Government talks green jobs

About 800 unemployed people will get an opportunity to learn skills as part of a government sponsored programme that focuses on environmental issues. Image: LED

As the custodian of the Green Fund, the department will jointly host the dialogue with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 9 April at the Development Bank of Southern Africa in Midrand.

Stakeholders are expected to present existing green jobs opportunities and challenges in the country in relation to youth unemployment. It hopes to create a platform for sharing best international approaches to green jobs and to put the concept of green jobs in the South African context.

During the dialogue, insights will be shared on how to create an enabling environment for green jobs.

"Although South Africa has a clear perspective on its approach to transforming towards a green economy, the approach to green jobs will be further explored during the dialogue, as best practices are deliberated on the day," the department claimed.

The department has launched various green job projects, such as the 'Farming the Wild' project, a community based initiative to green the rural economy of the uPhongolo Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The project aims to create green jobs and sustain two rural communities in that province through game farming initiatives.

The department has also launched the R300-million Groen Sebenza project, aimed at developing skills and bridging the gap between education and job opportunities in the biodiversity sector.

The Groen Sebenza project involves employing 800 unemployed youth and providing opportunities for people to develop skills across public, private and non-governmental institutions in the local biodiversity sector over a period of two and a half years.