In 2020, the Secretariat of the ACEA was set up after the African Development Bank agreed to serve as its host. With funding from the World Economic Forum and the Danish Development Agency, Dalberg, an international development consulting firm, was contracted to lead the activities of the ACEA secretariat and support defining the strategy and work programme of the Alliance within the first year. One of the first responsibilities of the ACEA secretariat was to conduct market research to identify thecircul ar economy baseline and market gaps/opportunities on the African continent. The research objective was to inform the development of robust interventions and programs that will guide the ACEA’s work in its member countries. As a fallout of the research, five opportunity areas were identified to transition Africa to a circular economy development model that enables economic growth, job creation, and environmental conservation. These areas include food systems, packaging, built environment, fashion, and electronics; all referred to as the “5 Big Bets”. Based on the research findings and in line with the Alliance’s mission, a strategy was drawn out for the Secretariat's activities to achieve short-term and long-term goals.