Employment promotion for women for the green transformation in Africa

Context

Unemployment and underemployment are widespread in Africa. Although young people are streaming into the labour market and demand for labour exists, there is a lack of skilled workers and supplier firms. This especially impacts women, who generally have limited access to education and employment. Innovative solutions are required to ensure jobs in the long-term.

Objective

The employment and economic situation of women in sub-Saharan Africa has been improved – especially in sectors which are driving the green transformation.

Approach

The programme pursues an integrated approach to promoting employment, and works in five areas:

• Increasing training opportunities for women and for businesses that contribute to the green transformation
• Facilitating the transition to the labour market
• Increasing employment for women in green supply chains – for example in renewable energy, circular economy, waste management, blue economy, ecotourism and sustainable agriculture as well as in sectors, such as transport and construction, where more environmentally business models are being adopted.
• Enhancing the competitiveness of start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, especially women-led green enterprises
• Extending successful approaches in other sectors of the economy and in other regions and countries

Each measure is based on partnerships with local and international companies and with governmental/non-governmental organisations, vocational institutions and business associations.

The programme receives additional funding from the European Union and Norway. Cooperation partners include Acacia, Avocado Vision, ClemenGold, CRDB Bank Foundation, Electricidade de Moçambique/MUVA, SASDC, Stanbic, TUI Foundation, WomHub and WTS Energy. There are also consulting contracts with ARGE Como-Mierke-DEV Consulting, Como Consult GmbH, FLMH-Labor für Politik und Kommunikation GmbH, GOPA, Mesopartner and Syspons GmbH.

Last update: April 2025