Kenya Circular Economy

Description of project

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) main purpose is to wealth creation at both corporate and individual level by advocating for a competitive environment for businesses to operate, which will result in better industries, economic growth, job creation and thus improved living standards of the Kenyan publics. While Quercus Group Limited aims to contribute in solving the most difficult challenges in the world today by engaging multi-stakeholders, facilitating partnerships and dialogue, advising and training governments and organizations and creating linkages to markets for companies.

Through the joint partnership, between KAM and Quercus, both parties utilized their core competencies in ensuring the successful training by Quercus Group of KAM member industries in circular economy and cluster development.

The narrative of the training was the increasing demand and the business opportunities linked to shifting from linear to circular economy. To ensure a successful transition from linear to circular at industry and societal level, cluster development has been found to be an efficient approach. This is because circular economy to be operational, a high level of stakeholders’ collaboration is vital. Cluster organisations are widely recognized as a catalyst for job creation, accelerated innovation, SME growth and internationalization and offer a pragmatic, but nevertheless comprehensive approach to create synergies, break down silos and across stakeholders and organize and manage joint activities.

Type of services provided

Quercus Group Limited was tasked with organising a one-day workshop meant to sensitize the local manufacturing companies on circular economy and cluster development.

A dive in into the basic theory of the different concepts was presented, along with providing a couple of relevant examples from DK + EU & from Africa.

First steps: Disrupting the current Take-Make-Dispose Economy
The WHY – The purpose was to specifically address the tendency among Kenyan business operators to prioritize profits over well-being of environment, as well as surrounding residents. Providing this information was aimed to show them the consequences for if the current business models are not changed and adapted to the current situation in the world.

Leading the Change: Understanding Circular Economy
The focus was shift to providing more details on the HOW – how to actually apply the ideas

Circular Economy: Examples

At the finalization of the topic further examples were provided along with (roughly) addressing the WHAT question of The Golden Circle.
Carlsberg: Circular Community
Tech Solutions: made their presentation.

Action Time: Applying Circular Economy and cluster development Principles to local context
The participants had time on each table to discuss together what they thought would be the next great steps to take as well as sharing examples of what examples of circular economy and cluster development exists within the country.