The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Orange are developing a secondary market of mobile devices and networks/IT equipment in Egypt.
This pilot is part of the global Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains project (SWITCH2CE), co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland.
This project will focus on several key objectives to realize the circular potential of Egypt’s ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and electronics value chain.
Supporting the adoption of circular economy practices and policies:
- The initiative aims to accelerate the development of circular economy practices and policies in Egypt by engaging citizens and advocating for behavioral change towards recycling and circularity.
- Developing a local infrastructure: network equipment and mobile devices refurbishment centers will be established to serve the local market, with ambitions to become an Africa & Middle East hub.
- Capacity Development: Local technicians will be recruited and trained, vocational certifying training programs will be introduced, and new practices that promote circular transitions in the electronics sector will be implemented.
- The pilot aims to open new potential for reuse of products, extend their longevity and reduce the generated e-waste. Refurbished and recertified network equipment and devices will re-enter the local market, the residual e-waste will be collected and recycled by pilot’s partners.