National Consultant: STUDY ASSIGNMENT ON FOSTERING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN TEXTILE & CLOTHING SECTOR IN EGYPT

Result of Service

• Output 1 – Conduct a mapping of the legal framework supporting the transition to a circular economy in the textile and clothing sector in Egypt and present it to stakeholders by 15 October 2026
• Output 2 – Share an analysis of waste management mechanisms and investment schemes with a focus on the textile and clothing sector in Egypt. By 5 November 2026
• Output 3 - Develop a final report drawing recommendations towards an enabling regulatory framework for T&C circularity in Egypt in both English and Arabic languages, present the outcome of the study to industry partners and stakeholders, collect feedback and finalize the report accordingly– by 25 November 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) implemented the GTEX / MENATEX programme over a period of 5 years (November 2018 to December 2023) serving 4 countries in the Mena region (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia) and 2 countries in Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). It was co-financed by the Swiss Government under the Global Textile and Clothing Programme as well as by the Swedish and Spanish Governments under the Programme for the Middle East and North Africa.

Phase II of the GTEX/MENATEX programme helps the four MENA countries of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia as well as Sri Lanka to stay on top of emerging market requirements for the textiles and clothing (T&C) sector by moving towards greener practices and being able to adhere to strict forthcoming EU regulations for T&C products sold in the European Union. By being the key sector for exports and employment in all five countries, the project will ensure that employment is retained, and new higher value-added decent jobs are being created through the exports of quality, socially and environmentally sustainable products. The project will also contribute to the required systemic change of the T&C industry towards more environmental sustainability, circularity and digitalization.

In line with these requirements that are expected to have far reaching implications, last seen during the quota phase out in 2005, the overall expected impact of the programme is to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction through sustainable trade and decent job creation along the T&C value chain. Increased exports of quality products will lead to retention of employment in the T&C sector and creation of additional higher value-added jobs, including in supporting sectors such as environmental technology and recycling. The programme will also contribute to structural change beyond employment creation and poverty reduction. It contributes to the required systemic change of the T&C industry towards more environmental sustainability and inclusiveness. This includes adopting important climate actions as well as resource efficiency and circularity improvements at sector level.

The project in Egypt, GTEX/MENATEX Egypt, directly supports 26 SMEs and 3 champion companies in the textile and clothing industry as well as provides support to 5 fashion related entrepreneurs and 1 green solutions service provider. Through the support provided, participating enterprises increase their international competitiveness, diversify their export base and improve their compliance to sustainability and circularity requirements. This is achieved through training, coaching and mentoring in value-added areas.

The circular economy has the potential to significantly contribute to a sustainable economy by increasing resource efficiency, maintaining secondary raw materials in production loops, reducing the sector’s dependence on imports of raw materials (yarns and fabrics), creating jobs (e.g. collectors, sorters, recyclers), and maintaining value in the country by creating new export flows through the advent of a formal and structured circular economy.

In line with the overall programme outcome to make a more effective ecosystem able to direct the T&C sector towards systemic change addressing sustainability and circularity and with the view to strengthen a set of trade and/or industrial policies to support the green transition of the sector, it is intended to conduct a study to support the transition to a circular economy in the T&C sector in Egypt, while aligning with the national development agenda and international commitments.

The purpose of the study will be threefold:

First, the study aims to map out circular economy policies in place in Egypt with a focus on T&C sector thereby providing a policy and regulatory overview, to identify policy gaps (distinction between textile waste and secondary raw materials, waste mapping/segregation rules) and obstacles that may hinder the valorisation of post-industrial textile waste (e.g. offcuts, deadstock).

Second, the study will identify waste management mechanisms with a focus on the T&C sector related to circular economy, industrial waste, recycling, reuse and remanufacturing, as well as investment schemes in the industry in Egypt and beyond, including incentives and available industrial and financial support mechanisms for a transition to a circular economy. This includes mechanisms that help increasing fibre-to-fibre recycling and improving traceability of post-industrial textile waste flows.

Lastly, the study will inform national policy agendas by drawing action-oriented recommendations to strengthen an enabling regulatory framework for circularity in T&C in Egypt, identifying improvement areas (e.g. policy gaps, trade reforms) and room for project support through GTEX/MENATEX, building on regulatory and market requirements in Egypt’s target markets such as the EU, UK and US. The study will have to build on the results of the GTEX/MENATEX Egypt study conducted in 2025 on fibre-to-fibre recycling in Egypt covering regulatory overview, production capacity, mapping of companies/recyclers in this area in the framework of the collaboration with Sustainable Textiles Switzerland 2025 (STS2030).

