According to a recent report by FSD Africa and Shortlist, there are five strategic sectors with significant job creation potential on the continent, notably renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and ecological solutions.
These sectors play a crucial role in promoting sustainable economic growth and development. Specifically, the solar energy sector is estimated to create 1.7 million jobs, while smart agricultural technology and ecosystem conservation will add about 700,000 jobs.
Green solutions like reforestation will also create additional jobs in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with approximately 700,000 green jobs by 2030.
Regarding workforce qualifications, the report indicates that about 60% of green jobs will require skilled workers, with 10% requiring university degrees, 30% requiring certification, and 20% requiring administrative skills.
Dr Malle Fofana, Africa Director at the Global Green Growth Institute, states that the continent’s biggest challenge is bridging the skills gap between rural and urban areas. He suggests that African governments need to adjust policies and integrate green economy strategies into national development plans.
Additionally, countries need to increase investment in education and vocational training to equip youth with new skills for the green economy. Fofana emphasises the need to ensure equal access to green jobs between urban and rural areas.
Financial institutions note that Africa’s green economy will not only contribute to the global fight against climate change but also help address rising unemployment. This is seen as an effective solution to promote sustainable growth on the continent.
Furthermore, Africa is encouraging an AI entrepreneurship wave. The third African Startup Conference recently held in Algeria attracted ministers responsible for entrepreneurship, along with hundreds of businesses, investors and AI experts.
At the conference “Reimagine Africa with AI”, delegates discussed opportunities and challenges in developing AI on the continent. Presentations addressed transforming innovative ideas into practical projects, contributing to sustainable development goals, and building AI development strategies suitable for Africa’s characteristics.
Ministers called for unified AI policies across the continent, enhanced state-level coordination, and appropriate legal frameworks while emphasising the need for training programmes and partnerships between scientific institutions in AI.
They emphasised the role of startups and AI in socio-economic goals, calling for the expedited establishment of an African fund to finance projects directly impacting socio-economics.
This was proposed by UN and African Union experts at the 2024 Africa Industrialization Week, themed “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Green Industrialization to Accelerate Africa’s Structural Transformation”.
At this event, experts called for strong investment in infrastructure development, technology transfer, continental value chain integration, reduced dependence on raw material exports, and enhanced global partnerships to accelerate industrialisation and economic transformation, adding a green tint to Africa’s economic landscape.
