Green Technology and Youth Employment Potential in Africa: A Continental Scoping Report

This scoping report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of green technology and youth employment in Africa. It identifies a significant gap between the potential for job creation in green technology and the current design of major funding programmes, while highlighting opportunities in ICTs, indigenous knowledge, and local manufacturing.

• The global green technology market, including other frontier technologies, is projected to reach a value of USD2.1 trillion by 2030, yet most development occurs outside of Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean are identified as the regions least prepared to utilize these technologies.
• There is a disconnect between youth employment policies and major green technology funding mechanisms. While some countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and Uganda integrate green technology into youth employment policies, major programmes such as the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund (AF), and Internationale Klimaschutz Initiative (IKI) do not include youth employment in their design. Additionally, the Technology Needs Assessments (TNA) methodology lacks explicit provisions for youth inclusion.
• Energy and agriculture are the primary sectors of focus for green technology in Africa. Energy is prioritized due to the global transition away from fossil fuels and the need to expand energy access in Africa. Agriculture is emphasized because of its role in food security and rural development, particularly for those involved in subsistence farming.
• The report identifies three specific underutilized opportunities for youth employment in green technology: the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for data and marketing, the integration of indigenous knowledge into technology and innovation, and the local manufacturing of green technology inputs and services.

APA

APRI (2023). Green Technology and Youth Employment Potential in Africa: A Continental Scoping Report. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/green-technology-and-youth-employment-potential-in-africa-a-continental-scoping-report

Chicago

APRI. Green Technology and Youth Employment Potential in Africa: A Continental Scoping Report. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/green-technology-and-youth-employment-potential-in-africa-a-continental-scoping-report.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=APRI |title=Green Technology and Youth Employment Potential in Africa: A Continental Scoping Report |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=8 November 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/green-technology-and-youth-employment-potential-in-africa-a-continental-scoping-report |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{apri2023green, author = {APRI}, title = {{Green Technology and Youth Employment Potential in Africa: A Continental Scoping Report}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://afripoli.org/green-technology-and-youth-employment-potential-in-africa-a-continental-scoping-report}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }