The National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TakaTaka Ni Mali to strengthen cooperation in sustainable waste management and resource recovery in Kenya.
The partnership will bring together the two organisations to develop circular economy projects that turn waste into valuable resources while addressing emerging environmental challenges.
NETFUND said the agreement will focus on mobilising resources, providing technical support and developing bankable projects capable of attracting funding from public, private and development partners.
“Through this partnership, NETFUND and TakaTaka Ni Mali will work together to mobilize resources, provide technical assistance, and develop bankable circular economy projects capable of attracting public, private, and development financing,” NETFUND said.
The two organisations will also use their respective expertise and networks to identify investment opportunities and support projects from development through to implementation.
“The collaboration will leverage the strengths, expertise, and networks of both institutions to identify investment opportunities, support project development, and drive innovative solutions to emerging waste management challenges,” NETFUND added.
The agreement comes as Kenya seeks to improve the management of solid waste and increase the economic value obtained from materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Under a circular economy model, materials are kept in use for longer through recovery, reuse and recycling. The approach differs from a traditional linear model in which resources are extracted, used and eventually disposed of as waste.
NETFUND said the partnership reflects its wider commitment to sustainable environmental management and supporting Kenya's transition towards a circular economy.
“The partnership reaffirms NETFUND's commitment to promoting sustainable environmental management and supporting Kenya's transition from a linear waste management model to a circular economy where resources are recovered, reused, recycled, and reintegrated into productive value chains,” it said.
The organisations expect the collaboration to create opportunities for investors and businesses working in waste recovery, recycling and other areas of the green economy.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen cooperation among government institutions, private companies, development partners and other stakeholders involved in environmental management.
NETFUND highlighted that the agreement would help unlock financing for projects that can provide practical solutions to waste management challenges while generating wider economic benefits.
“This milestone collaboration is expected to enhance stakeholder engagement, unlock green investment opportunities, create jobs, foster innovation, and contribute to the country's sustainable economic growth,” it said.
The agreement places particular emphasis on developing bankable projects, an approach intended to move circular economy initiatives beyond concepts and towards projects capable of attracting investment.
For NETFUND and TakaTaka Ni Mali, identifying viable investment opportunities and supporting project development will be central to achieving the objectives of the partnership.
The organisations said collaboration between public and private-sector players could help Kenya develop more resource-efficient approaches to managing waste while creating new economic opportunities.
The partnership also comes amid growing attention to waste as a source of materials that can be recovered and returned to productive use.
NETFUND maintained that the collaboration would contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable economy by encouraging the recovery and reintegration of resources into value chains.
“Together, we are advancing a cleaner, greener, and more resource-efficient Kenya.”