About the programme

Lower tier suppliers in developing countries often face significant technical and financial challenges in adopting new circular economy practices. On the other hand, EU multinational companies (MNC) leading global value chains have influence over their products from the research and development, through the manufacturing and distribution, up to the usage and post-consumption cycle. Building on this leverage, the SWITCH Programme will use EU MNC - led pilot projects in selected value chains to demonstrate how their suppliers - MSMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) can be empowered to implement circular economy practices in developing countries. By encouraging collaboration platforms for multinationals and their lower tier suppliers, the project also enables sharing of experience and best practices.

Working in partnership, value chain actors can improve the circularity of their products. The support available through SWITCH is in the form of capacity development, technical expertise, circular ecosystem development and access to finance.

The overall objective is to support the “Transformation towards a circular economy”, including to :

  • Contribute to sustainable growth
  • Low carbon and climate resilient development
  • Decent jobs creation
  • Safer, healthier and pollution-free environment.
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The Programme will also develop and disseminate knowledge on circular economy opportunities and facilitate dialogue and networking in target value chains. Advocacy with and support to financial institutions will facilitate the development of financial products aimed at investments in circularity.

SWITCH contributes to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainable Industrialization), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).