UPSTREAM CIRCULAR ECONOMY SKILLS FOR TVET: A FRAMEWORK FOR KENYA

Kenya's circular economy policy has focused predominantly on downstream interventions (waste 
collection, recycling, and disposal) capturing only a fraction of material value while excluding 
informal workers from formal economic opportunities. This working paper proposes a framework 
for upstream circular economy (UCE) skills development within Kenya's Technical and 
Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, organized under the three tracks of the Green 
Jobs for Youth Pact (ILO, UNEP, UNICEF). The ten proposed activities include: a digital platform 
for job matching (Fundi Kenya), high-value professional certificates in e-waste and green building, 
UCE train-the-trainer modules, stackable CE competency badges, Recognition of Prior Learning 
(RPL) as a continuous learning pathway, tool libraries with digital tracking, boda boda-style 
mutual aid networks for peer learning and emergency response, public awareness campaigns 
targeting both clients and fundi (Artisans), and graduate tracking linked to SDTVET's data 
repository for research and policy analysis. The framework prioritizes gender inclusion (40-50% 
women targets) and informal sector formalization through RPL and mutual aid networks. This 
paper is intended for policymakers, donors, TVET institutions, and development partners seeking 
actionable models for circular economy skills development in Africa.