Bezawit
Eshetu

Building partnerships, strategies and practical programmes that accelerate circular-economy action across Africa.

Bezawit Eshetu is a circular-economy specialist and advocate for creating synergies and partnerships that maximise impact. She has more than 15 years of experience across environmental management, sustainable development, climate-change mitigation and adaptation, green growth, circular-economy solutions, policy dialogue, programme design and implementation.

Through her work with bilateral and multilateral partners, including United Nations agencies, government entities and the private sector, she has developed a broad understanding of how to create inclusive, fair and sustainable solutions.

In her role with the ACEN Foundation, Bezawit contributes to the African Union Commission’s continental circular-economy action plan, the Southern African Development Community’s regional circular-economy strategy and Ethiopia’s national circular-economy roadmap. She also serves on expert advisory panels and juries for international initiatives including the Earthshot Prize, African German Young Leaders and What Design Can Do.

Bezawit holds an MSc in Botany and Plant Biology and a BSc in Biology and Chemistry from Addis Ababa University. She is a DBA candidate at the Swiss School of Business and Management in Geneva, an Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy Pioneer, ACEN’s Ethiopia Country Focal Point and founder of Circular Alternatives.