Moving toward a just and inclusive circular economy in Rwanda: policies, challenges, and opportunities

The transition to a Circular Economy (CE) in Rwanda represents a critical pathway for achieving sustainable development. This paper critically examines Rwanda’s CE policies and their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), socioeconomic impacts and just transition challenges. In doing so, it integrates circular, just transitions and 10-R frameworks while drawing on interviews with key stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)/private-sector actors, informal waste workers, civil society representatives and residents/community members. The findings show that while Rwanda has demonstrated strong political will in advancing circular economy principles, gaps in policy coherence, stakeholder integration and financing mechanisms remain significant barriers to achieving an inclusive transition. Through an analysis of key policy frameworks and stakeholder interviews, the study highlights the risks of exacerbating social inequalities, particularly for informal waste sector workers, if just transition principles are not embedded in CE strategies. It argues that Rwanda’s CE transition must prioritise social inclusion, capacity-building for local enterprises and innovative financing mechanisms to support small-scale circular initiatives. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and participatory governance to ensure that CE policies deliver both environmental sustainability and socioeconomic justice. These insights contribute to broader discussions on how emerging economies can operationalise just and inclusive CE transitions while addressing structural barriers to sustainability.