As the world intensifies efforts to combat climate change, Africa is emerging as a beacon of hope with bold solutions that marry environmental action and economic empowerment. At the heart of this movement is the green jobs and skills agenda, the pathway to sustainable growth, inclusive industrialisation, and climate resilience. Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) is proud to lead this agenda at the upcoming Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2), taking place from September 8 to 10, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Running alongside the main Summit, JLA will also host the Green Jobs & Skills Pavilion, a dynamic, African-led platform for dialogue, innovation, and partnership building. Here, youth, women, indigenous peoples, policymakers, civil society, and the private sector will converge to co-create solutions that address Africa’s twin challenges of climate vulnerability and unemployment. The Pavilion’s programming aligns with ACS2’s overarching themes:
- Nature-Based Solutions, Technology, Energy, and Resilient Infrastructure
- Adaptation and Resilience
- Climate Finance and Africa-led Solutions
Green skills are central to equipping the continent’s largest demographic with the tools they need to drive sustainable industrialisation and climate resilience. This priority is underscored by the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) 2025-2034, which will also be amplified at Africa Skills Week 2025 in October.
As part of the broader ACS2 ecosystem, JLA will serve as thematic lead on green skills and employment within the Green Jobs and Just Transition Cluster of the Summit’s Non-State Actors (NSA) and Inclusivity Committee. Through this role, JLA will ensure the cluster’s insights feed directly into the NSA Declaration and post-ACS2 policy processes.
On September 10, it will also host a high-level side event at the Africa Pavilion, in partnership with the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (AUC-ESTI). This session will spotlight actionable strategies to build Africa’s green workforce, in collaboration with key partners including the Ethiopian Ministry of Planning and Development, UNECA, UNEP, Addis Ababa University, PACJA, WWF, AGRA, World Vision, P4G, SNV, and others.
JLA’s leadership builds on the ACS@ONE civil society-led convenings, hosted a year after the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. These six thematic convenings brought together diverse African voices to assess progress and propose practical, continent-driven solutions. A report capturing the key findings and recommendations was released in August 2025 ahead of ACS2, further contributing to Africa’s climate action agenda and can be found here.
Ahead of Addis, JLA will host the Pre-ACS2 Global Forum on Green Jobs & Skills on 1st September 2025. This virtual dialogue is designed for audiences unable to attend ACS2 in person, providing a platform for diverse voices to influence the future of green jobs and skills in Africa. (Register for the Pre-ACS2 Global Virtual Forum here).
With more than 45 Heads of State and Government, alongside ministers, development partners, youth leaders, civil society, and private sector representatives expected in Addis Ababa, ACS2 marks a pivotal moment for Africa-led climate action. Under the theme, “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” the Summit will showcase Ethiopia’s leadership and Africa’s collective commitment to shaping the global climate agenda.
Stay connected with Jacob’s Ladder Africa by following our ACS2 journey on social media, where we’ll be sharing updates, stories, and highlights from the summit.
For those attending in person, you are warmly invited to join us at the Green Jobs & Skills Pavilion as we continue driving the green workforce revolution that will power Africa’s climate and economic resilience by registering here: acs.jacobsladder.africa
