Overview
Circular Economy Specialist Jobs in Kenya at Atlas Africa Policy Research Insights (AAPRI)
Title: Circular Economy Specialist
Company: Atlas Africa Policy Research Insights (AAPRI)
Location: Kenya
1. BACKGROUND TO THE ASSIGNMENT
Atlas Africa is seeking to engage a highly competent Circular Economy Specialist to provide technical support to an assignment focused on the development and validation of a comprehensive, practical and gender-sensitive Circular Economy training curriculum for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in Kenya’s plastics, organic waste and textile waste value chains.
The curriculum is intended to strengthen MSMEs’ technical, business and management capacities to transition from linear to circular models, improve resource efficiency, comply with environmental and waste-management requirements, and identify viable market opportunities. The assignment emphasizes practical application, adult learning, stakeholder validation, and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).
2. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Circular Economy Specialist will provide specialist technical expertise on Circular Economy principles, green business models, waste management, resource efficiency and value-chain circularity. The Specialist will work closely with the Lead Consultant and other technical experts to ensure that the curriculum is technically accurate, practical, accessible and responsive to the operating realities of MSMEs in the plastics, organic waste and textile sectors.
3. CORE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
· Provide technical leadership on Circular Economy principles, circular business models, resource efficiency, waste prevention, reuse, recovery, recycling and sustainable production and consumption.
· Support the Training Needs Assessment by identifying current knowledge, skills, practices and competency gaps among MSMEs across the plastics, organic waste and textile value chains.
· Develop and review technical content on plastics circularity, including sustainable packaging redesign, phase-out of problematic plastics, source segregation, post-consumer waste tracking, reuse/refill models, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and EPR plans.
· Develop practical content for the organic waste value chain, including composting, biogas, Black Soldier Fly applications, food banking, compost-to-product models, value-added organic waste applications and eco-friendly fibres from agro-waste.
· Develop technical content for textile circularity, including reuse and recovery, repair, resale and refurbishment, textile upcycling, closed-loop sourcing and procurement, sustainable dyes, industrial offcuts, post-consumer textiles and eco-friendly packaging alternatives.
· Develop practical approaches and tools for waste reduction, water efficiency, energy efficiency and sustainable resource use within MSME operations.
· Integrate circular business-model innovation, human-centred design, customer-needs assessment, ideation, product development, prototyping, costing, testing, market validation and iterative improvement into the curriculum.
· Ensure curriculum content reflects Kenya’s relevant policy and regulatory environment, including the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, EPR Regulations 2024, NEMA licensing and environmental compliance, KEBS requirements and relevant green economy policies.
· Translate technical concepts into practical, problem-centred learning activities, demonstrations, case studies, guided exercises, peer-learning activities and tools suitable for adult MSME learners.
· Work with GESI expertise to integrate gender-responsive value chains, inclusive business practices, disability inclusion and practical approaches for addressing barriers faced by women, youth and other underserved MSMEs.
· Provide technical support during regional curriculum validation workshops and assess stakeholder feedback on technical relevance, practicality and contextual appropriateness.
· Review and incorporate technically relevant feedback from MSMEs, trainers, sector experts and other stakeholders into the refined curriculum.
· Contribute to trainer-ready materials, including facilitator guides, participant manuals, presentations, assessment tools, localized case studies, circular business-model tools, resource-efficiency tools, value-chain tools and regulatory compliance checklists.
· Provide technical support to Training of Trainers (ToT) activities and strengthen trainers’ ability to accurately communicate and demonstrate Circular Economy concepts and practices.
· Contribute to technical quality assurance, reporting, lessons learned and recommendations for effective curriculum rollout and sustainability.
4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
· Master’s degree in Circular Economy, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, Waste Management, Green Economy, Industrial Ecology, Business Administration, Enterprise Development or a closely related discipline. A Bachelor’s degree with substantial additional highly relevant professional experience may be considered.
· At least seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in Circular Economy, green growth, sustainability, environmental management, waste management, MSME development, enterprise development or related fields.
· Demonstrated technical understanding of Circular Economy principles and their practical application to MSMEs, including circular business models, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, resource recovery and resource efficiency.
· Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience relevant to the plastics, organic waste and/or textile value chains, with strong understanding of circularity opportunities and constraints affecting MSMEs.
· Strong knowledge of Kenya’s environmental and Circular Economy policy and regulatory environment, particularly the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, EPR Regulations 2024, NEMA requirements, KEBS standards and relevant green economy policies.
· Experience working with MSMEs, entrepreneurs, producer groups, green enterprises or enterprise-development programmes, with an understanding of technical, operational and market constraints affecting adoption of Circular Economy solutions.
· Proven experience contributing to competency-based curricula, technical training manuals, facilitator guides, toolkits or other practical capacity-building materials.
· Demonstrated experience facilitating participatory workshops, technical training, practical demonstrations and/or Training of Trainers, with the ability to translate complex concepts into accessible learning content.
· Understanding of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and ability to integrate gender-responsive and disability-inclusive considerations into Circular Economy programming and training.
· Experience conducting or supporting Training Needs Assessments, desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, value-chain assessments or similar applied research.
· Excellent analytical, technical writing, facilitation, presentation, stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills, with the ability to produce high-quality technical materials.
· Experience in Circular Economy, green growth, sustainability or waste management programmes in Kenya or East Africa will be a strong advantage.
· Strong command of written and spoken English and ability to facilitate or support training in Kiswahili. Experience working with participants with different literacy and technical competency levels is highly desirable.
5. APPLICATION PROCESS & RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Interested and qualified professionals are invited to submit their applications to Atlas Africa. The application package should include:
· A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant academic qualifications and professional experience.
· Three references from organizations you have done similar work for
· Copies of relevant academic and professional certificates.
· Evidence of at least 3 similar assignments completed within the last 5 years
Send Applications To
Email Subject Line
Application – Circular Economy Specialist
Application Deadline
8th September 2026 by 5:00 PM (East Africa Time)
Atlas Africa is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women, youth and persons with disabilities who meet the position requirements are encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
