The African Development Bank (AfDB), through the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has awarded a $1 million grant to South Africa’s National Business Initiative (NBI) to strengthen efforts aimed at building a dynamic, demand-led skills ecosystem.
The grant focuses on helping South Africans, especially young people, access emerging job opportunities in the green economy, as published on the AfDB website on Thursday.
The National Business Initiative is an independent business movement consisting of nearly 100 South African and multinational companies and will implement the grant.
South Africa continues to face high youth unemployment, with StatisticsSA reporting 46.1% unemployment among those aged 15 to 34 in the first quarter of 2025.
The funding will support the Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP), led by NBI in partnership with Boston Consulting Group.
This initiative coordinates private sector efforts to prepare the workforce for the energy transition and works alongside the government’s JET Skilling Implementation Plan, which focuses on inclusive workforce development and sustainable job creation.
The grant will finance the programme’s first phase, including feasibility studies for designing skills development zones and capacity building within the public technical and vocational education system.
These zones are intended to anchor inclusive skills delivery and foster local economic growth during South Africa’s energy transition.
Don’t Miss This:
AfDB Wins 2025 ‘Infrastructure Deal of the Year’ for Africa’s Largest Wind Power Project in Egypt
Launched in 2024 and endorsed by the JET Project Management Unit under the presidency, JET SEP has gained support from over 30 influential CEOs, public sector leaders, and civil society figures.
Kennedy Mbekeani, AfDB Director General for Southern Africa, said: “By linking a strong private sector coalition, the engine for job creation, with government, academia, and NGOs, the FAPA grant will play a catalytic role to support informed policy decisions in skills development and labour market programmes. It will also strengthen skills development efforts for the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the creation of jobs for youth in South Africa’s green economy.”
Since 2007, the African Development Bank has invested $3.4 billion in South Africa’s energy infrastructure, including renewables.
This grant will assist the government in identifying the skills required for the sector, especially renewable energy.
Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative, said: “This grant from the African Development Bank is a critical step toward turning vision into action, strengthening the national skills system, and ensuring that all South Africans are equipped to seize new opportunities in the green economy. We are proud to continue working alongside our partners and stakeholders to build an inclusive future-ready workforce and to stimulate local economies in a way that leaves no one behind.”
Don’t Miss This: AfDB Backs $100 Million Plan for Kigali to Build Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Urban Cable Car
Image Credit: African Development Bank
