Africa’s Green Industrial Transformation Promising, Still needs Upskilling and funding

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Jacob’s  Ladder Africa, a non profit organisation focused on green workforce readiness, along with the Future of Development Programme at the Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford) hosted a roundtable discussion on green livelihoods and the future of jobs in Africa.

The roundtable convened key individuals from academia, industry, international development sector and the youth population to raise key challenges and opportunities to facilitate Africa’s workforce to participate in the green economy.

Speaking  at  the  event,  Sellah  Bogonko,  CEO  and  co-founder  Jacob’s  Ladder  Africa said, “Climate change presents Africa with an opportunity- which if harnessed can significantly address the giant that is youth unemployment on the continent. We have a vision to catalyse 30 million jobs in the green economy in Africa by 2033 and through forums like these we are able to establish collaboration with like-minded organisations and individuals.”

Building   dignified   livelihoods   for   Africa’s   youth   requires   overhauling  the  continent’s industries, which is also the pathway for climate transformation. This presents an opportunity to reshape industrial action on the continent from the ground up.

Africa  has  three  elements  that  position  it  well for a rapid green industrial transformation: youthful population driven to innovation, a wealth of natural resources and an abundance of renewable energy potential such as geothermal, solar and wind resources.

According to James Mwangi, CEO Africa Climate Ventures, embracing renewable energy for the  continent’s  use  can  eliminate  approximately  12bn  tonnes  out of the global emissions ecosystem.

A demand-driven approach to skills development is required in order to help young people leverage the opportunities in the green economy. Climate action requires significant funding to support infrastructure development.

“We need an innovative ecosystem to bring government, private sector, investor capitalists, academia and entrepreneurs in order to leverage the opportunities in the green economy,” Dr. Mahreen Khan from the University of Oxford said.

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