AfDB Backs Green Careers Caravan to Equip Kenyan Youth for a Low-Carbon Future

The collaboration aims to raise awareness of emerging green job opportunities and equip university students with the skills needed for Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

As part of its ongoing commitment to promote inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth across Africa, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is supporting a new wave of green-skilled youth leaders in Kenya through its partnership with the Green Careers Caravan (GCC), an initiative of Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA). The collaboration aims to raise awareness of emerging green job opportunities and equip university students with the skills needed for Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

The GCC introduces young people to a rapidly expanding labour market that includes careers in renewable energy, climate action, carbon markets, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management. These pathways are essential to shaping a future workforce capable of driving Kenya’s green transformation.

Empowering Young People Through Climate-Smart Opportunities

JLA Co-Founder and CEO Stella Bogonko highlighted that the initiative bridges the gap between climate action and employability:

“This initiative opens new pathways for young people to secure meaningful work while driving Kenya’s transition to a green economy.”

The Green Careers Caravan has been making its way across universities nationwide, hosting Green Career Days, providing mentorship, hands-on training sessions, case studies, and producing information-rich podcasts on professions aligned with sustainability.

Inspiring Students at the University of Embu

On 28 October, the Caravan visited the University of Embu, where hundreds of students engaged directly with experts from the green economy sector. Discussions ranged from carbon accounting to solar energy engineering, climate-smart agriculture, and environmental entrepreneurship.

In his keynote address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Daniel Mugendi voiced strong support for JLA’s vision to activate 30 million green jobs in Africa by 2033. He stressed that universities must be proactive in preparing graduates with the skills, values, and resilience required to lead Kenya’s green transition.

“The future of our nation depends on a workforce able to drive sustainability and climate resilience. Universities must help shape that workforce.” — Prof. Mugendi

Students Gain New Motivation and Career Direction

For many students, the Caravan has been transformative. Agricultural extension student Ian Calvin said:

“We got assurance that we can be innovative and venture into green careers that promote restoration and preservation of the environment.”

Education and Social Sciences student Abigael Sankoi added:

“The highlight was realising that you can have an idea, grow it, and earn from it by working with people in the field.”

These testimonials underscore the Caravan’s impact in shifting mindsets and demonstrating that green careers are not niche—they are the future.

Addressing Kenya’s Green Skills Gap

According to JLA, 67 per cent of Kenyan university students remain unaware of emerging green job opportunities, despite rising demand for skills in:

• Carbon accounting and verification

• Climate finance and carbon markets

• Renewable energy systems

• Regenerative agriculture and soil restoration

• Environmental data analysis

• Green entrepreneurship

This gap highlights the urgency of Kenya’s transition toward green skills development.

AfDB Education and Skills Development Division Manager Hendrina Chalwe Doroba emphasized that the Bank’s investments are helping bridge this divide:

“The GCC’s focus on green skills directly complements AfDB’s broader interventions in TVET, STEM, and industry-aligned curricula.”

She noted that the Bank’s HEST II Programme is strengthening entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation capacity in universities—ensuring graduates are equipped for emerging sectors.

Scaling Up Across Kenya

In its first roll-out phase (September 2025 – April 2026), the Green Careers Caravan plans to reach 15 universities across eight regions. It has so far visited:

• University of Embu

• Kisii University

• Taita Taveta University

The long-term plan is to scale the initiative to all 42 public universities by 2030, helping develop a strong national pipeline of green-skilled graduates.

A Transformative Initiative for a Green Future

With Kenya facing persistent youth unemployment and the growing urgency of climate action, the AfDB–GCC partnership offers a crucial intervention that aligns skills development with sustainability. By empowering young people with knowledge, practical training and mentorship, the initiative aims to ensure Kenya’s green transition is youth-led, inclusive, and future-focused.