The GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum kicked off in Nairobi on August 12, 2026, bringing together key stakeholders to address Africa’s green jobs challenge with a practical, evidence-based approach.

Organised by Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) in partnership with the African Union Commission, Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, FSD Africa, GIZ Kenya, AGRA, and the Center for Global Development, the two-day event runs through August 13.

Focus on Practical Green Economy Solutions

Rather than theorising about Africa’s green economy, the forum zeroes in on successful existing initiatives, exploring why they work and how they can be adapted and scaled continent-wide. Discussions revolve around four key sectors:

  • Renewable energy and productive energy use
  • Climate-resilient agriculture and smart food systems
  • E-mobility, green infrastructure, and urbanisation
  • Circularity and waste management systems

These sectors are examined through interconnected systems encompassing finance, technology, innovation, markets, social factors, and governance.

Building a Pan-African Coalition

Sellah Bogonko, Co-Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, emphasised the forum’s goal to foster sustained collaboration among governments, employers, investors, training institutions, innovators, and youth. She described the event as a “Thinkers Hub and Collaboration Hive” aimed at equipping participants to take meaningful action beyond the two-day gathering.

Insights and Research Highlights

Key participants included representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme, FSD Africa, GIZ Kenya, and the African Union Commission. African Union Commissioner H.E. Moses Vilakati delivered a keynote address via video.

The forum underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts as Africa faces a significant employment challenge, with 10 to 12 million young people entering the labour market annually but only about 3 million formal jobs created each year.

Research presented by FSD Africa and partners estimates that Africa’s green transition could create up to 7.9 million jobs by 2030 and potentially over 80 million by 2050, primarily through decentralised, service-led activities such as clean cooking, solar home systems, waste recycling, and electric two- and three-wheelers.

Empowering Youth and Inclusive Growth

The forum highlighted the importance of linking investments with workforce development, ensuring green enterprises access finance and markets, and aligning education and training with labour market needs. The African Green Jobs Toolkit was introduced as a resource to guide programme design with a focus on youth employment, women’s inclusion, and informal workers.

FSD Africa’s Director of Development Impact, Kevin Munjal, stressed the need for young Africans to play an active role in the green transformation, stating, “The green transition will shape the jobs they can access and the businesses they can build.”

Continuing the Conversation

GreenWorks 4 Africa continues on August 13, focusing on scaling proven green economic solutions across the continent. Jacob’s Ladder Africa, a Pan-African NGO, supports youth-led green enterprise growth as a pathway to inclusive, climate-resilient economic transformation by working with governments, investors, and local ecosystems.