SMEP News
Explore the latest SMEP news and stories here. Our news section showcases key events, achievements, and thought-provoking articles to keep our community and visitors abreast of SMEP happenings.
Testing industrial water treatment and reuse economics in emerging markets
SMEP at Stockholm World Water Week 2026 | Sunday 23 August, 11:00–12:30 CEST (09:00–10:30 GMT) | Room C4, Level 2, Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre | Session ID 12647 Industrial wastewater treatment and reuse is widely promoted as a triple win: cleaner water for downstream communities, stronger competitiveness for manufacturers, and
Beyond Recycling: How GIVO is building a more inclusive circular economy in West Africa
Community trust, inclusive design, and women’s leadership are turning recycling into a fairer green economy. In many West African cities, plastic waste is both an environmental crisis and a missed economic opportunity. Informal waste systems often mean unsafe working conditions, limited job security, and few meaningful opportunities for women and
SMEP grantees make their mark at the 3rd Africa Waste is Wealth Summit
The third edition of the Africa Waste is Wealth Summit (AWWS III), held in June 2026, brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders from across Africa – government agencies, private sector actors, UN bodies, financiers, researchers, and innovators – united by a common agenda: transforming waste from a problem into
The ninety-eight percent opportunity
Geopolitical shocks are exposing the fragility of global fertiliser supply chains. A surprising solution – and a major development opportunity – lies rotting in the fields. Worker at pineapple leaf decortication line at Mananasi Fibre, Nairobi, Kenya. Somewhere on the outskirts of Thika, Kenya, a pineapple leaf processing facility hums
Used Textiles in Practice: Trade, Impacts and Development Pathways
Event Details Date: 23 June 2026Time: 18:30-19:30 CESTVenue: Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), Switzerland International trade in used textiles plays an important role in supporting textile circularity by extending the life of garments, reducing pressure on disposal systems, and supplying affordable clothing to consumers in many developing countries. At the
From climate ambition to decent work: what just transition means in practice
Climate action is accelerating. Governments, businesses and investors are looking to circular economy models, cleaner production and green industries as part of the transition to a more sustainable future. But what kind of work is being created in this transition? At COP30, countries agreed to establish a Just Transition Mechanism. This has