Promoting employment for greater environmental protection and climate action in the Caribbean

Context

Agriculture, fishing and tourism are the basis of the Caribbean economy. Yet pollution, overexploitation of resources and climate change are threatening ecosystems and thus people’s livelihoods.

Environmentally friendly use of marine and land resources could diversify the economy and improve local value addition and resilience. However, there is a lack of qualified skilled workers in green and blue economic sectors such as agriculture, marine management, waste management, transport, renewable energy and tourism. Young people, in particular, lack future-focused professional qualifications and opportunities for initial and continuing training in the private and public sectors to enable them to succeed in the labour market.

Objective

Public and private sector stakeholders are able to promote employment in green and blue jobs in the eastern Caribbean.

Approach

The project works in partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It is mainly aimed at adolescents and young people, who have greater employment prospects if they have better qualifications.

To improve the basic conditions for green and blue jobs, the project works closely with ministries, authorities, training institutions and the private sector.

It supports training stakeholders in introducing new continuing education courses and degree programmes for employment in a blue and green economy in the region. To this end, it identifies needs, develops curricula and advances professional standards. It also supports women and young people in their integration into the labour market.

In selected countries, the project advises representatives of the government, the business community and civil society on education strategies and programmes and promotes regional knowledge-sharing.

Last update: March 2025