A Consultant to conduct a Regional Study on the role of the Private Sector and MSMEs in Advancing the Circular Economy

Result of ServiceThe broad objective of this assignment is to assess the role of the private sector and MSMEs in advancing the circular economy, identifying key drivers, challenges, and opportunities for scaling sustainable practices in targeted sectors Work LocationRemote Location Expected duration6 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesIntroduction At its core, the circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products if possible. Within this analysis, the role of MSMEs becomes pivotal, particularly for Southern Africa. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) occupy a vital and unique position in the transition towards a circular economy. Their intrinsic features, such as proximity, flexibility, and ability to innovate, make them an important factor in market practices and norms. Unlike larger corporations, MSMEs often possess the agility to experiment with and adopt innovative business models, production methods, and sustainable practices with relatively less bureaucracy and resistance to change. In Southern Africa, beyond the economic and environmental benefits of a green industrialization for conventional MSMEs, the circular economy presents entirely new opportunities for MSMEs to become pioneers in fields such as recycling, renewable energy installation, green service provision, and green consulting. Although MSMEs have fewer resources to adopt the requirements of a functional circular economy, they often have greater flexibility than larger firms and can sometimes adopt new technologies more quickly. In Malawi, for instance, a movement for the adoption of a green circular economy is gaining momentum amongst MSMEs amid widespread concerns over improper waste management and ecosystem damage. This has been against the backdrop of their heterogeneous nature, which impedes integration on a large scale. Despite their heterogeneity, MSMEs have many common characteristics that influence their approach to environmental issues and the implementation of green circular practices. MSMEs play a crucial role in the transition towards a circular economy. The sector represents the backbone of most economies, and it accounts for a significant portion of businesses worldwide and is a pivotal driver of innovation, employment, and economic development. For instance, in countries such as Malawi, MSMEs contribute about 47 percent to the country’s GDP.. In contrast, in countries such as Namibia, the sector accounts for approximately one-third of the nation’s workforce, contributing approximately 12 percent to the GDP. This reflects the country’s drive towards the circular economy through three principles: Beneficial reciprocal flows of resources between nature and society, Reduce and decouple resource use, Circular business models to integrate multi-dimensional value through regenerating natural systems through supporting regenerative practices to safeguard natural resources. Similarly, the waste industry of MSMEs in Namibia has been considered an important enabler for green industrial development and a driver of job creation, as improved collection and utilization of waste at local municipals has simultaneously reduced the increasing pressures on the environment and ensure the recovery of otherwise lost economic value. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in developing and emerging countries struggle to access the formal financing they need to make their business more sustainable, as access to international capital markets has over the recent past been tied to climate goals embedded into the circular economy principle. By developing circular design measures for MSMEs in Southern Africa, this will ensure MSMEs in the region are able to simultaneously integrate and enhance their resource mobilization initiatives, including tackling the presence of hazardous chemicals, and providing consumers with easy access to reuse and repair services. In addition to fostering resource mobilization, circularity offers profit-oriented firms in most industries a way to gain competitive advantage at significant scale and thrive in a future in which profits will be made differently through alignment of production techniques with environmental regulations that restrict several production techniques. In this regards, the transformative role of new technologies, especially in advancing the circular economy, with particular emphasis on the community and technology integration, ethical considerations, technological synergies, sustainable business models, and the burgeoning bioeconomy will be cardinal to re-orient the region’s MSMEs sector towards the concept of circularity. For some countries, such as Malawi, however, the drive towards the circular economy principles has been rather slow, thus undermining the capacity of integration for most MSMEs, as most cities and municipalities have underdeveloped collection systems, with collection rates of 30 percent in most cases. And approximately 70 percent of municipal solid waste has not been officially disposed-off, with only a 4 percent waste recycling rate . It is legitimate to say that the current model of waste management in Malawi is mainly linear and provides ample opportunity for improvement in transitioning to a circular economy, particularly for MSMEs. Addressing these disparities thus implies establishing the role of supply chain innovation in the implementation of circular economy practices for MSMEs. Innovation in supply chains is crucial for the circular economy as it facilitates the implementation of practices such as recycling, waste reduction, and resource optimization. It helps MSMEs transition from a linear to a circular model, making operations more sustainable and resource efficient. To achieve this, several Southern African governments are actively pursuing strategies and initiatives to integrate MSMEs within the frameworks towards the achieving the circular economies. Duties and Responsibilities Working under the overall supervision of the regional director of the Economic Commission for Africa and directly under the chief of Inclusive Industrialization, the Consultant