[Report] TICAD 9 Partner Event: Africa Business Seminar on Waste Management & Circular Economy " Waste Management in Africa - from Clean City Development to Circular Economy-"

Seminar Date: August 18, 2025 (Wednesday)
Languages: Japanese, English, and French (simultaneous interpretation)
Number of Participants: 55 participants from African countries (40 countries), 23 participants from Japanese companies, local governments, universities, and research institutions, plus 51 online participants.
Hosted by: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Venue: JICA Yokohama Center / Zoom Webinar

In recent years, the circular economy has garnered attention as a global policy and economic trend, with discussions on its implementation gaining momentum in Africa. However, many countries and cities still face fundamental challenges such as improving waste collection rates and proper management of final disposal sites, creating an environment ripe for leapfrog development. This event, held in conjunction with TICAD9, leveraged the unique opportunity of the "African Clean Cities Platform" General Assembly on August 20-21, where representatives in charge of waste management from 47 member countries gathered in Yokohama. The seminar aimed to connect Africa's waste issues, challenges of the circular economy, and Japan's experience and technology, exploring collaborative possibilities for a sustainable future.

(1) Share various challenges and policy trends in the waste and resource circulation sector in Africa by African speakers.
(2) Introduce the advantages and local applicability of Japanese companies' technologies and products, and provide opportunities for co-creation to address social issues through business activities in Africa.
(3) Create networking and business matching opportunities between representatives from the "Africa Clean Cities Platform" and Japanese companies.

Opening Remarks:
Mr. Masayuki Yokota, Head of Sub-Regional Hub, Southern Africa, Regional Office for Africa, UN-Habitat
Ms. Hiroe Ono, Director General, JICA Yokohama Centre

"Overview and Current State of the Waste Management in Africa" Mr. Kazunao Shibata, Deputy Director General, Group Director for Environmental Management and Climate Change, Global Environment Department, JICA

Egypt: Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed Khayal, Manager of Governorate Main Plans Support, Waste Management Regulatory Agency

Kenya: Mr. Molu Wato, Director, Waste Management & Pollution Control, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry

Ghana: Mr. Francis Kofi Okuapeh, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Head of Waste Management/District Cleansing Officer Sub-Metropolitan

South Africa: Mr. Malcolm Mogotsi, Director: Municipal Waste Support, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Q&A Session

Lunch and Networking

"JICA’ s Approach to Engage Private Sector for Waste Management in Africa" Mr. Kazunao Shibata, Deputy Director General, Group Director for Environmental Management and Climate Change, Global Environment Department, JICA

KANEKA Corporation: Mitsutoshi Moro, Ph.D. Manager, Quality Assurance & Certification, Green Planet Project

Kaiho Industry Co., LTD.: Mr. Taishi Suzuki, Executive Officer, Director of Business Development Division

CHUWA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.: Mr. Kuniaki Imao, President

Kanadevia Corporation: Mr. Tatsuhiko Sato, Assistant Manager, Department 1, Global Business Promotion Unit, Global Headquarters

Panel Discussion: Moderator Mr. Tadashi Suzuki, JICA Global Environment Department, JICA

Closing Remarks: Mr. Teruyuki Ito, Director General, Global Environment Department, JICA

Networking

(1) In the opening remarks, Mr. Yoshiyuki Yokota, Director of the UN-HABITAT Africa Regional Office, and Ms. Hiroe Ohno, Director of the JICA Yokohama Office, delivered greetings. Following an overview of "the Africa Clean Cities Platform (ACCP)", the importance of collaboration with private-sector in addressing waste management challenges in Africa and expectations for collaborative efforts with ACCP member countries and cities were highlighted.

(2) In the first session, Kazunori Shibata, Deputy Director of JICA's Global Environment Division, provided an overview of waste management in Africa and explained how ACCP is collaborating through its network and activities to support business environment development. Next, speakers from four African countries (Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa) presented information on legal systems and plans/strategies related to waste management, management structures, data on waste volume, collection rates, and treatment rates, current challenges, and expectations for Japanese companies. They also discussed the role and potential of private-sector involvement in addressing social issues.

(3) In the second session, Kazunori Shibata, Deputy Director of JICA's Global Environment Division, introduced JICA's efforts to promote clean cities and its initiatives for private-sector collaboration. Following this, four Japanese companies presented their efforts to address local business challenges through their operations, current issues, future plans, and expectations for African countries.

(4) A panel discussion was then held with eight speakers on the theme of addressing waste and circular economy issues through business expansion in Africa. From the African side, it was pointed out that, in addition to solving waste management issues, there are expectations for the development of the recycling industry, employment, and job creation for young people. In response, it was discussed that in order for Japanese companies to leverage their strengths, such as developing sustainable businesses rooted in local communities and providing detailed after-sales services. It is essential to develop local human resources, provide technical guidance to partner companies, and build relationships of trust. On the other hand, discussions also touched on challenges in expanding business in Africa, such as the need to improve market conditions through legal regulations and standards. Expectations were expressed that JICA, together with ACCP member organizations, contribute to the capacity building of African administrative agencies and improving market conditions. The commitment implemented in collaboration with ACCP member organizations, and to working with Japanese companies that possess advanced technologies, products, expertise, and ideas to address waste management and circular economy challenges in African countries.

(5) Finally, Akira Ito, Director of JICA's Global Environment Department, delivered the closing remarks, stating that JICA has continued to work closely with African countries and Japanese companies to address challenges related to waste management and the circular economy in African countries. He also expressed his sincere hope that this seminar serves as a catalyst for Africa and Japan to become even more closely connected and work together to address social issues, taking a step toward a sustainable future. Following the seminar, a one-hour networking session was held, during which active information and opinion exchange took place. Some African participants who had visited the factories and inspected the technologies/products of the companies that presented later also participated, further deepening the exchanges.

(6) Following the seminar, a one-hour networking session was held, during which active information and opinion exchange took place. Some African participants who had applied for inspections the factories and the technologies/products of the companies that presented later also participated, further deepening the exchanges.

Environmental Management and Climate Change Group, Global Environment Department, JICA:
jicage_env@jica.go.jp