Kenya to host inaugural green jobs and skills development workshop

This initiative aims to bring together stakeholders from government, academia, private sector, finance, and youth-led groups to address the critical need for green jobs and skills development in Kenya.

At a recent roundtable event attended by top government officials including Principal Secretaries from various departments, the focus was on coordinating efforts towards green job creation and skills development.

Environment and Climate Principal Secretary Eng. Festus K. Ng'eno emphasized the importance of innovation in job creation, particularly in the context of Kenya's commitment to low-carbon development and green growth, aligning with international agreements such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

"Innovation in job creation will lead to green jobs and green skills development to take a low-carbon development and green growth pathway, in line with the Africa Climate Summit resolutions, which Kenya led and championed and which will cause the country to be in line with Kenya’s international obligation under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement,” said Eng. Ng'eno.

Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, the PS, State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training, highlighted the significance of TVETs in building a workforce equipped with green skills, emphasizing its role in national resilience to climate change and economic development.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its GO4SDGs initiative, is partnering with the Kenyan government to address youth unemployment.

Dr. Rose Mwebaza, UNEP Africa Regional Office Director, underscored the potential for Africa, particularly Kenya, to harness green job opportunities to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental challenges.

"If we seize the opportunity to develop and implement the right policies, Africa will reap the demographic dividend. Kenya has immense potential to create a plurality of green job opportunities that will help tackle the negative consequences of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Dr Mwebaza.

Sellah Bogonko, CEO of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, stressed the urgency of addressing youth unemployment and the lack of required skills in Kenya, framing the workshop as an opportunity to bridge these gaps and transition towards a green economy.

The workshop will focus on three key pillars: skills development, enterprise development, and financing. It will explore the role of education in preparing individuals for green jobs, opportunities for green job creation in both the private and public sectors, and the financing mechanisms needed to support these initiatives.

It also aims to accelerate Kenya's transition to a sustainable, green economy while addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment.