Sub-Saharan Africa: green win-win situation

For young people in Africa, agriculture is largely synonymous with back-breaking work. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Nipher Hilda from Kenya underwent training to acquire new skills in the field of hydroponics, the science of growing plants in stackable boxes containing water with added nutrients instead of in soil. The method saves space and water and can therefore be used in urban areas, too. Harvesting the plants is less arduous and the yields are higher. This innovative method therefore offers several advantages – attractive working conditions and sustainable food production – and is a concrete example of what a green economy can look like.

Young people need training to work in green business sectors such as these, not just in agriculture. There is considerable potential in Africa, for example in resource and waste management, digitalisation and renewable energy as well as in conventional sectors such as transport, tourism and construction. Yet many companies lack the skilled workers they need to achieve ambitious goals in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the starting point for the regional project on Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D). The project targets young women and men in various countries in sub-Saharan Africa, offering training opportunities in green sectors in particular. It focuses on meeting the requirements of employers from the private sector, who are involved as project partners. GIZ was commissioned to implement the project by BMZ; it is being cofinanced by the European Union, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and private businesses. The goals that the project aims to achieve by 2023 include improving the income and employment situation of around 195,000 people, creating permanent employment for more than 62,000 people and supporting more than 45,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in developing their business capacity.

In addition to hands-on training in hydroponics, Nipher Hilda also attended management training sessions and was able to access start-up capital through the partnership with Equity Bank Kenya. As a result, she will be able to set up her own agribusiness, which could lead to the creation of new jobs in future. This is opening up new prospects for her: ‘I’ve learned something about agriculture for the first time and it’s changed my life.’