INCLUDE Knowledge Platform

???? How are agribusinesses in Africa leveraging digital and green technologies to create decent jobs for youth? As part of our research partnership Green Jobs and the Future of Work, the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform and the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) are exploring this question through interviews, focus groups, and deep dives into real-world agribusiness experiences. In this latest slide deck, we share insights from youth agripreneurs and agribusinesses on how they’re overcoming barriers and unlocking opportunities with green and digital solutions. ?? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dTb5s9dx ?? What’s next? We’re diving deeper with two case studies on agribusinesses using digital technologies in different contexts—extracting lessons, best practices, and insights to improve youth inclusion in agriculture. Stay tuned! Thank you to our partners SOWIT | AgriTech and AgriFinance, ThriveAgric, Auxfin, and Hello Tractor for their contributions to this research! #YouthEmployment #Agribusiness #GreenJobs #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork

??Join us for an exciting webinar on TVET and the Green Transition! ?? As countries move toward greener economies, how can education and training systems prepare Africa’s workforce with the skills needed for a sustainable future? This webinar will explore how education and training systems can adapt to meet the demands of a changing labor market while contributing to climate action. Our key objectives are to explore: ?? TVET’s role in driving the green transition ?? Green skills for Africa’s workforce ?? Insights from experts across sectors ?? Opportunities for international cooperation We look forward to engaging discussions that inspire action for a greener future in Africa. ?? Date: Thursday, March 20 ? Time: 11am CET ?? Venue: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration) ?? Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/dgDxAA_B ??? Keynote Speakers: ?? Nicholas Omondi Ouma – Senior Youth Advisor, African Union Commission ?? Susanne M. Nielsen – Green Skills Expert, European Training Foundation (ETF) ?? Siri Lijfering – Senior Knowledge Manager, INCLUDE Knowledge Platform ?? Sergio Lagarde Caba?ero – Coordinator of the Action in Africa, Mundus ?? Panel Discussion: ?? Christopher Anso – Director, JOBITECH-Ibolo Obosi (VET School, Nigeria) ?? Richard Addo-Gyamfi – Regional Director, Ghana TVET Service ?? Hon. (Prof) Robinah K. Nanyunja – President & Chair, Uganda Solar Energy Association ?? Dr. Norbert Edomah – Associate Professor, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. SHINE - Solar Hands-on training and International Network of Exchange | Mundus #GreeningTVET #SolarEnergy #AfricanSolar

Investing in Green Skills for Africa’s Energy Transition ?? What does it take to build the foundation for Africa’s green energy transition? The short read ‘Greening TVET for the Solar Industry in Africa’, produced by INCLUDE, distils key insights from SHINE, a collaborative initiative driving sustainable energy skills across the continent. From closing green skills gaps to aligning vocational training with solar industry needs, this resource charts a clear path to a just energy transition?? ?? Explore the short read here: https://lnkd.in/dPvzyAan Together, let’s empower communities, build green economies, and advance sustainable energy solutions for Africa’s future. SHINE - Solar Hands-on training and International Network of Exchange | Mundus #GreeningTVET #SolarEnergy #AfricanSolar

???Looking Back: International Development Cooperation – Reflections & Future Directions ? On Wednesday, Jan Pronk,?former Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation at the Government of the Netherlands?and Special Representative Secretary General United Nations?in Sudan, shared his insights on the past, present, and future of Dutch #development cooperation during an event co-organized by INCLUDE Knowledge Platform?Knowledge Platform?and the African Studies Centre Leiden. His reflections sparked engaging discussions on the evolving dynamics in the field and the role of the Netherlands moving forward. ? Pronk emphasized the importance of #research-driven dialogue in shaping #inclusive policies, highlighting the need for renewed knowledge and analysis—especially regarding countries often overlooked in the West.“?We need to reintroduce and embrace local communities’ perspectives in the Netherlands,”?he stated, noting that current trends are moving in the opposite direction. He also stressed that today’s global crises—#climatechange, #refugee movements, democratic erosion, threats of mass destruction, biodiversity loss, and economic stagnation—are interconnected and require holistic, values-driven approaches rooted in #solidarity and #equity. Knowledge institutions play a key role in addressing these intertwined challenges. ? ??A thought-provoking conversation with valuable takeaways for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike! ? Anika Altaf ? #DevelopmentCooperation #InternationalDevelopment #PolicyDialogue #Africa #INCLUDE #ASCL #KnowledgeExchange #InclusiveDevelopment

