African governments and stakeholders are confronted with the harsh realities of climate change variations, unsustainable energy supply, and escalating unemployment as they seek economic solutions. Climate change and its devastating consequences for livelihoods have taken the forefront in the agendas of governments and development partners.

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The cost of mitigating, adapting to, and responding to climate change's devastating impacts is in the billions of dollars. Out of the 20 most vulnerable countries to climate change worldwide, 16 are situated in Africa. Paradoxically, Africa is the least contributor to greenhouse emissions responsible for climate change. Presently, nearly 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, which is more than 1.

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3 times the population of the European Union. As Africa's economic growth continues and more people connect to the national grid, the demand for energy will inevitably increase, along with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions linked to energy production. Hence, while addressing the pressing energy needs remains a top priority, it is crucial to incorporate environmental and climate change considerations.

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This approach will enable the continent to make a gradual shift toward sustainable, low-carbon economic growth and embrace a greener economy. Green technology provides policymakers with a sustainable pathway for growth, simultaneously creating employment opportunities, particularly for the youth. Deloitte's estimates project that by 2050, over 300 million additional "Green Collar" jobs could be generated.

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Given that green technologies span across multiple sectors, integrating them into national growth policies would open up numerous job prospects. Sectors like renewable energy, transportation, smart agricultural systems, and eco-friendly construction rely on green technologies to promote climate resilience and adaptation. Promisingly, both government and private sector stakeholders are increasing their investments in addressing climate change.

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For instance, during the recent Cop27 conference, pledges exceeding US$230 million were made to the Adaptation Fund, and the African Development Bank Multi-donor Trust fund stands at US$25.71 million. Furthermore, private companies are actively financing clean technology and climate resilience initiatives.

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Seizing the green technology opportunity in Africa: the policies needed Policymaking assumes a pivotal role in positioning Africa as a frontrunner in green technology. By embracing the provided policy recommendations, Africa can harness both existing and emerging green technologies to address its challenges related to climate, energy, and unemployment.

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One crucial step is to introduce green budgeting practices for both government and donor funding, thereby supporting innovative green growth. Governments, as the primary spenders in many developing nations, have the potential to drive sustainable change by adopting green budgeting and financing strategies.

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This entails prioritizing investments in green projects and integrating environmentally friendly considerations into infrastructure and program financing. This approach can create a heightened demand for green technologies, prompting both established companies and new entrants to develop the necessary expertise to meet this demand. Furthermore, development partners play a significant role in financing government budgets and development projects.

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These partners are recommended to support projects with green growth as their foundation directly. This approach addresses climate challenges and creates direct and indirect opportunities for the youth. Donor partners should invest in and support green growth technologies and initiatives, particularly in priority sectors.

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By doing so, governments and development partners can drive the demand for green technologies and guide the private sector on required skills and projects to pursue. Design new investment tools and mechanisms for innovators of green technologies To stimulate the adoption of eco-friendly and climate-resilient solutions, there is a critical need for an ample supply of cost-effective, context-appropriate green technologies.

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Policymakers can facilitate this by forging partnerships with the private sector to create green innovation funds that promote research and development, aiding innovators in introducing their products to the market. An illustrative example of such collaboration is the Rwandan Innovation Fund, which operates as a joint effort between the public and private sectors.

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This fund is dedicated to investing in innovations with a specific emphasis on sustainability. Notably, it has supported companies like Metro Mobility, facilitating the expansion of their low-to-zero vehicle subscription service across Africa. By developing new investment initiatives targetting green solutions, companies operating in this sector can experience growth and generate both direct and indirect employment opportunities.

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Additionally, employees within these companies can acquire valuable on-the-job experience and develop their skills for future employment prospects. Develop and expand climate change toolkits for training, fellowships and internship While many governments may express their commitment to promoting green climate policies and technologies, there is a pressing need for enhanced technical expertise.

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The capacity to draft climate project proposals, develop training curricula, and establish fellowships demands a specific skill set that policymakers may still need to acquire. Therefore, it is imperative to create toolkits that can aid in conceptualizing climate-related outcomes and formulating policies geared towards job creation.

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Policymakers should prioritize the provision of technical support in the planning and execution of green growth initiatives. This entails connecting these initiatives with skill development programs to generate employment opportunities. This approach enables the cultivation of the technical expertise necessary to access funding for green technology projects.

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Furthermore, it's essential to equip educators with the knowledge and tools required to design educational programs that effectively prepare young individuals to meet the demands of the growing green job market. Realigning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with Green Technology The field of climate change and sustainability jobs is expanding rapidly, yet there is room for improvement in the skills required.

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The battle against climate change presents a multitude of career opportunities and attracts investments for startups and projects that address this global challenge. However, only a fraction of individuals possess the necessary skill set to fully exploit these opportunities. The deployment of green technologies encompasses various fields, calling for the involvement of professionals from diverse backgrounds.

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This includes financial analysts, construction engineers, economists, and many others, each playing a vital role. To tackle this issue, policymakers and donor partners should consider reorienting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.

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These programs can offer short certification courses in green technologies, covering areas such as solar panel installations and repairs, smart home designs, and solar and electric mobility. By enhancing the skills of the existing blue-collar workforce in green technologies, we can effectively meet the surging demand for skilled labor.

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Furthermore, the establishment of regional standards for training and certification would facilitate labor mobility across the African market. Leveraging existing knowledge through TVET programs for retooling could not only enhance labor skills for domestic use but also create opportunities for exporting labor to global markets.

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Conclusion African leaders should make investments in and bolster the capabilities of the youth to create innovative green technology solutions that cater to both local and international markets.

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With an increasing number of countries placing emphasis on green growth for climate and energy sustainability, Africa has the potential to convert its growing youth population into a hub of expertise for the development, implementation, and upkeep of green technologies.

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