Circular economy portfolio - Aligning Circularity with MNRE Waste Priorities & Rebuilding the …

Innovation methods

Data sources

SDG(s)

Sustainable Development Goal(s)

12Responsible consumption and production

13Climate action

17Partnerships for the goals

Disclaimer:

Please be aware that the content herein has not been peer reviewed. It consists of personal reflections, insights, and learnings of the contributor(s). It may not be exhaustive, nor does it aim to be authoritative knowledge.

Title

Please provide a name for your action learning plan.

Aligning Circularity with MNRE Waste Priorities & Rebuilding the Partnership

Challenge statement

Challenge type: If you are working on multiple challenges, please indicate if this is your "big bet" or "exploratory" challenge. Please note: we ask you to only submit a maximum of 3 challenges - 1x Big Bet, 2x Exploratory. Each challenge must be submitted individually.

EXPLORATORY

Challenge statement: What is your challenge? (Please answer in specific terms: "Our challenge is that...”.)

How might the UNDP ECC team reposition itself as a strategic partner to MNRE in advancing Samoa’s circular economy agenda, by leveraging foresight insights, strengthening stakeholder trust, and aligning waste management interventions with national priorities?

Background: What is the history of your challenge? What is causing or driving it? Who is involved? How does the current situation look like? What undesired effects does it produce?

Core issues identified through the sensemaking process includes: The need to rebuild trust and engagement with MNRE The importance of aligning circular economy efforts with MNRE’s waste management priorities The role of foresight and horizon scanning in future-proofing ECC’s strategy

Quantitative evidence: What (official) data sources do you have on this challenge that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge? You can add text, a link, or a picture.

Qualitative evidence: What weak signals have you recently spotted that characterizes its urgency? Please provide qualitative information that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge. You can add text, a link, or a picture.

Value proposition: What added value or unique value proposition is your Accelerator Lab bringing to solving this challenge? Why is it your Lab that needs to work on this challenge and not other actors within UNDP, other stakeholders in the country respectively? Why is it worth investing resources to this challenge?

UNDP ECC serves as a strategic innovation partner, equipping MNRE with foresight tools, evidence-based solutions, and collaborative frameworks to accelerate the transition toward a circular economy. By leveraging global expertise, systems thinking, and localized approaches, we strengthen Samoa’s waste management priorities, foster sustainable partnerships, and co-develop actionable, bankable solutions that drive long-term environmental and economic resilience

Short “tweet” summary: We would like to tweet what you are working on, can you summarize your challenge in a maximum of 280 characters?

UNDP ECC is strengthening Samoa’s circular economy by aligning with MNRE’s waste priorities, leveraging foresight, and fostering strategic partnerships. Together, we drive sustainable waste solutions, build capacity, and create a resilient future

Challenge classification

Partners

Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.

Please state the name of the partner:

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

What sector does our partner belong to?

Government (&related)

Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.

The collaboration between UNDP ECC and MNRE is focused on advancing Samoa’s circular economy by aligning waste management priorities with innovative, foresight-driven solutions. Through a strategic partnership, UNDP ECC supports MNRE in strengthening policy frameworks, enhancing waste reduction efforts, and building capacity for sustainable resource management. By fostering trust, co-developing actionable strategies, and mobilizing resources, this partnership ensures that circular economy principles become a core pillar of Samoa’s waste management system. The ultimate goal is for MNRE to fully take up the portfolio, with UNDP as its preferred partner in delivering scalable, long-term solutions that drive environmental and economic resilience.

Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?

Learning questions

Learning question: What is your learning question for this challenge? What do you need to know or understand to work on your challenge statement?

1. How does the circular economy portfolio directly support Samoa’s waste management goals, and where can UNDP add the most value? 2. What concrete actions can UNDP take to re-establish a collaborative and open relationship with MNRE? 3. How can UNDP and MNRE co-design a long-term, institutionalized approach to circular economy initiatives that ensures continuity despite leadership or policy changes? 4. What unique expertise, resources, and tools does UNDP offer that differentiate it from other partners?

To what stage(s) in the learning cycle does your learning question relate?

Sense, Explore, Test

Usage of methods: Relating to your choice above, how will you use your methods & tools for this learning question? What value do these add in answering your learning question?

To rebuild trust and position UNDP as MNRE’s preferred partner for circular economy initiatives, a multi-method approach will be used. Sensemaking will help both teams interpret past experiences and realign their perspectives, while horizon scanning will identify future waste management trends to ensure strategic foresight. Foresight methodologies will enable long-term planning, ensuring circular economy integration aligns with national waste priorities. Systems thinking will map interdependencies, helping MNRE see how circularity fits within broader waste management strategies. Finally, design sprints will facilitate rapid testing of solutions, demonstrating UNDP’s value through actionable results. Together, these approaches will drive a more collaborative, future-ready partnership between MNRE and UNDP.

Existing data gaps: Relating to your choice above, what existing gaps in data or information do these new sources of data addressing? What value do these add in answering your learning question?

Government's overall position on circularity

Closing

Early leads to grow: Think about the possible grow phase for this challenge - who might benefit from your work on this challenge or who might be the champions in your country that you should inform or collaborate with early on to help you grow this challenge?

Waste management division in MNRE, private actors in the waste sector

END OF ACTION LEARNING PLAN: Thank you! The form saves automatically and your submission has been recorded. You may now exit this window.