SESRIC organised a Webinar on “Circular Economy for Sustainable Impact Entrepreneurship” on 28 August 2024 through an online video conferencing platform, as part of the Public Employment Services Capacity Building Programme (PES-CaB) and in line with the OIC Public Employment Services Network (OIC-PESNET) Work Plan 2024-2026. The webinar was attended by 39 officials from national Public Employment Services (PES) authorities and related institutions in 8 OIC French-speaking member countries.

The primary objective of the online event was to share best practices and case studies that provide practical insights and strategies for entrepreneurs aiming to adopt circular economy practices in their businesses. The webinar also aimed to raise awareness about the significance of circular entrepreneurship and the integration of circular business models.

Furthermore, this discussions explored the role of circular economy principles in fostering sustainable and impactful entrepreneurship. Participants learnt about innovative business models that prioritise resource efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental sustainability. The webinar covered key concepts of the circular economy, including recycling, reuse, and sustainable product design, illustrating how these concepts can be applied to entrepreneurial ventures to create positive social and environmental impacts. 

The event featured presentations by representatives from national PES authorities, including the National Employment Agency of Burkina Faso, the National Employment Fund of the Republic of Cameroon, the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC) of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Relations with Institutions of the Republic of Senegal, and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. Additionally, the webinar included a presentation by a competent expert from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), followed by fruitful discussions on the implementation of circular economy principles in African OIC countries. 

The webinar included the following topics:

• Promoting Entrepreneurship in the Circular Economy
• Case study of Circular Economy Practices in Burkina Faso
• An Analysis of Cameroon's Circular Economy Initiatives
• Circular Economy Practices in Côte d’Ivoire
• Catalyst for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Transition to a Circular Economy in Morocco
• The Circular Economy at the Service of Sustainable Impact Entrepreneurship in Senegal

The presentations and the concept note for the webinar are available at this link.

For more details about the OIC-PESNET and its activities, please visit: https://www.sesric.org/network-pesnet.php