Determinants and success of engagement in circular bioeconomy practices in African food systems

•By applying multivariate probit combination, sorting organic from inorganic waste and using organic waste as compost had contributed to success in engagement in circular bio economy (CBE) practices in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa.•Sorting waste and using organic waste as livestock feeds contributed to engagement in CBE practices.•Using organic waste as compost and livestock, feed had the lowest likelihood of success in engagement in CBE practices.•CBE innovations intending to achieve circular food systems through promoting combinations of CBE practices among smallholders, stand higher chances to succeed, more so if engaged in sorting waste and using organic waste as compost.•Categorical analysis also gives distinct predictions of what could naturally happen concerning combinations of CBE practices being discretely possible for smallholder households.