Our philosophy from the start was to invest in a culture of belonging.
On October 25, 2024, ACEC Lead Facilitator project team joined the Roots of Circularity Nepal (ROC) consortium for a learning session; an opportunity to exchange experiences and gather insights for shaping the upcoming CSOs Alliance for circular economy in Nepal.
Impact Hub Yerevan presented the ACEC journey: beginning with stakeholder mapping and open invitations to multi-stakeholder meetings, where participants co-created a shared definition of circular economy and agreed on a governance structure. Today, ACEC is guided by a steering committee and three working groups (communications, policy, and technical assistance) and counts 15 elected ambassadors from academia, business, media, and civil society.
What we wanted from the beginning was an independent coalition that people feel proud to be part of.
For the ROC team, the Armenian experience was a valuable reference. Both contexts face similar challenges: sustaining engagement, clarifying structures, and balancing openness with accountability. ACEC’s story demonstrated the importance of co-creation, transparency, and investing in quality resources to keep members motivated.
The session also highlighted that strong alliances depend not only on frameworks but on trust and inclusivity.
Don’t be afraid to say ‘we don’t know’. Leaving space for members to step up is what builds ownership.