial mechanisms to tackle plastic pollution effectively. Participants will come away with:  ◾ The different financial mechanisms that may be considered - new, existing, and hybrid mechanisms. ◾ The obligations or agreed instrumental costs associated with the ILBI that need to be financed. ◾ Activities that may not be supported by the financial mechanism and the reasons behind this. ◾ Potential funding gaps for Member States to consider when implementing the ILBI to tackle plastic pollution, and strategies to address them. Speaker line-up: ◾ Oliver Boachie (The Government of Ghana) ◾ Peter BORKEY (OECD - OCDE) ◾ Tao Wang (The World Bank) ◾ Hibaa Ismael (UN Environment Programme, The Government of Djibouti)  ◾ Hugo Schally (European Commission) ◾ Khadija Khan (Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking - SGCIB) ◾ Leah Pedersen (Convergence Blended Finance) ◾ Rofi Alhanif (The Government of Indonesia) ◾ Rolph Payet (The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions) ◾ Moderator: Liz Nichols, PhD (U.S. Department of State) ◾ Session host: Michael Sadowski (The Circulate Initiative) Register here: https://lnkd.in/gHNYm5vc View the agenda: https://lnkd.in/gQqMAQRv Co-hosted by: The Circulate Initiative, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), The World Bank, and the World Economic Forum. #plasticpollution #financing #investment #inc #environmentalfinance #plasticwaste #sustainablefinance #circulareconomy #policy

Would you like to learn more about financial mechanisms, supported obligations and potential funding gaps for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution? 💰♻️   Then join today’s webinar at 3 pm CEST organized by The Circulate Initiative, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), The World Bank, and the World Economic Forum!   Please find more information on the webinar and the registration in the post below! ⬇️

Every time I sit down with a business—whether it's a startup or a multinational—I feel the same energy: a deep hunger for sustainability. Across Africa and the world, companies are eager to run in a way that’s both profitable and responsible. They want to adopt sustainable models that ensure a positive impact on people and the planet. But here’s the challenge: there’s a significant gap in knowledge and resources. Sustainability isn't an easy concept to grasp, nor is it cheap to implement. It’s a journey that requires more than just good intentions. Yet, the importance of ethical business practices is undeniable—it’s about securing the future of our communities and the health of the only planet we call home. 🌍 That’s why I find so much joy in helping businesses navigate this journey, especially when it comes to creating equitable supply chains. These chains often leave the smallholder producers—the backbone of our food systems—at a disadvantage. But when we build fairer systems, everyone thrives. Being part of the American Chamber of Commerce, Kenya task force has been an incredible opportunity to drive this agenda forward in the manufacturing industry in Kenya and across Africa. Working alongside great minds like Mumbi Keega, John Kalibo and Susan Maingi, we’re helping to create real, lasting change. I have a dream: that one day, Africa will be able to fully sustain itself—economically, socially, and environmentally. And every step toward sustainable business is a step toward that future. #Sustainability #EthicalBusiness #FutureOfAfrica

