As part of its commitment to driving green and inclusive growth across Africa, the African Development Bank is supporting a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders in Kenya through its partnership with the Green Careers Caravan (GCC), an initiative of Jacob's Ladder Africa (JLA).
Through this collaboration, the Bank aims to raise awareness of green skills among university students and encourage them to explore emerging opportunities in sustainability-linked careers. These green jobs--spanning renewable energy, climate action, regenerative agriculture, and environmental management--are central to building resilience and strengthening Kenya's transition to a low-carbon economy.
As JLA Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Stella Bogonko noted, by linking climate action with employability, the 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 touring universities, hosting "Green Career Days", conducting activities such as mentorship, training, case studies, and podcasts linked to green career opportunities. On 28 October, the Caravan arrived at the University of Embu, some 130 km northeast of Nairobi, where hundreds of students had an opportunity to interact with experts in the green economy sector.
In his keynote address, the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Daniel Mugendi, emphasised the need to equip graduates with the right skills mix and mindset, and position them to lead Kenya's transition to a sustainable economy.
For many students, the Green Careers Caravan, supported by the African Development Bank - in partnership with the State Department for Higher Education and Research, and a consortium of Kenyan public universities, as well as other partners/stakeholders - is a turning point in how they view their future. They spoke passionately about the new insights, green skills, and motivation they gained to explore green and sustainable career opportunities.
"Through the caravan, we were given a platform as young people to express that which we care about - the job market. We got assurance that we can be innovative and venture into green careers that promote restoration and preservation of the environment," said Ian Calvin, a student pursuing agricultural extension and education at the University of Embu.
For Abigael Sankoi, an education and social sciences bachelor's student, the highlight was realising that "you can have an idea, develop it, grow it, and earn from it by working with people or organisations already in that field."
According to Bogonko, the GCC aims to create awareness and provide students with pathways to green jobs, helping them acquire new skills or up-skill based on their university studies to remain competitive in the job market.
In Kenya, where youth unemployment remains a significant and persistent challenge, and demand is growing for skills in areas such as carbon accounting, carbon markets advocacy, renewable energy, and regenerative agriculture, 67 percent of students are still unaware of green job opportunities, according to JLA.
This gap, according to Hendrina Chalwe Doroba, Education and Skills Development Division Manager at the Africa Development Bank, underscores the importance of the Bank's ongoing investments in Kenya's education and skills ecosystem.
She cites the Higher Education, Science, and Technology (HEST) II Program, saying, it goes beyond financing students to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and job-creation capacity within universities. "The GCC's focus on green skills directly complements the Bank's broader interventions in TVET, STEM disciplines, and industry-relevant curricula, ensuring that graduates are better equipped with the competencies needed to thrive in emerging sectors of the green economy," she stated.
In the first phase of its roll-out, from September 2025 to April 2026, the Green Careers Caravan aims to reach 15 universities across eight regions in Kenya. To date, it has visited University of Embu, Kisii University, and Taita Taveta University. The plan is to scale the total number reached to 42 public universities by 2030.
