The Absa Kenya Foundation has partnered with German Corporation for International Cooperation and the African Guarantee Fund to launch the CirculaRising Programme, a large-scale initiative targeting over 6,000 new and improved jobs within the next two to three years.
Positioned as Kenya’s first and largest circular economy programme, the initiative aims to support more than 2,000 women- and youth-led MSMEs while driving environmental sustainability through the recycling of over 6,000 tonnes of waste. The programme is also expected to indirectly impact more than 30,000 people.
Speaking at the launch in Nairobi, Abdi Mohamed, Managing Director and CEO of Absa Bank Kenya, said the initiative reflects a shift toward more sustainable economic models:
“For decades, global growth has largely followed a linear model where we take, make, use and discard. While this model has delivered progress, it has also generated enormous waste, placed immense pressure on natural systems, and widened inequality in how opportunity is distributed. The next chapter of growth will belong to economies that create value differently. Economies where waste becomes input, efficiency becomes advantage, and sustainability becomes enterprise.”
The programme, co-funded by the German government and IKEA Foundation, will be implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit through a three-tier model designed to address MSMEs at different stages of growth.
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The CirculaRising Academy—fully funded by Absa Kenya Foundation—will train over 2,000 microenterprises through coaching, market access, and financing support over 27 months. Meanwhile, the Accelerator component will support 150 growth-stage SMEs across key regions, while the Scale-Up track will target up to 30 medium and large enterprises seeking to integrate circular practices and expand into export markets.
Thomas Jaeschke, Team Leader of GIZ’s Women Employment for the Green Transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme in Kenya, said the initiative blends economic empowerment with sustainability:
“With CirculaRising, we combine the empowerment of women’s employment with the scaling of circular business models in Kenya. Together, we will support MSMEs in achieving economic, social and environmental impact, from increased employment and better incomes to improved recycling and waste management practices.”
Government officials also backed the initiative, citing its role in strengthening Kenya’s SME ecosystem. Susan Mang’eni, Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, said:
“MSMEs remain the backbone of Kenya’s economy. Initiatives such as CirculaRising are critical in unlocking their potential, enabling access to finance, and supporting their transition into sustainable and competitive enterprises.”
On the environmental front, Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, noted:
“The transition to a circular economy presents significant opportunities for Kenya, particularly for MSMEs. Programmes like CirculaRising are essential in supporting green enterprise development, reducing waste, and driving climate action at scale.”
The programme also seeks to close financing gaps facing women entrepreneurs. Patrick Lumumba, Group Director of Capacity Development at AGF, highlighted persistent barriers:
“Despite owning 40% of all MSMEs and contributing up to 20% of the country’s GDP, women-led enterprises continue to face significant barriers, with an estimated 70% lacking access to adequate financing.”
By 2028, CirculaRising aims to mobilise over €2 million in financing while delivering measurable environmental impact through waste reduction, reuse, repair, and recycling—positioning it as a key driver of Kenya’s transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy.
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