Has Tanzania’s recently launched revised Trade Policy envisaged the global sustainability aspirations (ESG & SDGs)? The increasing global pressure for businesses to prioritize sustainability is placing MSMEs in emerging markets including businesses in Tanzania in a challenging position. Specifically, there is a growing realization that the integration of ESG principles in business models will play a pivotal role in determining the competitiveness of MSMEs in securing financial support and penetrating global markets., necessitating a prompt adapt. This has made me enthusiastic about Tanzania’s readiness to embrace these global demands/aspirations especially now that we have just launched a revised National Trade Policy 2003 (Edition 2023) and strategy to be operationalized in the next decade. The policy is designed to enhance Tanzania's trade competitiveness through the promotion of local industrialization, aiming to yield socio-economic benefits for the country. However, in light of current global trends, particularly the increasing demands for ESG practices, trade competitiveness now extends beyond merely producing and supplying value-added products. It also involves the capacity to implement environmentally sustainable practices throughout production and supply chains, offering a competitive edge. This means, integrating green practices into Tanzania's trade becomes imperative for the nation's success in attaining trade competitiveness. After a quick review of the revised trade policy, it is evident that considerations for environmental protection, conservation, and good governance have been incorporated. The focus lies on minimizing environmental and climate impacts stemming from trade activities by integrating environmental management issues into trade operations and enhancing resilience to climate change and natural disasters. This initial step is commendable, yet comprehensive efforts will necessitate collaborative initiatives involving both the Government and the Private Sector, with support from development partners being crucial due to the specialized expertise required to incorporate ESG and SDGs into business strategies. Moreover, effective monitoring and reporting will hinge on a skilled workforce, underscoring the need to empower the MSMEs in Tanzania. However, as we decide to embrace ESG and or SDGs, it is essential to ensure there is a just transition as the competitiveness of trade also depends on the transition costs. Hence, policies should be carefully designed to avoid imposing additional financial burdens for enforcing ESG or SDG adoption or incorporation. Instead, offering incentives, whether financial or non-financial, could expedite the transition while safeguarding Tanzania's Trade competitiveness. Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Andrew Mahiga USAID Godfrey Mondi Danish Industry Klaus Lehn Christensen Albert Rukeisa TradeMark Africa

How do you define sustainability? It's about growing your business without harming the environment or communities around you. True sustainability means paying for what we use. Watch this opening remark by Gricha Safarian, the founder of #CacaoTrace to understand the concept of the karma we all need to acknowledge. #CAA #CacaoTrace #3F #Fruit #Farmer #Forest #PGPI

Fourteen years ago, CSR-in-Action began as an idea, a dream rooted in the hope of building a more sustainable and inclusive Nigeria and Africa. What started as a small team with a bold vision has grown into a pioneering organisation, shaping industries, empowering communities, and influencing global conversations around sustainability. From publishing Nigeria’s first-ever sustainability report to creating the award-winning Earth Women documentary to launching platforms like the SITEI (Sustainability in the Extractives Industries) Conference and Ethica360 to becoming Nigeria’s first GRI Certified Trainer, every step of our journey has been about breaking barriers and making a lasting impact. This is not just our story, it is yours too. Every partnership we have built, every milestone we have reached, and every community we have transformed has been made possible because of you—our partners, clients, and supporters. Together, we have turned challenges into opportunities and opportunities into meaningful progress. As we celebrate 14 years of resilience and innovation, we look forward to a future filled with even greater possibilities. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Here is to the next chapter of impact, together. #14YearsOfImpact #CSRinAction #SustainabilityPathways #BuildingABetterFuture

On November 5th, I had the honor of participating in a dynamic panel titled “The Impact of Sustainability-Driven Regulations on Fair, Sustainable, and Transparent Food Trade and Supply Chains” at the World Without Hunger Conference, organized by UNIDO, the African Union, and the Government of Ethiopia. This engaging panel, conceived by Virpi Stucki from UNIDO, featured insightful discussions moderated by Mary Porter Peschka from IFC. I was joined by distinguished colleagues: Madeline Muga, from Fairtrade Africa, and Matt Kovac, CEO of Food Industry Asia (FIA). Our conversation centered around the crucial balance between environmental preservation, social protection, and business continuity. We explored how sustainability-driven regulations can support the wellbeing of future generations and the need to ensure that compliance costs do not become insurmountable barriers to trade for producers and exporters from developing countries. Among the key recommendations from the panel were: Ensuring that stakeholders in developing and transition countries have a voice in the development of new rules and regulations. Providing sufficient time and resources for producers and exporters from developing countries to adapt to evolving standards, avoiding potential negative impacts on social and economic stability. A huge thank you to the organizers and to my ITC colleagues Giulia Macola, Aklile M Habtemariam, and Simachew M Alimaw who supported me during the Conference. Under the leadership of our Executive Director, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, together with other institutions of the United Nations system, and with strong support from partners such as the European Commission, the United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is committed to “Transforming Trade and Changing Lives” in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. #Intracen, #UN, #ThisWeekAtITC #EU #SDG #UNIDO #IFC #FairTrade #SDG #NTF5 #UKTP #WWH #Ethiopia