The traditional "take-make-dispose" economic model has created a significant global challenge, and measuring the impact of projects designed to counteract it requires a fundamental shift in M&E thinking. This training course is designed to empower M&E and sustainability professionals with the specialized skills needed to monitor and evaluate circular economy projects. By moving beyond linear metrics, participants will learn how to track a project's contribution to resource efficiency, waste prevention, and the creation of closed-loop systems, thereby providing a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of a project's true environmental and economic impact.

This comprehensive program provides a practical, hands-on roadmap for designing and implementing M&E frameworks that are uniquely suited to the circular economy. Participants will gain skills in selecting and measuring circularity indicators, conducting life-cycle assessments (LCA), and using innovative tools to track material flows. The course is a strategic investment for organizations seeking to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, ensuring their projects not only deliver on their promises but also contribute to a more resilient, regenerative, and resource-efficient future.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• M&E Specialists
• Sustainability Managers
• Program and Project Managers
• Environmental Scientists
• Supply Chain Professionals
• Researchers
• Public Policy Analysts
• Social Entrepreneurs
• Consultants
• Waste Management Specialists

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of the circular economy and its relationship to M&E.
• Master the process of designing a monitoring framework for circular economy projects.
• Learn how to select and measure key circularity indicators.
• Develop a data collection and analysis plan for material flows and resource use.
• Integrate life-cycle assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA) into an M&E system.
• Build a more participatory and inclusive approach to monitoring.
• Communicate circularity findings to different audiences.
• Ensure ethical considerations in collecting data on sensitive topics.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptive management.
• Apply circular economy frameworks to a wide range of contexts.

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to the Circular Economy

• The shift from a linear to a circular model
• Defining the core principles: eliminate, circulate, regenerate
• The relationship between the circular economy and the SDGs
• An overview of major global frameworks (e.g., Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
• Key challenges in measuring a closed-loop system

Module 2: Foundational Concepts of an M&E Framework

• The difference between monitoring and evaluation in this context
• Defining a circular economy monitoring framework and its purpose
• The role of a program's theory of change in a framework
• The importance of a clear and focused scope
• An overview of the M&E cycle for circular projects

Module 3: Selecting and Defining Indicators

• The challenge of measuring resource efficiency
• The importance of qualitative and quantitative indicators
• Selecting indicators that measure capacity, not just outcomes
• The role of proxy indicators in data-scarce environments
• Developing a clear and consistent indicator library

Module 4: Data Collection for Circularity

• The importance of a mixed-methods approach
• Using surveys and questionnaires for quantitative data
• The role of interviews and focus group discussions for qualitative data
• Leveraging technology for real-time data collection
• Best practices for ensuring data quality and reliability

Module 5: Material Flow Analysis (MFA)

• The purpose and methodology of an MFA
• Mapping the flow of materials in a system
• Identifying "hotspots" of waste and inefficiency
• The role of MFA in identifying opportunities for circularity
• Practical labs on conducting an MFA

Module 6: Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)

• The purpose and methodology of an LCA
• Assessing the environmental impacts of a product
• The role of LCA in a program's design phase
• The difference between a simple and a comprehensive LCA
• Practical labs on conducting a basic LCA

Module 7: Data Analysis and Interpretation

• The importance of a clear data analysis plan
• Using statistical analysis for quantitative data
• The role of qualitative data analysis methods (e.g., thematic analysis)
• Interpreting findings from a circularity perspective
• The importance of data triangulation

Module 8: The Role of Geospatial Technology

• The use of GIS for mapping and visualization
• The role of satellite imagery in tracking waste sites
• Using drones for rapid post-project assessments
• Integrating geospatial data with other M&E data sources
• Practical labs on using GIS for circular economy projects

Module 9: Mainstreaming Circular M&E

• How to integrate circular M&E into existing systems
• The importance of a phased implementation strategy
• The role of circular M&E in the project cycle
• Building a culture of adaptive management
• Case studies on mainstreaming circularity

Module 10: CBM and Circular M&E

• The potential of community-based monitoring
• Training community members as monitors of waste streams
• The importance of a participatory approach
• The role of a feedback mechanism for continuous learning
• The long-term benefits of a community-led system

Module 11: M&E for Circular Business Models

• The challenges of monitoring business model innovation
• Measuring the effectiveness of a "product-as-a-service" model
• The role of a monitoring framework for sharing platforms
• The importance of tracking financial and social performance
• Case studies on M&E for circular business models

Module 12: Ethical Considerations in Circular M&E

• The responsibility to protect sensitive data and privacy
• Ensuring informed consent from participants
• The importance of data ownership and security
• The role of a community-led ethical review process
• The importance of giving back to the community

Module 13: Communicating Circularity Findings

• The importance of a clear and compelling narrative
• Using dashboards and visualizations to communicate insights
• The role of a "circularity scorecard"
• Communicating with different audiences (e.g., donors, community members, policymakers)
• The importance of using data for advocacy

Module 14: Practical Application and Simulation

• A hands-on simulation of a real-world circular project
• Participants work in teams to design a monitoring framework
• Troubleshooting common challenges in data collection
• Analyzing and interpreting a set of circularity data
• Peer review and feedback sessions on framework design

Module 15: The Future of Circular M&E

• The role of AI and machine learning in automated analysis
• The potential of blockchain for data integrity
• The use of new data sources (e.g., IoT sensors, digital product passports)
• The rise of complexity-aware M&E
• The long-term implications for the sector

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.