Speaker
Description
The high poverty rate (40.1% in the Western Cape and 44.1% in Gauteng) and unemployment (45% in 2020) in South Africa prompted the government to implement the Circular Economy (CE) model. The goal is to reduce waste and absorb labor by establishing a waste management system and providing recycling training, supported by cooperation with the European Union (EU). This study aims to analyze the leading causes of the failure of circular economy cooperation between the EU and South Africa in improving the community’s economy during the period 2021-2023. This study uses a qualitative, descriptive method. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation, with key informants from the South African Embassy in Indonesia and NGOs in Africa. Data analysis techniques include data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion, as well as triangulation to verify data validity. Based on the data, the EU-South Africa circular economy cooperation is reported to be only 40% successful. This failure is caused by three main interrelated factors: (1) Low Education Levels; Only 15.9% of university graduates will graduate by 2022, impacting human resources (HR) in managing a green economy. (2) Low Environmental Awareness and Culture; South Africans are less concerned about CE, coupled with a lack of waste bins throughout the city, leading to indiscriminate waste disposal. (3) Problems with Aid Implementation; there is criticism that EU aid is only enjoyed by the government and implementers (CSIR), and that the training provided is merely normative without any impact, which is exacerbated by corruption. EU-South Africa circular economy cooperation has failed to improve the community’s economy due to low levels of community participation influenced by socio-cultural factors (education and environmental awareness) and governance issues (corruption and unequal aid distribution).
| BIPA | BIPA and others |
|---|---|
| ASEAN | Politic |
| Online / Onsite | online |