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

The consultant will work under the guidance of the GTEX MENA Egypt Project Manager and under the direct supervision of the GTEX MENATEX Egypt National Project Coordinator. The Consultant will work through specific tasks as described:

Task 1 – Conduct a mapping of the legal framework supporting the transition to a circular economy in the textile and clothing sector in Egypt

• Map out and provide a regulatory overview of circular economy policies and legislation in Egypt with a focus on the textile and clothing sector. This shall include – but not limited to – conducting a deep-dive review of Egypt’s Waste Management Law No. 201/2020 and its Executive Regulations to assess their specific enforcement mechanisms and bottlenecks within the T&C industrial zones.
• Identify policy gaps which could if addressed accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Egypt with a focus on the textile and clothing sector. Policy gaps could relate to the lack of distinction between waste and secondary raw materials, waste mapping and/or segregation rules, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) enabling to organise the collection, sorting, reusing and recycling of textile items.
• Carry a comparative analysis that compares the latest regulatory developments on circular economy for the textile industry for other prominent apparel exporting countries and, if any, would be relevant to apply to Egypt’s textile and clothing sector, and;
• Analyse Egypt’s key target markets’ regulatory and market requirements towards a circular economy (EU/US/UK). This will increase the country’s export potential and sector growth by integrating circularity in the formal economy.
• Explore financial, and industrial obstacles that may hinder the valorisation of post-industrial textile waste (e.g. offcuts, deadstock, etc.).
• Explore and analyse the industrial and the socio-economic dimension of the transition to a circular economy alongside the environmental dimension, taking into consideration implications for industrial development, competitiveness, investment and value addition across the textile and Cuban value chain.
• Assess trade barriers and customs related to the import and export of textile waste and various secondary raw materials, specifically looking at the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) regulations.

Task 2: Scope out waste management mechanisms and investment schemes with a focus on the textile and clothing sector in Egypt

• Identify waste management mechanisms for post-industrial textile waste for recycling, reuse and rematurefacturing.
• Explore investments schemes in Egypt and beyond, including incentives, potential financial and institutional mechanisms including for a transition to a circular economy, increasing fibre-to-fibre recycling capacity in Egypt and traceability of textile waste flows.
• Identify existing green finance lines in Egypt (e.g., National Bank of Egypt, AlexBank, green loans) and international funding (EBRD, IFC) accessible to T&C SMEs for circular upgrades.

Task 3: Develop a final report with actionable policy recommendations towards an enabling regulatory framework for T&C circularity in Egypt

• Analyse national strategies and policy agendas to anchor the circular and sustainable economy in Egypt, whereby GTEX project support may be relevant.
• Building on the analysis, provide recommendations on improvement areas, including policy and/or trade reforms, to strengthen a set of trade and/or industrial policies to support the green transition of the sector in line with national priorities.
• Formulate a concrete action plan matching with identified policy gaps with specific project-led technical assistance and capacity building where relevant to be integrated within GTEX MENAATEX project plan. The proposed Action Matrix shall identify, where applicable, the relevant national stakeholders, indicative priorities and timeframe for the recommended actions.
• Design a public-private dialogue roadmap to facilitate structured policy advocacy among stakeholders to be presented and agreed upon during the study on presentation to stakeholders.

Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any licence fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC.

ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers the qualifications of all persons without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced degree (MA/MSc or other) in sustainable development, law, environmental science and management, business administration or other related field.
• Extensive relevant experience in the field may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
• At least 5 years of work experience in the textile and garment sector, relevant to legal or sustainable development.
• Good knowledge of regulatory and policy frameworks towards sustainability and circularity in the textile and clothing sector.
• Ability to be flexible and keep to tight deadlines.
• Computer literate in MS Office applications (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).
• Knowledge of issues related to the textile and clothing sector including sustainability and circularity.
• Knowledge of regulatory and policy frameworks towards sustainability and circularity in the T&C sector in Egypt and worldwide.
• Experience in drafting in-depth analytical reports.
• Experience in conducting and leading stakeholder engagement and policy review events.
• Good facilitation skills.
• Ability to think critically and communicate clearly in verbal and written forms.

Languages

Fluency in Arabic and English, oral and written.