Kenya Calls for Investment in Green Jobs as Africa Eyes Low-carbon Transition

Kenya, 13 August 2026 - Kenya has called for greater investment in green jobs, skills and innovation as African countries seek to turn the transition to a low-carbon economy into opportunities for their growing workforce.

Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr Festus Ng’eno said Africa must move beyond discussions on the green economy and translate commitments into investments, policies and practical solutions that create jobs and strengthen economic resilience.

Dr Ng’eno spoke in Nairobi while closing the inaugural GreenWorks 4 Africa Forum, which brought together governments, development partners, investors, private sector leaders, academia and other stakeholders to advance the continent’s green economy agenda.

He said the forum provided an opportunity to move discussions from conference rooms to action, with a focus on developing Africa’s green jobs ecosystem and scaling investment-ready solutions.

“The work must now extend beyond Nairobi. The partnerships made, commitments promised and solutions developed through this Forum should now translate into policies, investments and practical action that create opportunities for Africa’s young people and advance our collective green workforce agenda,” Dr Ng’eno said.

The PS said Kenya was well positioned to demonstrate the economic potential of green investments, noting that nearly 90 per cent of the country’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources.

He said renewable energy could help power businesses, create opportunities for communities and strengthen the country’s resilience to economic and climate shocks.

Dr Ng’eno, however, said Africa’s green transition must go hand in hand with environmental conservation, urging countries to protect forests, restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.

The forum, organised under the theme of advancing Africa’s green workforce, focused on how the continent can turn its youthful population, natural resources, innovation and skills into engines of sustainable economic growth.

The discussions were informed by findings from a report titled “Unlocking Africa’s Green Transition: Opportunities Towards a Green and Inclusive Workforce.”

The report, presented by FSD Africa’s Janine Ampulire Mwesigye, highlighted the continent’s potential to create green jobs while stressing the need to align investment, workforce skills and public policy.

Participants were told that a just green transition should deliver inclusive and quality employment opportunities, particularly for Africa’s young and expanding workforce.

The forum opened with remarks from Jacob’s Ladder Africa co-founder and chief executive officer Sellah Bogonko, followed by contributions from FSD Africa’s Kevin Munjal, UNEP’s Dr Rose Mwebaza, World Bank Group representative Marek Hanusch and GIZ Kenya Programme Director for Energy, Transport and Climate Change Hannah Salian.

The discussions later shifted to thematic sessions examining African case studies, identifying successful approaches and exploring how green solutions could be scaled up.

Dr Ng’eno said Kenya would continue working with partners to promote investments that combine environmental sustainability with economic development and employment creation.

He said the success of Africa’s green transition would ultimately be measured not only by reduced emissions and environmental protection, but also by the skills, enterprises, investments and decent jobs created in the process.