KEPSA, represented by Ms Faith Ngige – KEPSA Public Private Dialogue Officer, Environment Water and Natural Resources Sector Board, participated in the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) workshop on 'the business environment for circular bio-economy enterprises in Kenya,'. The workshop, which was held on 6th December 2022 at Radisson Blue Hotel, aimed at identifying key investment climate indicators for the sector.

Over the past ten years, IWMI has developed a database of more than 150 circular bio-economy business cases, covering Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and South America, and has analyzed more than 50 of these cases in detail. The workshop aimed at sharing research knowledge, potential solutions, and the engagement of business practitioners in the bio-circular economy to develop a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities relating to circular bio-economy with a close link to agro-waste.

Dr Fitsum Hagoss of IWMI highlighted the role of nature-positive agriculture based on the regenerative non-destructive use of natural resources. It protects and sustainably manages, and restores the productive system. A circular bio-economy is fueled by nature. It is a new economic model that stresses the utilization of renewable natural capital and focuses on waste reduction to replace the extensive range of non-renewable, fossil-based products now in use. A sustainable circular bio-economy is expected to help address existing issues such as global warming, fossil resource scarcity, ecological degradation, food shortages, and inefficient municipal biowaste management.

Mr Avinandam of IWMI presented an overview of their research on Circular Bio-Economy Business Models. The key driving factors for a circular economy include competition for resources and the need for impact-led business on both economic, environmental, social and health.

Kenyan examples on waste re-use were shared by Safi Organics based in Mwea, Kirinyaga County; the Biogas model by Flexi biogas operating in Ngong, Kajiado county, decentralized biogas technology shared by Sistema Bio company; and the circular economy for multiple agricultural wastes was shared by Nadanya Greens from Vihiga County.

Ms Faith Ngige shared the overview of Kenya's policy and regulatory framework for circular bio-economy, including the Green Economy and Strategy and Implementation Plan 2016 – 2030, the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018 – 2022, the Sustainable Waste Management Policy, provisions for composting in the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 and the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

The workshop was organized as part of a new global initiative of one CGIAR on "Nature-positive Solutions for Shifting Agri-food Systems to more Resilient and Sustainable Pathways" led by the Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT (The Alliance) and co-lead by IWMI. Partners including KEPSA will work together towards creating a predictable business environment and administer the Reduce, Reuse Recycle (RRR) index for bio-enterprises in Kenya.

Also present at the meeting was Dr Ayub Macharia- Director of Environmental Awareness and Education at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.