Green Recovery, Green Jobs, and Inclusive Growth in Africa

On 7 September 2022 (14:00-15:30 Abidjan time), African Development Bank (AfDB) hosted the webinar, 'Green Recovery, Green Jobs, and Inclusive Growth in Africa'. The webinar is part of a series on Mainstreaming Natural Capital in Africa’s Post-COVID Development Agenda co-organized by AfDB, GGKP and WWF Africa, in collaboration with the AUC and the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre, under the Mainstreaming Natural Capital in African Development Finance (NC4-ADF) Programme.

With the COVID-19 pandemic costing over 30 million African jobs, driving up poverty, and increasing debt pressures—challenges require multifaceted approached more than ever. At the same time, African economies must contend with a worsening triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—while confronting the fact that they remain heavily dependent on natural resources across formal and informal sectors.

The best way to tackle these issues simultaneously is to prioritize green investments in COVID-19 recovery, investments that back the sustainable use of resources, clean and efficient energy, and nature-based solutions. In short, Africa must move toward a green economy that leverages, invests in, and protects the natural capital that makes up a majority of continent’s wealth.

The webinar begun answering remaining questions on the African green recovery by creating a platform for sharing lessons and best practices on how Africa can use COVID-19 recovery to transition to a green economy and drive green job growth.

It leveraged case studies and practical recommendations to:

1. Explore how Africa can leverage its natural capital to drive green recovery and job growth;

2. Set out which specific reforms are needed to foster green employment opportunities;

3. Identify which barriers remain to implementing a green economy and creating green jobs, how they can be overcome, and the roles of governments and private sector actors;

4. Highlight specific examples and experiences that can be leveraged in accelerating actions across the continent.

Recording

Presentation Slides

You can access the presentation slides here. 

Webinar Agenda