Introduction

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), invites eligible organizations to submit proposals for grant support to implement the ICT Circular Economy and E-Waste Ecosystems Project.
The Project builds on lessons from the ICT E-Waste Collection Project, which demonstrated that sustainable ICT e-waste management requires more than the collection of obsolete or non-functional equipment. It should also promote repair, refurbishment, reuse, safe handling, material recovery, traceability and environmentally sound management of equipment that cannot be returned to productive use.
The twelve-month Intervention will strengthen the formal and informal actors who extend the useful life of ICT equipment, recover residual value and support livelihoods within the wider circular economy. It will also support better lifecycle management of ICT equipment deployed through UCUSAF programmes and strengthen linkages between repair, refurbishment, collection and approved downstream treatment systems.

2. Project Objectives

1. Map and profile ICT repairers, refurbishers, collectors, waste entrepreneurs, second-hand device dealers, aggregation points and material flows.
2. Assess the maintenance, repair, refurbishment, reuse and end-of-life management needs of ICT equipment supplied to UCUSAF-supported schools and beneficiary institutions.
3. Establish or strengthen model ICT circular economy and e-waste ecosystems in the Central, Eastern, Northern and Western regions.
4. Build practical skills and livelihood opportunities for youth and informal actors in ICT diagnostics, repair, refurbishment, sorting, record-keeping, data protection, safe handling and basic enterprise development.
5. Improve health, safety and environmental practices in the handling, storage, sorting and referral of ICT equipment and e-waste.
6. Strengthen digital registration, traceability and reporting of repair, refurbishment, reuse, collection and downstream handover.
7. Improve public access to trusted information on repair, refurbishment, donation, collection, data security and responsible disposal.
8. Link informal actors and feeder networks to approved collection, aggregation and downstream treatment systems, while complementing Phase II of the ICT E-Waste Collection Project.

3. Eligibility of Applicants

Eligible applicants may apply as a single organization or as a consortium. Where a consortium is proposed, a lead applicant shall be clearly identified and shall assume overall responsibility and accountability under the Grant Agreement.

• Be legally established entities in Uganda and capable of entering into a Grant Agreement with UCC.
• Demonstrate satisfactory financial health and adequate governance, financial management, administrative, procurement, monitoring and reporting systems.
• Demonstrate relevant and verifiable experience in ICT e-waste management or related areas, including environmental management, circular economy, ICT repair and refurbishment, youth skilling, digital systems or community engagement.
• Demonstrate experience in stakeholder mobilization, capacity building, occupational health and safety, environmental safeguards, project management, monitoring and reporting.
• Demonstrate experience in ICT device diagnostics, repair, refurbishment, recycling, material recovery or management of end-of-life ICT equipment, directly or through clearly identified partners.
• Demonstrate experience developing or operating digital databases, dashboards, mobile applications, traceability systems, chatbots or public information platforms.
• Provide at least two reference letters, completion certificates or other documentary evidence for comparable assignments.
• For a consortium, clearly state the competencies, roles, responsibilities and accountability arrangements of the respective partners.

Applications shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements set out in the Detailed Call for Proposals.
For inquiries, contact:
Tel: +256 412 339000 / +256 312 339000, Email: environmentmanagement@ucc.co.ug