At the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) held in Kampala, Uganda, experts emphasized the urgent need for strategic investments in reskilling and upskilling initiatives to protect jobs during the green transition. Organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the forum brought attention to the challenges posed by climate change, which threatens job security and exacerbates social inequalities.
Andrew Mundalo Allieu, Senior Economist at the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office for Africa, highlighted the destabilizing effects of climate change, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather, which are already displacing communities and worsening poverty. According to the ILO, over 1.2 billion workers globally rely on industries vulnerable to climate change, with sectors like agriculture, construction, and services facing significant risks. In Africa, these sectors employ 83% of the workforce and are highly susceptible to climate-related shocks. Heat stress alone is causing a 2.3% loss in working hours, a figure projected to escalate to 14 million lost jobs by 2030.
To address these risks, experts are calling for a coordinated approach that includes innovative financing, public-private partnerships, and strengthened social protection systems. These initiatives aim to provide safety nets for vulnerable communities while fostering green job creation. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, emphasized the importance of gender-inclusive strategies to ensure women benefit equitably from the green transition, both in decision-making and access to skills development.
The transition to a green economy, while necessary for sustainability, poses its own set of challenges, particularly in regions heavily dependent on climate-sensitive industries. However, experts believe that early investment and coordinated actions can mitigate these challenges. With the carbon market projected to support up to 400 million jobs by 2050, the green transition presents a significant opportunity for job creation, provided the right investments are made in reskilling and upskilling the workforce to meet the evolving demands of green sectors.
