Featuring the ILO “Green Jobs Champion” of Zambia

CAPE TOWN (ILO News) – The Zambia Green Jobs Program (ZGJP), together with the Western Cape Green Initiatives programme, featured as “Green Jobs Champions” of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the 5th Global Green Jobs workshop held from 8-11 March 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The two flagship programmes were thoroughly presented as case-studies with a focus on key factors for success. The main focus of the 5th Edition of the Global meeting was on joint delivery and how to make the global ILO Green Jobs team better equipped for the effective promotion of environmental sustainability in country programmes and strategic outcomes.

The Zambia Green Jobs Program (ZGJP), which is premised on a human and environment rights based as well as a value chain development approach, was represented by Tapera Muzira, Chief Technical Advisor; Evans Lwanga, Enterprise Development Officer and Helene Thor, Communications Officer.

More than 40 participants representing ILO staff in field offices and HQ with engagement in ILO Green Jobs work attended the Green Jobs global meeting aimed at strengthening the collective staff capacity in terms of policy advocacy, technical expertise and programmatic guidance.

Discussions focused on how best to replicate the success of ZGJP and the Western Cape Green initiatives. The ZGJP communication products and strategy were also featured during a knowledge fair.

Participants visited green and sustainable initiatives in Cape Town including waste recycling management projects, sustainable park management initiatives and municipal initiatives on solar panel retrofitting.

Recommendations adopted by ILO officials include the need to better mainstream environmental sustainability, to mobilize resources for Green Jobs project development, to prepare a strategy note on communication and branding of Green Jobs, and introduce a model for just transition country support.

Background Information

The workshop, jointly organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO), was the first in the African region. It was attended by ILO Regional Director for Africa, Aeneas Chuma, ILO Enterprises Department Director, Vic van Vuuren, as well as ILO Country Office Lusaka Director, Alexio Musindo and OIC Director of the ILO DWT Pretoria Office, Joni Musabayana.

For more information: Contact Helene Thor, Communication officer for Zambia Green Jobs Project, [email protected]