The African Development Bank (BAD) is partnering with several international organizations to launch the Global Electronics Management program. With 60 million USD in funding, this initiative, announced on 7 October in Manila, Philippines, aims to promote the circular economy and improve the management of electronic waste in 16 countries, including 9 located in Africa.
In the IT sector, the circular economy aims to limit waste and reliance on disposable goods. It consists of designing more durable devices, then repairing, reusing, collecting, and recycling them to preserve the environment.
In the field of electronics, it addresses a major global environmental emergency: electronic waste management.
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According to available statistics, countries worldwide generated 62 million metric tons of electronic waste in 2022. Only 22,3% of this volume, however, was formally collected and processed.
Projections further indicate that global production will reach 82 million metric tons by 2030 if no corrective measures are implemented.
To reverse this trend, the first phase of the Global Electronics Management program will cover Botswana, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, and South Africa. These countries will benefit from two distinct regional tracks.
Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia will be integrated into the component dedicated to the Horn of Africa, supported by the BAD. In parallel, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa will join the initiative implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (PNUE) in the southern region.
Outside the African continent, seven other countries are also participating in this deployment: Cambodia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Peru, the Philippines, Turkey, and Vietnam.
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Financially and operationally, this mechanism draws on resources from the Global Environment Facility. The execution of operations will be the responsibility of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (ONUDI), in close partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (PNUD), the United Nations Environment Programme (PNUE), and the African Development Bank Group.
Beyond recycling infrastructure, this strategic alliance intends to shape a favorable regulatory framework. According to Henriette Christensen, an information technology specialist at the BAD, this approach aims to strengthen public policies, stimulate the market, and lay the foundation for investments that create sustainable jobs.
Furthermore, the success of the program will rely on a multi-stakeholder approach uniting governments, businesses, researchers, and standardization bodies. For Smail Alhilali, an official at ONUDI, this collective dynamic will provide a comprehensive response to the management of electronic products throughout the value chain.
Anselme Akéko
Published on 21/10/26 09:32
The Editorial Staff