A new pact to boost climate change training in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya - A new partnership has been signed between Toolkit iSkills (TTI), the Wangari Mathai Foundation, and the World Resources Institute [WRI] aimed at equipping African youth with climate change solution skills.

"The next big thing in Africa is renewable energy; we must skill our youth to tap into the climate change space, which is linked to the renewable energy sector. Currently, we have a few skilled solar technicians on the African continent. We still rely on foreigners who are investing in the sector on the continent to train our own manpower. This training is aimed at equipping over a million youth across the continent in the next 10 years, "says Mrs. Wanjira Mathai, Director of, the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Dubbed "Skilling Africa's Youth for Sustainable Climate Solutions," the training will first be launched in Kenya, with plans to expand to other African countries in the next 5 years.

"As Toolkit Iskills (TTI), we shall provide the space for training the selected youth across the country. We aim to train over 47,000 youth in the first cohort. The training will be divided into two parts that comprise theory and practicals plus an industrial attachment. After the training, the graduates will be deployed to different sectors within our economy, "comments Jane Muigai Kamphuis, Director and Founder, Toolkit Iskills (TTI).

The training will cover areas like the green economy, solar energy, agribusiness, climate change capacity, and climate change and technology.
CEO of the Wangari Mathai Foundation, Njeri Kabereri, opines that "this generation and our children will pay the most unexpected costs for climate change. We must create a strong group of youth and equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle climate change's most substantial threat to our future.

Africa is the main victim of climate change, despite emitting only 3% of greenhouse gases. The continent should turn its climate challenges into opportunities to create green jobs for youth and women.

Mrs. Mathai further added that it's time for the continent to focus on producing its own experts and specialists with the skills and competencies to contribute to climate action on a greater scale.

"Today, the majority of the youth in Africa who could be instrumental as the engineers of transformative climate solutions, therefore, are not yet benefiting from climate-focused education. "Rather, they are experiencing challenges such as skills gaps, inaccessible climate finance, and a lack of mentorship and networking platforms that limit their active engagement and participation in the climate change discourse, "concludes Mrs. Wanjira.
Last year, as per data from the United States Treasury, the green economy generated $13 billion in revenue for the superpower and created 9.5 million full-time jobs.

The United States has been incredibly successful in creating green jobs, so this experience can be shared with African countries to support investments to create green jobs for young women and men in Africa. "Green jobs pay 70% more than dirty jobs." Currently, the US government is encouraging the private sector to invest heavily in the green economy. "The government is giving the right signals through regulations that favor green investments. President Biden has put the US on the path to a green economy, including electric vehicles and green energy.

Toolkit Iskills (TTI) is a digitally innovative social enterprise in Africa that focuses on training youth in life and employability skills, technical skills, and digital skills training.

GAROWE ONLINE