The Embassy of Sweden and ILO launch Green enterPRIZE Innovation & Development Project in Zimbabwe 2017 -2020.
Harare, 11 December, 2017 – Today the ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, together with the Embassy of Sweden in Harare launch the Green enterPRIZE Innovation and Development Project. The project will run for the next three years and the Swedish support is 28 million SEK, equivalent to approximately USD 3 million.
11 December 2017
The project seeks to support and stimulate the market for green products and services through expansion of access to skills for green jobs and through the greening of existing enterprises through an EnterPrize Business Challenge. The ultimate goal is the creation of 3000 green and decent jobs for young women and men, through sustainable enterprises. It is also aimed at answering the “sustainable growth, productivity and jobs” questions by focussing on gender equality, green skills, green entrepreneurship and responsible business practices.
By the end of the project, the country should have in existence an improved pool of sustainable SMEs where young men and women equipped with green technical and entrepreneurial skills are implementing economic activities in the green economy. The project will promote innovative green and growth oriented male and female owned SMEs to have access to financial and non-financial business development services. It will grow new and existing SMEs towards greener management practices, increased productivity and cleaner production processes and ensure gender sensitive working conditions. Through these mutually reinforcing approaches, the project will also build the capacity of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and business development services providers to provide green enterprise training.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Sofia Calltorp, says, “Sweden gives high priority to the creation of green and decent jobs, particularly for youth and women. We believe that productive, sustainable and decent work is key to green economic development and the reduction of poverty, particularly in light of the dual challenge of climate change and youth unemployment”.
According to the ILO Country Director for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms Hopolang Phororo, “Decent Work is central to the achievement of SDGs. It calls for effective and innovative partnerships, such as the one we have with the Government of Sweden, to respond to the many challenges and opportunities presented by SDGs”.
The ILO has identified several key stakeholder partners to help implement the project.
For more information, please contact:
Jennie Åberg, Embassy of Sweden, Communication Officer, Cell: 0772 470 091; Email: [email protected]
Ms Maria Mutandwa, ILO Communications Officer, Cell: 0772 292 832; Email: [email protected]
By the end of the project, the country should have in existence an improved pool of sustainable SMEs where young men and women equipped with green technical and entrepreneurial skills are implementing economic activities in the green economy. The project will promote innovative green and growth oriented male and female owned SMEs to have access to financial and non-financial business development services. It will grow new and existing SMEs towards greener management practices, increased productivity and cleaner production processes and ensure gender sensitive working conditions. Through these mutually reinforcing approaches, the project will also build the capacity of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and business development services providers to provide green enterprise training.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms. Sofia Calltorp, says, “Sweden gives high priority to the creation of green and decent jobs, particularly for youth and women. We believe that productive, sustainable and decent work is key to green economic development and the reduction of poverty, particularly in light of the dual challenge of climate change and youth unemployment”.
According to the ILO Country Director for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms Hopolang Phororo, “Decent Work is central to the achievement of SDGs. It calls for effective and innovative partnerships, such as the one we have with the Government of Sweden, to respond to the many challenges and opportunities presented by SDGs”.
The ILO has identified several key stakeholder partners to help implement the project.
For more information, please contact:
Jennie Åberg, Embassy of Sweden, Communication Officer, Cell: 0772 470 091; Email: [email protected]
Ms Maria Mutandwa, ILO Communications Officer, Cell: 0772 292 832; Email: [email protected]