PAGE Regional Academy for Africa: Harnessing the power of green finance for a just transition
The inaugural Academy marked a significant step in building capacity and fostering South-South collaboration among African nations.
28 May 2025
RABAT, Morocco (ILO News) - The first PAGE Regional Academy for Africa took place in Rabat on 21 and 23 May, with the theme “Financing a Just Transition to Green and Circular Economies.” Organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), the Academy was attended by close to 70 participants.
The opening ceremony on the first day brought high-level speakers, including Mohamed Ouahmid, General Secretary of Energy Transition, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco; Rie Vejs-Kjelgaard, Director of the ILO Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition Department, and the ILO member to the PAGE Management Board; Sanae Lahlou, Country Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Morocco; Sam Mugume, Co-Chair Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Rie Vejs-Kjelgaard opened the Academy on behalf of the PAGE Management Board and noted: “PAGE leverages the expertise and networks of UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, UNITAR and the ILO to provide technical support on green jobs and a just transition, circular economy, and sustainable finance. With the PAGE Academy for Africa, we hope to have a strong regional knowledge and experience sharing that will support each of the countries in developing further policies and approaches for transitioning to a green economy.”
Through masterclasses and thematic discussions, the Academy offered participants targeted technical training on key financial strategies for equitable climate action.
The Academy explored:
- Public and private finance
- National and cross-boundary funding mechanisms
- The critical role of policymakers
- Embedding social inclusion at the core of environmental finance
This pioneering edition of the Academy created a vibrant space for knowledge-sharing, with valuable contributions from Morocco’s experts. Morocco demonstrated its leadership by offering tangible insights and experiences from its national transition journey.
A Platform for South–South Collaboration
The Academy brought together representatives from African PAGE countries such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Mauritius, and Morocco, alongside non-PAGE countries (Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Djibouti) that contributed rich insights from their respective contexts. This made the Academy a truly regional and collaborative effort, embodying the spirit of South–South cooperation.
The PAGE Country Ambassadors Network was also launched. The nominated PAGE Country Ambassadors from South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda and Morocco were awarded by recognition certificates from the ITCILO and the PAGE Secretariat.
Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn, connect, and co-create a shared understanding of just transition finance, laying the foundation for future regional cooperation.
Stakeholders stressed the importance of moving from dialogue to delivery, ensuring continued momentum through practical action and structured follow-up.
The UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) is a prominent alliance of five UN agencies, funding partners, and 22 partner countries that work together to transform economies into drivers of sustainability. The ILO is one of its five partner agencies since its launch in 2013. UNIDO is the PAGE coordinating agency in Morocco.