By Kingsley Samuel
The African Union Commission, AUC, has joined a growing coalition of continental and international institutions seeking to accelerate Africa’s green jobs and skills agenda as the continent positions itself for opportunities in the global green economy.
The partnership was announced by Jacob’s Ladder Africa, JLA, ahead of the inaugural GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum, scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 12 and 13, 2026.According to JLA, the African Union Commission, through its Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, ESTI, joins a coalition that already includes FSD Africa, the Center for Global Development, CGD, and other organisations working across policy, finance, enterprise development, workforce readiness and economic transformation.
The announcement follows a series of continental pre-convenings that brought together policymakers, development institutions, private sector leaders, researchers, practitioners and youth representatives to examine how Africa can accelerate its transition to a green economy.
Discussions at the engagements highlighted persistent gaps between policy ambitions, financing systems, workforce development, enterprise growth and implementation capacity across the continent.
Speaking on the development, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, Sellah Bogonko, said Africa’s green transition must be assessed by its ability to create jobs and improve livelihoods.
She said: “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.
“Africa has a unique opportunity to shape a green economy that is both environmentally sustainable and economically inclusive. Doing so will require stronger collaboration between governments, development institutions, investors, educators, employers and young people themselves.”
Bogonko explained that GreenWorks 4 Africa was created to bridge existing gaps by bringing together leaders and practitioners to develop practical solutions across six priority sectors: renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, e-mobility, circular industries, natural capital and green manufacturing.
She noted that unlike conventional conferences, the forum is designed as a working platform focused on collaboration, problem-solving and the development of practical tools that can support workforce development, enterprise growth and green industrialisation across Africa.
Among the expected outcomes are the development of an Africa Green Jobs Toolkit, contributions towards an Africa Green Jobs Taxonomy aimed at creating a common understanding of green jobs and skills, stronger partnerships, and recommendations to support policy reforms and investments.
Organisers added that the forum’s agenda will be driven by three key pillars: finance, technology, innovation and market systems; policy, regulation and governance systems; and social systems.
They maintained that the growing coalition of partners reflects increasing recognition that Africa’s green transition must become an economic development agenda capable of creating jobs, supporting enterprises and delivering inclusive prosperity alongside environmental sustainability.
The GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum is expected to attract policymakers, development institutions, investors, private sector leaders, researchers, youth leaders and development partners from across Africa and beyond.
