SWITCH-2-CE in ESA – Call for Projects
Grant Awards & Technical Assistance for Circular Economy Businesses
Plastics & Packaging | Electronics & E-Waste
Programme Overview
The SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa (SWITCH-2-CE in ESA) is a regional programme co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and jointly implemented by GIZ and Expertise France
The initiative addresses a major bottleneck in the region’s circular economy transition:
- Limited access to appropriate finance
- Insufficient structured business support
- Weak investment readiness among early-stage enterprises
Total Funding Available
Total envelope: €6,000,000
- LOT 1 – Innovation: €1,000,000
- LOT 2 – Scaling: €5,000,000
Expertise France reserves the right not to allocate all available funds
Grant Size
LOT 1 – INNOVATION
- Minimum: €200,000
- Maximum: €500,000
LOT 2 – SCALING
- Minimum: €500,000
- Maximum: €2,500,000
The grant covers 100% of eligible costs
What This Call Supports
This Call funds Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs) that will:
- Provide grant funding to circular economy start-ups and MSMEs
- Deliver structured technical assistance
- Combine financing with milestone-based business support
- Improve investment readiness and market access
Financial support to final beneficiaries must represent:
- Minimum 60%
- Maximum 80%
of the total project budget
Two Funding Lots Explained
LOT 1 – INNOVATION
Focus: Early/pre-seed, upstream circular solutions.
Eligible final beneficiaries:
- Pre-revenue or proof-of-concept start-ups
- Early-stage entrepreneurs
- Businesses testing new circular models
Scope restrictions:
- Must focus exclusively on upstream circular economy models
- Recycling and purely downstream waste management are not eligible under Lot 1
Final beneficiaries may receive:
- €10,000 – €30,000 each
LOT 2 – SCALING
Focus: Post-revenue growth-stage circular businesses.
Eligible final beneficiaries:
- Start-ups and MSMEs with demonstrated market traction
- Businesses seeking scale and investment readiness
Scope:
- Both upstream and downstream circular solutions eligible
- Includes recycling where aligned with circular principles
Final beneficiaries may receive:
- €30,000 – €150,000 each
Eligible Sectors / Value Chains
Projects must focus on circular economy models within:
Plastics & Packaging
Including:
- Material reduction
- Reuse & refill systems
- Redesign & alternative delivery models
- Recycling & recovery
Electronics & E-Waste
Including:
- Repair
- Refurbishment
- Remanufacturing
- Lifetime extension
- Responsible end-of-life management
Geographic Eligibility
Projects must be implemented in at least one of the following countries:
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia
Multi-country proposals are encouraged.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible Lead Applicants must:
- Be a legal entity in one of the eligible countries
OR - Be established outside the region but apply in partnership with a local organisation
Organisation types:
- Entrepreneurial Support Organisations (ESOs)
- Incubators
- Accelerators
- Venture builders
- Business development providers
- Non-profits
- Private organisations with financial capacity
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Experience managing donor-funded grants
- Experience supporting start-ups/MSMEs
- Gender-inclusive business support experience
Project Duration
Minimum: 6 months
Maximum: 24 months
Application Process
This is a restricted call with two stages:
Stage 1 – Concept Note
Submit via:
https://pops.expertisefrance.fr/snglogin/do/loginAction
Deadline:
16 March 2026 – 14:00 (Paris Time)
Stage 2 – Full Application
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a detailed proposal.
Key Dates
Information Session:
3 March 2026
10:00 (Paris Time)
Zoom link provided in the Call document
Concept Note Deadline:
16 March 2026 – 14:00 (Paris Time)
Contract Signing (Indicative):
5 June 2026
Click HERE to visit the official website.