?? Greening TVET for Rural Empowerment in Uganda ?? How can green skills training transform rural areas and fuel inclusive economic growth? This SHINE case study, carried out by INCLUDE, offers a guide for Uganda’s renewable energy journey, focusing on building TVET programmes that bridge the solar energy skills gap. Explore how Uganda is equipping its workforce to meet renewable energy goals, expand rural electrification, and drive inclusive development. ?? Read the Uganda case study here: https://lnkd.in/d5fqGHe5 SHINE - Solar Hands-on training and International Network of Exchange | Mundus #GreeningTVET #SolarEnergy #AfricanSolar

?? How Can Formalizing Informal Waste Pickers Transform Nigeria’s Waste Economy? ?? We are excited to share our most recent report: Formalizing the Informal Waste Picker Economy for Sustainable Development in Nigeria, conducted by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies. This research explores the critical role informal waste pickers play in Nigeria’s waste management system and the steps needed to integrate their contributions into the formal economy. Based on fieldwork in Abuja and Lagos, the report highlights key insights, including:? ?? The essential role of informal waste pickers (baban bola in the North and omo gbonla in the Southwest) in managing 59.3% of Nigeria’s waste ?? The barriers waste pickers face, from societal stigmatization and hazardous working conditions to financial exclusion ?? How government-led formalization efforts can enhance environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social inclusion ?? Actionable recommendations for policymakers to improve working conditions, ensure legal protections, and foster financial inclusion The findings show that while informal waste pickers are a cornerstone of Nigeria’s waste management system, formalizing their operations is an essential to unlocking their full potential for sustainable development. ?? Dive into the full report to explore how integrating informal waste pickers into formal systems can drive environmental, economic, and social progress: https://lnkd.in/eQf55D4W #Sustainability #WasteManagement #InclusiveDevelopment #Nigeria #PolicyReform #EconomicGrowth #EnvironmentalImpact

?? Big week at Amsterdam Cocoa Week – Including two key outputs! ?? Last week at Amsterdam Cocoa Week, INCLUDE, together with Anna Laven, put a crucial topic on the agenda: invisible farmers and workers in the cocoa value chain. ??A closed multi-stakeholder session with policymakers, private sector actors, academic researchers, and Civil Society Organisations to discuss the topic of invisible farmers and workers and how to include them in policies and programmes. ??A panel discussion, ‘Why should we care more for invisible farmers and workers in the cocoa supply chain?’, moderated by Anika Altaf and Anna Laven During this panel, we launched our report: ‘Behind Bars: Invisible Farmers and Workers in the Cocoa Supply Chain’ and we are proud to share the report and policy brief here: ?? the full report: https://lnkd.in/dzw3qcwz ?? the policy brief: https://lnkd.in/dR6pgKji Thank you to everyone who joined our two sessions at Cocoa Week! Your engagement and insights are invaluable as we continue to work together to build a more inclusive cocoa sector?? World Cocoa Foundation, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Chocoa, KIT, CBI - Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, Meridia, Tony's Chocolonely, IDH, Netherlands Enterprise Agency , Rabobank, Mars Wrigley, Wageningen University & Research, Rainforest Alliance, Sustainable Food Lab, Fairtrade Nederland (Max Havelaar), Sunbeth Global Concepts, NewForesight, WageMap, International Cocoa Initiative, From The Desk of CocoaRadar, Confectionery Production #Chocoa2025 #CocoaIndustry #SustainableCocoa

? Powering Nigeria’s Solar Potential: A Roadmap for Green Skills ?? Nigeria’s solar energy future is brimming with potential, yet a lack of cohesive TVET programmes presents significant hurdles to growth in the solar energy industry. What is needed to turn this potential into sustainable growth? Developed by INCLUDE as part of the SHINE project, this case study highlights a cohesive approach to greening TVET in Nigeria—aligning training programs to meet industry needs, tackling unemployment, and preparing a skilled workforce for a solar-powered future. ?? Discover Nigeria’s roadmap to bridging green skills gaps: https://lnkd.in/d87k-iwS SHINE - Solar Hands-on training and International Network of Exchange | Mundus #GreeningTVET #SolarEnergy #AfricanSolar

?? Unlocking Ghana’s Green Energy Future through TVET ?? How can we bridge the technical skills gap to meet Ghana’s growing solar energy ambitions? This SHINE case study, carried out by INCLUDE, provides a detailed roadmap for greening TVET in Ghana, offering solutions to strengthen the solar workforce while supporting sustainable development. ?? Dive into insights on policy innovation, institutional collaboration, and practical strategies to prepare Ghana’s youth for a green energy transition. ?? Explore the Ghana case study here: https://lnkd.in/dwmhS5jg SHINE - Solar Hands-on training and International Network of Exchange | Mundus #GreeningTVET #SolarEnergy #AfricanSolar