After months of thoughtful planning, Jacob’s Ladder Africa is proud to announce the official launch of the Green Careers Caravan, with confirmed dates and venues across four leading universities in Kenya this September and October.
The caravan will kick off at:
- University of Kisii on September 24, 2025
- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) on October 8, 2025
- Taita Taveta University on October 22, 2025
- University of Embu on October 28, 2025
As one of our flagship initiatives under our youth employment mission, the Green Careers Caravan aims to bridge the gap between university education and green job labour markets by raising awareness, developing essential skills, fostering collaboration, and empowering students to lead in sustainability.
It comes at a critical moment for Kenya and the continent at large. Kenya’s youth unemployment rate hovers at around 13.4%, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2023), with many young people locked out of formal opportunities due to a lack of skills, networks, and industry exposure. At the same time, Africa’s green economy is expected to create over 30 million jobs by 2030, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), yet there is a wide disconnect between university training and the actual demands of the green job market.
This is the gap the Green Careers Caravan seeks to close.
The initiative will feature Green Career Days at each university characterised by one-day vibrant, high-impact events that introduce students to real-world green career pathways and entrepreneurship, showcases climate-smart innovations, and connects youth with knowledge, mentoring, and access to pathways for gaining new skills to transition into the green economy. This is the first national-level, coordinated initiative directly targeting the green career-readiness of Kenyan university students.
Why Now? Why This?
- Kenya has one of the fastest-growing youth populations in Africa, with over 75% of its population under the age of 35.
- Climate change is both a challenge and an opportunity with droughts, food insecurity, and energy transitions pushing the country toward sustainability and innovation
- Young people want solutions, but lack visibility of viable career paths in climate and sustainability. Most university students are unaware of green economy sectors like sustainable transport, renewable energy, circular fashion, climate-smart agriculture, and biodiversity finance.
Meanwhile, green sectors are actively seeking talent but can’t find skilled, prepared, job-ready candidates.
Call for Partners and Collaborators
With these initial event days and venues now confirmed, we are inviting partners, green economy actors, innovators, and mentors to come on board and showcase their contributions to a sustainable Africa. We are especially looking for:
- Green skilling and entrepreneurship mentors
- Green economy solution providers in sectors like:
- E-mobility
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable fashion
- Organizations with climate-smart innovations to exhibit
- Merchandise sponsors and visibility partners
- Financial and in-kind supporters who want to promote their brand to an audience of young people while investing in youth potential
This is your opportunity to shape the future workforce of Africa’s green transition while increasing your visibility among a dynamic, youthful audience.
Come and Partner With Us
We are eager to collaborate and showcase as many impactful solutions as possible. If you’re interested in joining the caravan as a partner, financial or in-kind sponsor, or mentor, please reach out to Joan Kubai, Programs Manager at joan.kubai@jacobsladder.africa
Let’s co-create a future where youth thrive, and Africa’s development is undertaken in tandem with nature, not against it.
