By Fatima Saka
Nairobi, Kenya — The African Union Commission (AUC) has joined a growing coalition of continental and international institutions advancing Africa’s green jobs and skills agenda, in a move aimed at positioning the continent for inclusive participation in the global green economy.
The announcement was made by Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) as it confirmed the AUC’s participation on Wednesday during press briefing, through its Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), in the inaugural GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum scheduled for August 12–13, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The AUC joins a strategic alliance of partners including FSD Africa and the Center for Global Development (CGD), alongside other stakeholders working across policy development, financing, enterprise growth, and workforce readiness.
The coalition seeks to address a key challenge confronting the continent: how Africa’s transition to a green economy can generate jobs, build critical skills, support enterprise development, and deliver inclusive economic growth at scale.
The development follows a series of pre-convenings across Africa involving policymakers, private sector leaders, development institutions, researchers, and youth representatives. These engagements identified persistent gaps between policy ambitions and the practical systems needed for implementation, particularly in financing, workforce development, and enterprise support.
Speaking on the initiative, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, Sellah Bogonko, said Africa’s green transition must be assessed beyond climate targets.
“Across the continent, there is a growing recognition that Africa’s green transition must ultimately be measured not only by emissions targets or climate commitments, but by its ability to create decent jobs, strengthen skills, support enterprise growth, and improve livelihoods,” Bogonko said.
She added that achieving this vision would require stronger collaboration among governments, investors, educators, and young people.
The GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum is designed as a practical, solutions-driven platform rather than a conventional conference. It will focus on six priority sectors: renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, e-mobility, circular industries, natural capital, and green manufacturing.
Expected outcomes from the summit include the development of an Africa Green Jobs Toolkit, contributions to an Africa Green Jobs Taxonomy, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and actionable policy and investment recommendations.
The forum will also be guided by three key pillars: finance and market systems; policy and governance frameworks; and social systems, reflecting the interconnected approach required for sustainable transformation.
READ ALSO: FG Commits N50m, Launches Fund to Remove Financial Barriers for Cancer Patients in Nigeria
National Assembly Advocates for Data Protection, Cybersecurity Reforms — Say Deputy’s Speaker
Organisers say the growing coalition underscores increasing recognition that Africa’s green transition must serve as both an environmental and economic development strategy.
The GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum is expected to convene policymakers, investors, private sector leaders, researchers, and youth representatives from across Africa and beyonds.
About The Author
