Deadline: 04-Sep-26
The UCC/UCUSAF Grant for ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Ecosystems supports a 12-month intervention to strengthen Uganda’s information and communication technology (ICT) e-waste value chain. The programme seeks to create structured, safe, traceable, and sustainable circular economy systems by connecting informal ICT repair and e-waste actors with formal collection and treatment networks.
What Is the UCC/UCUSAF ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Grant?
The grant is designed to address growing challenges associated with the management of discarded ICT equipment in Uganda.
The initiative focuses on developing a more organized and responsible ICT e-waste management ecosystem. It seeks to improve how electronic devices are repaired, refurbished, collected, reused, recycled, and ultimately treated at the end of their useful life.
A major component is the integration of informal-sector participants into formal systems.
These participants may include:
- ICT repairers.
- Refurbishers.
- E-waste collectors.
- Waste entrepreneurs.
- Second-hand device dealers.
- Youth involved in ICT repair and recycling activities.
By strengthening connections between informal actors and formal collection and treatment systems, the project aims to improve environmental protection, occupational safety, livelihoods, and traceability.
What Are the Main Objectives?
The project has several interconnected objectives designed to strengthen Uganda’s ICT circular economy.
Map and Profile ICT E-Waste Actors
The implementing partner will help identify and profile key participants in Uganda’s ICT repair, refurbishment, collection, reuse, and e-waste ecosystem.
This mapping can provide information about:
- Where ICT repairers and collectors operate.
- Types of services they provide.
- Existing collection and treatment practices.
- Informal-sector capacity.
- Skills and training requirements.
- Opportunities for formal integration.
Assess ICT Equipment Lifecycle Management
The project will assess how ICT equipment supported through UCUSAF programmes in schools is managed throughout its lifecycle.
This includes examining how equipment is:
- Acquired.
- Used.
- Maintained.
- Repaired.
- Refurbished.
- Reused.
- Collected at end of life.
- Handled as e-waste.
The assessment can help identify gaps and opportunities for more sustainable ICT asset management.
Establish Model Circular Economy Ecosystems
The initiative aims to establish or strengthen model ecosystems demonstrating how ICT equipment can remain within productive use for longer periods.
Circular economy approaches may include:
- Repair.
- Maintenance.
- Refurbishment.
- Reuse.
- Responsible collection.
- Recovery of valuable materials.
- Safe treatment of end-of-life equipment.
Build Youth Skills and Livelihoods
The programme also focuses on practical skills development and livelihood opportunities.
Young people and informal-sector participants may benefit from improved capabilities in areas such as:
- ICT repair.
- Device refurbishment.
- Safe e-waste handling.
- Collection and sorting.
- Digital recordkeeping.
- Circular economy practices.
- Occupational health and safety.
Why Does ICT E-Waste Management Matter?
Improper handling of electronic waste can create environmental and occupational health risks while also causing potentially valuable materials to be lost from the productive economy.
A structured circular economy approach can help Uganda:
- Reduce unsafe e-waste handling.
- Improve environmental management.
- Extend the useful life of ICT equipment.
- Support repair and refurbishment businesses.
- Create youth livelihood opportunities.
- Improve occupational health and safety.
- Strengthen formal recycling and treatment systems.
- Improve traceability of ICT equipment.
- Increase responsible public participation in e-waste management.
The programme therefore connects environmental sustainability, digital technology, skills development, livelihoods, and circular economy development.
Who Is Eligible?
The grant is open to legally registered entities in Uganda.
Applicants may apply:
- As a single organization.
- As part of a consortium led by a Ugandan entity.
Applicants must demonstrate the organizational capacity required to manage and deliver a 12-month intervention.
Key eligibility areas include:
- Legal registration in Uganda.
- Financial health.
- Strong governance systems.
- Effective management structures.
- Relevant technical experience.
- Ability to monitor and report project activities.
- Capacity to maintain verifiable project records.
What Experience Must Applicants Demonstrate?
Applicants should have relevant experience in several areas connected to ICT circular economy and e-waste management.
Relevant experience may include:
- E-waste management.
- Environmental management.
- ICT repair.
- ICT refurbishment.
- Youth skills development.
- Digital systems.
- Community engagement.
- Stakeholder mobilization.
- Capacity building.
- Occupational health and safety.
- Digital platform development.
Applicants must also provide at least two reference letters or completion certificates demonstrating experience in comparable assignments.
What Activities Can the Grant Support?
The supported intervention is expected to contribute to the development of a structured ICT e-waste ecosystem.
Potential activities include:
- Mapping ICT repair and e-waste actors.
- Profiling informal-sector participants.
- Assessing ICT equipment lifecycle practices.
- Developing model circular economy ecosystems.
- Training youth and informal workers.
- Strengthening occupational health and safety practices.
- Improving e-waste collection systems.
- Connecting informal actors with formal treatment networks.
- Developing digital traceability systems.
- Improving e-waste data reporting.
- Providing trusted public information.
- Supporting stakeholder coordination.
- Monitoring and documenting project outcomes.
The precise activities and geographical coverage will be finalized during the inception phase and must be approved by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
How Does the 12-Month Intervention Work?
The project has a planned implementation period of 12 months.
The specific implementation design and geographic distribution will be determined during the inception phase.
The implementing partner will be expected to:
- Begin with an inception and planning phase.
- Finalize activities and geographical coverage with UCC approval.
- Map and assess relevant ICT e-waste actors and systems.
- Implement approved capacity-building and ecosystem activities.
- Strengthen links between informal and formal e-waste actors.
- Develop or improve traceability and reporting mechanisms.
- Monitor project implementation and outcomes.
- Maintain verifiable records.
- Submit required reports to the relevant authorities.
How to Prepare an Application
Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility
Verify that the organization is legally registered in Uganda and has the required governance, financial, and management capacity.
Step 2: Review Relevant Experience
Document previous assignments involving:
- E-waste.
- ICT repair or refurbishment.
- Environmental management.
- Youth skilling.
- Digital systems.
- Community engagement.
- Occupational health and safety.
Step 3: Prepare Evidence of Past Performance
Applicants must provide at least two reference letters or completion certificates for comparable assignments.
These should clearly demonstrate the organization’s relevant technical and implementation experience.
Step 4: Develop the Intervention Approach
Explain how the proposed intervention will strengthen Uganda’s ICT e-waste value chain.
The approach should address:
- Informal-sector integration.
- Safe e-waste management.
- Circular economy practices.
- Youth skills and livelihoods.
- Digital traceability.
- Data reporting.
- Environmental protection.
- Community engagement.
Step 5: Establish Monitoring and Reporting Systems
Explain how project activities, outputs, outcomes, participants, and other results will be documented and verified.
The implementing partner must maintain reliable records throughout the 12-month intervention.
Step 6: Apply as an Individual Entity or Consortium
Organizations may apply individually or participate in a consortium.
Where a consortium is used, the consortium must be led by a Ugandan entity.
How to Strengthen Your Proposal
A competitive proposal should demonstrate a clear understanding of Uganda’s ICT e-waste ecosystem rather than focusing only on waste collection.
Applicants should clearly explain:
- How informal actors will be identified and integrated.
- How workers will be trained in safe practices.
- How youth will gain practical livelihood opportunities.
- How ICT equipment can remain in use through repair and refurbishment.
- How end-of-life equipment will enter responsible treatment systems.
- How digital traceability will work.
- How data will be collected and reported.
- How communities will receive reliable information.
- How results will be measured during the 12-month period.
- How the proposed intervention can contribute to a sustainable circular economy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Failing to demonstrate legal registration in Uganda.
- Providing insufficient evidence of relevant experience.
- Omitting the required two reference letters or completion certificates.
- Treating the project solely as an e-waste collection exercise.
- Ignoring informal-sector participants.
- Failing to address occupational health and safety.
- Providing weak monitoring and reporting arrangements.
- Proposing activities without clear measurable outcomes.
- Failing to explain digital traceability and data management.
- Submitting a consortium structure that does not have a Ugandan lead entity.
Key Details at a Glance
- Grant: UCC/UCUSAF Grant for ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Ecosystems
- Country: Uganda
- Implementation period: 12 months
- Focus: ICT e-waste management and circular economy
- Eligible applicants: Legally registered entities in Uganda
- Consortium applications: Permitted with a Ugandan lead entity
- Key beneficiaries: ICT repairers, refurbishers, collectors, waste entrepreneurs, second-hand device dealers, youth, communities and other ecosystem participants
- Key themes: E-waste management, ICT repair, refurbishment, circular economy, youth skills, environmental management, occupational safety and digital traceability
- Required experience: Relevant technical and implementation experience
- References required: At least two reference letters or completion certificates
- Approving authority: Uganda Communications Commission
- Geographic coverage: To be finalized during the inception phase
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UCC/UCUSAF Grant for ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Ecosystems?
It is a grant opportunity supporting a 12-month intervention to develop structured, safe, traceable, and sustainable ICT e-waste and circular economy ecosystems in Uganda.
Who can apply for the grant?
Legally registered entities in Uganda can apply. Organizations may apply individually or as part of a consortium led by a Ugandan entity.
What sectors or areas of expertise are relevant?
Relevant expertise includes e-waste management, environmental management, ICT repair and refurbishment, youth skilling, digital systems, community engagement, stakeholder mobilization, occupational health and safety, and digital platform development.
Are informal ICT repairers and collectors part of the project?
Yes. A major objective is to map, profile, strengthen, and connect informal ICT repairers, refurbishers, collectors, waste entrepreneurs, and second-hand device dealers with formal collection and treatment networks.
How long will the supported project run?
The intervention will run for 12 months. Specific activities and geographical coverage will be finalized during the inception phase and approved by the Uganda Communications Commission.
What evidence of previous experience is required?
Applicants must provide at least two reference letters or completion certificates demonstrating experience in comparable assignments.
What is the role of digital technology in the project?
Digital systems are expected to support improved traceability, data reporting, information management, and accountability across the ICT e-waste ecosystem.
Conclusion
The UCC/UCUSAF ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Ecosystems Grant provides an opportunity to strengthen Uganda’s approach to electronic waste management while creating environmental, economic, and social benefits. Successful implementation will depend on integrating informal-sector actors into safer formal systems, extending the useful life of ICT equipment through repair and refurbishment, developing youth skills, improving digital traceability, and establishing sustainable pathways for responsible end-of-life treatment.
For more information, visit UCC.
