The second edition of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) is set to take place from September 8 to 10, 2025, at the Addis International Convention Centre (AICC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit will bring together over 45 heads of state and government, ministers, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society actors, and youth representatives to accelerate Africa-led solutions to the climate crisis.
This year, Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA), a Nairobi-based impact organization, is taking center stage with a strategic focus on green jobs, future-ready skills, and sustainable livelihoods. Through a series of high-profile engagements, JLA aims to drive tangible outcomes in climate-related employment and workforce development for Africa’s youth, women, and marginalized groups.
On September 10, JLA will host a high-level policy session at the Africa Pavilion in partnership with the African Union Commission’s Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (AUC-ESTI). The session will highlight strategies to equip Africa’s workforce with green skills, linking climate action to long-term job creation and economic transformation.
“Africa’s youth, women, and marginalized communities need real jobs and sustainable livelihoods, not empty promises,” said Sellah Bogonko, Co-Founder and CEO of JLA. “When supported, they become the innovators and changemakers driving Africa’s green transformation.”
Running concurrently with ACS2, JLA will also host the Green Jobs & Skills Pavilion — a solutions-driven platform designed to connect policymakers, private sector actors, youth leaders, and innovators around green workforce development.
The Pavilion will focus on high-potential sectors projected to drive Africa’s green economy, including:
- Renewable Energy – Expected to create 4.5 million jobs by 2030, driven by decentralized solar systems and clean cooking solutions.
- Sustainable Agriculture – Projected to unlock 700,000 jobs, with 377,000 opportunities coming from climate-smart farming technologies.
- E-Mobility – Anticipated to grow into a $2.85 billion market by 2030, generating employment across manufacturing, logistics, servicing, and software development.
The Pavilion will provide a collaborative space for innovation, investment, and policy alignment, ensuring Africa’s youth are better prepared to seize emerging opportunities in the green economy.
The African Union Commission, through AUC-ESTI, has prioritized green skills under the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) 2025–2034. The framework focuses on future-ready workforce development, enabling Africa to accelerate sustainable industrialization, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.
To build on the summit’s momentum, the African Union will also host Africa Skills Week 2025 in October, providing a continental platform for governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders to co-design solutions that scale green job opportunities.
JLA’s leadership at ACS2 builds upon the groundwork laid during ACS@ONE, a civil society-led initiative in late 2024 that reviewed progress since the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. By prioritizing actionable outcomes, JLA is working to ensure that climate action translates into economic empowerment for Africa’s most vulnerable communities.
This approach also aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, emphasizing investment in local innovation, youth empowerment, and sustainable development over aid dependency.
Co-convened by the Ethiopian government and the African Union Commission, ACS2 will focus on “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.” The summit aims to unlock climate finance, strengthen green partnerships, and position Africa as a leader in shaping global climate policy.
With its strong emphasis on green jobs and workforce readiness, ACS2 — and JLA’s active role in it — underscores Africa’s shift towards climate-resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven economic growth.
