Impacts - 2024 - CBEIHub

Shaping Policy for a Circular Future

After several rounds of engagement, 16 partner organizations have committed as co-owners, contributing resources toward a shared impact. To solidify this collaboration, the Hub convened a 2-day workshop with 28 participants, where the vision, mission, and operational model were jointly defined.

Policy Collaboration
Invited by the then Ministry of Sanitation & Water Resources, a Scaling Partner to support the National Environmental Sanitation Policy Review.

Engagement
14 participants from 8 organizations joined a Hub-led webinar to unpack policy scope, objectives, and opportunities for contribution.

Collective Action
7 Hub institutions co-developed and submitted a joint circular bioeconomy policy contribution:

IWMI
CSIR–Institute of Industrial Research
Biotechnology & Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute
Regional Water & Environmental Sanitation Centre (KNUST)
Safisana Ghana Ltd.
Institute of Environmental Sanitation Studies
Regional Centre for Energy & Environmental Sustainability

Impact
Circular bioeconomy insights are now embedded in Ghana’s national sanitation policy framework, shaping pathways for sustainable waste management.

Empowering Youth for a Circular Future – RRR Schools & Youth Program

The RRR Schools & Youth Program equips students with practical skills in the organic waste-to-resource value chain, building a circular mindset and creating opportunities for youth-led startups and employment.

Output at a Glance

Teachers Engaged

30 total (59% female | 41% male) (+18 since 2023)

Students Reached

7,264 total (51% female | 49% male)
(+1,775 since 2023)

Trainers (Volunteers) Mobilized

75 total (31% female | 69% male)
(new in 2024)

Schools Supported

(15 new schools across 2 Municipal Assemblies in Kumasi (Kwabre East & Oforikrom)
(now 25 schools in total)

Schools Equipped with Bins & Waste Management Support

15 new schools supported (+10 since 2023)

Modules Delivered (5 total)

Waste Management & Segregation at Source
Circular & Bioeconomy Concepts
Resource Recovery & Reuse
Innovation Case Studies
Club Formation & Activities

25 Clubs Active

1,200+ members (55% female | 42% male),
supported by trained volunteers

Labeled bins donated to schools for waste segregation at source

Photo credit: EWB-KNUST

Living Labs Driving Circular Innovation

Across Ghana, many circular bioeconomy (CBE) business models struggle to scale facing several systemic barriers and challenges. Recognizing these barriers, the Hub set out to create spaces where innovation could move beyond theory into practice.

The Response

The Hub convened a cross-sectoral working group and designated seven Living Labs that are real world environments for demonstration, training, applied research, and co-creation.

In Action

To spark collaboration, a peer-to-peer learning series was launched across all seven Labs. Partners immersed themselves in on-the-ground realities, exchanging knowledge, testing ideas, and uncovering practical pathways for innovation. Each visit gathered 16–28 participants from 14 institutions, creating a unique ecosystem of shared learning.

What We Found

The process surfaced critical barriers:

Limited capacity and funding
Process and technology bottlenecks
Weak institutional and policy alignment

The Way Forward

Armed with these insights, the Hub is shaping a roadmap for applied research, capacity building, advisory support, and policy engagement. The goal: empower CBE enterprises to innovate, scale, and transform waste into opportunity.

Stay tuned for the launch of these programs!!!