Capacities4CircularFutures II
Implementation of Training Programmes and Development of Knowledge Cooperation to Strengthen the Circular Economy in Ghana
By joining the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) in 2019, Ghana underlined its ambition to take on a leading role in the circular economy on the African continent. Against this background, the "Capacities4CircularFutures II" project aims to develop an international training programme that provides practice-oriented approaches for the implementation of circular economy structures. Focus areas are end-of-life vehicles and used textiles, which have proven to be particularly relevant during previous collaborations with Ghanaian stakeholders, for example in the predecessor project Capacities4CircularFutures.
The project targets various stakeholders including Ghanaian executives from government agencies and local authorities as well as students and lecturers at universities. It follows a multi-actor approach that combines theory, practice and networking. The project includes two planned visits by Ghanaian delegations to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), each centred on one of the two focus areas. Additionally, the project aims to foster knowledge cooperation between research institutions in Ghana and NRW. This cooperation will focus on jointly developing and implementing innovative approaches for the circular economy. A key initiative within this effort is the development and implementation of a Circular Economy Summer School in Ghana, designed as a long-term platform for knowledge exchange and professional training, with active involvement from multiple Ghanaian universities. Furthermore, the project includes expert dialogues to be implemented as part of the 2025 West African Clean Energy & Environment (WACEE) conference in Accra.
Overall, the aim is to create sustainable structures that can be supported by Ghanaian stakeholders in the long term in order to promote resource conservation and economic resilience. The close cooperation between Ghanaian and German stakeholders will create a platform for global exchange that will strengthen the Ghana-NRW-partnership as well as Ghana's pioneering role in the African circular economy.