Page 31 - U4SSC: A guide to circular cities, June 2020

Step 4: Assessing projected circularity impact

This step involves either interim or final assessment of the results of implementing circularity initiatives/
action items. Cities are strongly recommended to retrospectively and objectively conduct assessments
and compare the actual outcomes with the intended ones.

If the city had adopted circularity KPIs with target values and target implementation timeframes for
circularity initiatives/action items, it would be highly beneficial for the city to evaluate whether the
targets have been met.

Similarly, the city can evaluate various enablers based on their effectiveness during implementation.
Any identified implementation gaps should be addressed and corrected in due course. Lessons learnt
can be used to understand the positive and adverse consequences of circularity initiatives/strategic
action items. Positive aspects of successful circularity initiatives may potentially be cross utilized among
other circularity initiatives/action items. For example, a successful policy in one initiative may trigger
the use of a similar policy approach in another. Such examples can be extended to other enablers as
well. On the other hand, ineffective enablers should be relinquished in due course.

Circularity initiatives/action items are interventions in an urban context and, inevitably, will lead
to various transformations. Therefore, it is important to assess their impact retrospectively. An ex-
post impact assessment would be highly beneficial in understanding various social, economic and
environmental changes that have occurred in the city and compare them to the intended ones prior
to implementation.

The comparison of ex-ante and ex-post impact assessments will indicate deviations in terms of intended
and actual outcomes. Such impact assessments may aid in planning more accurately in due course or
fine-tuning circularity initiatives/action items.

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