Don Bosco Tech Africa Conference calls for Green Transition

A historic pan-African continental conference was organized jointly by Don Bosco Tech Africa and the African Union Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the conference is “Empowering Africa’s Youth through Harmonised and Strengthened TVET Systems for Sustainable Development.” The three-day conference, being held from 17 to 19 August, has brought together more than a hundred policymakers, TVET regulators, practitioners, development partners, and private-sector actors.

 The second day of the conference saw a special focus on the “green transition” that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) needs to undertake across the African continent. Fr Savio Silveira, representing the Don Bosco Green Alliance, began his keynote address by highlighting the triple planetary crisis we are presently witnessing – climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss – which are largely driven by unsustainable production and consumption, as well as the overextraction of natural resources. In the face of this crisis, he advocated a shift from harmful industrial systems and an exploitative economy towards a Green Economy. UNEP defines a Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

 Fr Silveira explained that this is not about restricting production, development or growth; rather, it is about reimagining production, reshaping development and redefining growth through responsible production, sustainable development and green growth. In this context, he pointed out that TVET could offer a threefold pathway towards the transition to a Green Economy through green skills, green innovation and green entrepreneurship.

 While green skills help prepare a workforce for green industries, green innovation empowers students to create the next generation of green solutions, and green entrepreneurship enables innovators to bring those solutions to the market and create jobs. Fr Silveira then highlighted the skills and competencies required to prepare TVET students for this green transition. He concluded his presentation by inviting the training institutes to adopt the UNESCO-UNEVOC Green TVET framework.

 As Africa stands at a defining moment – where the urgency of economic transformation meets the imperative of environmental sustainability – TVET has the power to be a game-changer. With the world's youngest and fastest-growing population, the continent possesses an unparalleled demographic advantage that can drive inclusive economic growth. By equipping young people with future-ready green skills and an innovation mindset, TVET can help bridge the continent’s skills gap, accelerate the green economy and transform environmental challenges into opportunities for prosperity and resilience.

 Don Bosco Tech Africa is playing a critical role in building the future of Africa’s green economy. The present conference, organized by DB Tech Africa in collaboration with the African Union, with the support of Don Bosco Mondo, Germany, is certainly a major milestone on the pathway towards a green transition.