will: i. Examine how private sector actors and MSMEs engaged in green industrial activities integrate circular economy principles into their business models, production processes, and supply chains. ii. Identify opportunities, best practices, innovations, sustainable regional value chains, and success stories in which private sector initiatives have contributed - or can significantly contribute - to the development of the circular economy, including the identification of the identification of. technology transfer opportunities in a set of region-relevant sectors from high-capacity regions to low-capacity regions including the identification of financial models best practice areas of such technology, and potential areas for such technology. iii. Evaluate the state of MSME engagement and barriers faced in adopting circular economy practices, including access to markets, finance, technology, skills, and supportive policy frameworks. iv. Analyze the contribution of circular economy initiatives to advancing national climate goals and promoting inclusive growth, job creation, and resource efficiency, particularly for women and youth entrepreneurs. v. Explore the role of public-private partnerships, networks, and industry collaborations in scaling circular economy solutions. vi. Assess the macroeconomic policy governance landscape on the circular economy to integrate the macroeconomic practices, including access to finance, technology, skills, micro level MSMEs sector to greater policy alignment. vii. Examine the role of MSMEs to foster technology transfer and integrate circular economy principles into their business models. viii. Proffer recommendations on avenues and based practices for the enhancement of MSMEs contribution into the circular economy through green growth microlevel initiatives that feed national and sub-regional macrolevel goals and initiatives. ix. Examine the avenues through which MSMEs could be encouraged to suggest policies that enable the development of private sector-led collection and recycling services. Scope of Work The circular economy presents significant opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth, especially for MSMES. To address issues pertinent to green industrialization and the circular economy, UNECA would like to engage the services of a regional consultant to undertake a study in six countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe) on the role of private sector and MSMEs in the development of the circular economy, particularly in high technology industrial sectors. With the support of national consultants in each of the countries, the regional consultant will adopt a mixed approach combining desktop research, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and case study analysis. Others include the following: a) Map current circular economy initiatives involving MSMEs across selected countries, specifically identifying key enables and drivers for their sustained growth. b) Assess the status of circular economy vis-à-vis MSMES’ participation and the gaps that need to be addressed. c) Analyze sectoral engagement of MSMEs and private firms in areas such as waste management, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, manufacturing, and green services. d) Conduct interviews, surveys, or focus groups with MSMEs, private sector representatives, business associations, innovation hubs, and financial institutions, with a view to capturing insights on capacity/technology needs, investment challenges, and opportunities for partnership e) Review existing policies, incentives, and regulatory frameworks that support or hinder private sector. This is to identify gaps and areas for strengthening policy support. f) Identify intra-regional trade opportunities for MSMEs engaged in the production of circular commodities, and assess market access, finance, and technology transfer/adoption requirements to boost MSMEs export and related intra-regional trade flows. g) Identify entry points in green industrialization, climate, and export strategies to enhance growth in the circular economy and improve their ability to contribute to the advancement of national and regional climate goals through the adoption and implementation of circular economy practices. h) Present key insights and actionable recommendations to stakeholders, government agencies, and industry associations through workshops, presentations, and reports. i) Participate in any report validation processes, integrate feedback from key stakeholders and finalise the integrated final report. As part of her/his assignment the consultant also regularly share findings and information, and participate in coordination meetings with experts in charge of preparing other regional studies on renewable energy, MSMEs and circular economy, and technology upgrading as part of the UNDA 17th Tranche project on Innovative Climate Action to Accelerate Green and Inclusive Industrialization in the Southern Africa Region. These exchanges and meetings will aim to avoid duplication and maximize synergies between the consultant’s work and that of the other three regional experts. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced Degree in the field of Economics, Environmental Science or green industrialization is required for this assignment ,A First Degree with an additional 3 year of experience may be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree. Demonstrated experience in conducting similar assessments or consultancy projects, preferably in the circular economy;• Extensive knowledge of and experience in MSMEs and circular economy. Practical application of the required skills in green industrialization and circular economy.;Demonstrable knowledge of the green industrialization, circular economy, and MSMES development. Excellent analytical skills, conducting research and applying different research methods (Both Quantitative and Qualitative). Strong, proven functional skills in analytical writing, and producing reports and, research and assessments. High level of communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi- cultural environment. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy assignment, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.