Local and International experts to share policies, strategies, actions and business models for the promotion of private sector inclusive green growth and job creation. 

LUSAKA, (ILO News) – Employment, Labour and Commerce Ministers from Finland and Zambia together with over 120 policy makers and implementers, chief executive officers, senior managers and officials from private, public and civil society entities, employer and worker organisations, entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, innovators, academicians and researchers from more than 25 countries in Africa and elsewhere will from September 6 - 8, 2017 gather at Avani Hotel in Livingstone to discuss policy and actions for promoting inclusive green growth and the creation of decent green jobs.

High on the agenda will be innovative/sustainable approaches for the promotion of private sector led inclusive green growth strategies that result in more and better jobs for the youth.

For the business community, sustainability is more than mere window-dressing. By adopting sustainable practices, companies can gain competitive edge, increase their market share, and boost shareholder value. What's more, the growing demand for 'green' products has created major new markets in which sharp-eyed eco-entrepreneurs are reaping rewards.

The Africa Forum will promote business linkages and illuminate shared value models that businesses can adopt, and specific approaches and partnerships that they can use, to turn the principles of sustainable development into a competitive advantage for inclusive green growth and the creation of green decent jobs.

The high level event, which is jointly organised by the Finnish funded ILO Led Zambia Green Jobs Programme, Government of Zambia, Government of Finland, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Partnership for Green Economy (PAGE) and SWITCH Africa Green, will serve as a platform for sharing lessons and best practices, and showcasing innovative solutions to developing markets for green growth and job creation through private sector development.

The Africa Forum is in line with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal number eight on “promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” It falls under the ILO’s Green Centenary Initiative which marks ILO’s 100 years in promoting social justice and decent work. It also marks Finland’s 100 year celebrations and international development support. Minister of Employment of Finland Mr. Jari Lindstrom and his Zambian counterparts will plant a tree marking Finland’s 100 year celebrations and its continued development assistance in promoting green growth in Zambia.

The event will be officially opened by the Zambian Minister of Labour and Social Security Honourable Joyce Nonde Namukoko and Minister of Employment of Finland Mr. Jari Lindstrom. Other eminent participants that will be present at the event include Permanent Secretary Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Ms Kayla Siame,   Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Mr. Timo Olkkonen, International Labour Organisation Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Mr. Alexio Musindo and many others.

Among the key highlights of the Africa Forum is the high level signing ceremony for the SPIREWORK Social Protection Programme with the Minister of Labour and Social Security, National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and the Minister of Employment of Finland. 

Lusaka (ILO News): The Zambia Green Jobs Program (ZGJP) in conjunction with Saint-Gobain and Thorn Park Construction Training Centre offered training in dry wall partitioning and ceiling installation in Lusaka. The training was from the 10th to the 13th of July, 2017 at the Thorn Park Construction Training Centre. 

Kitwe - On Wednesday November 23rd Hon. Vincent Mwale, Minister of Local Government successfully launched the Sustainable Housing Guidelines and reiterated government commitment to the sustainable development agenda.

ZGJP, through its Access to Finance component, is collaborating with the Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF) on a training programme to develop capacity for the local financial sector to provide green finance to home-grown business entities.

On November 3, the Technical Committee of the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) Management Board approved the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) curriculum, developed by TEVETA with the technical and logistical support from the Zambia Green Jobs Programme.

Saint-Gobain, world leader in sustainable habitats and high performance construction materials joins hands with Zambia Green Jobs Programme in a skills upgrade initiative with Thornpark Construction Training Centre (TCTC).

The Zambia Green Jobs Programme hosted 4th Year students from the Copperbelt University School of Built Environment on Friday 21st October. The students were on a tour of green buildings in Lusaka as part of the ZGJP undertaking with the University.

Despite the vast potential in employment creation that the construction industry has, the sector is characterized by serious decent work deficits resulting from poor regulatory, governance and enforcement mechanisms and a severe lack of social protection programmes. With this in mind, the Zambia Green Jobs Programme (ZGJP), organised a two-day Social Protection training workshop for Micro, Small and Medium contractors on the 27th and 28th September 2016 at Cresta Golfview Hotel in Lusaka.

Globally, an estimated 2.3 million lives are lost each year from occupational accidents and work-related ailments and nearly 350,000 deaths result from occupational accidents, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Zambia Green Jobs Programme, through its stakeholders and private sector partners, is developing new and alternative initiatives to curb deforestation and introduce a green construction sector, of which forest management is a fundamental component.

Omba Lacey, one of the participants of the 2014 ILO led "Start and Improve Your Green Construction Business" training runs a thriving construction business in Lusaka. Using the knowledge she received, Omba has built several structures that include two shops and five residential flats in Solwezi. She has also built a government clinic in Lumwana using green means. The clinic was a collaboration effort between her company and the locals who supplied the compacted interlocking bricks that were used. At her house, Omba has done renovations and is building a stand-alone home office using locally sourced materials.

In its mission to address the need for affordable and environmental-friendly housing in Zambia, the Zambia Green Job's Programme (ZGJP) collaborates with organisations such as the People's Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia (PPHPZ). Through the National Housing Authority (NHA) the Ministry of Local Government has awarded PPHPZ with a public procurement contract to construct 100 low-cost sustainable houses.

During his inauguration speech given at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Tuesday 13th September, President Edgar Lungu reiterated his government's commitment to a green economy and sustainable development in Zambia.

In the latest issue of the Partners Guide Magazine, Zambia's premier media platform for reaching key business and policy decision makers, ZGJP is proudly covered.

Find out how the ILO led programme is contributing to the creation of better and decent jobs through the construction of easy to build, more affordable and sustainable green housing. Learn how ZGJP-Lafarge partnership has developed solutions and practices to help you build your dream home in a fraction of the cost of building the same house using conventional means.

Grab a copy today from all leading stores nationwide.

Midway through the year, we are happy to announce that the 2016 Zambia Green Jobs Programme semi-annual results reveal that the programme is well on track to meet its targets in the Zambian housing construction sector.

The latest edition of the ZGJP quarterly e-newsletter has been published. You may explore it here.

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The Zambia Green Jobs Programme took part in the first introduction of an innovative joint venture to bring low-carbon, affordable housing materials to developing countries.

The current shift towards green building construction in Zambia offers a great business opportunity for suppliers of green building materials as Zambians are becoming aware of the benefits of green building and sustainable construction. Residential housing property developers, architects, construction businesses and home-owners alike have seen the significant and exciting opportunity to green their procurement channels and projects with local suppliers of green building materials and technologies.

Office retail complex and Green Award winner Foxdale Court is organising a World Environment Day Expo this week on June 3 and 4 at their premises in Lusaka. The event is hosted together with the UN, Zambia Green Jobs Programme, Lusaka City Council, Zambia Environmental Management Agency, Zambia breweries Manja Pamodzi project, EcoZambia, Jiivana, Kukula Capital, Ministry of Lands Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

During the first ever Zambia Social Protection Week, representatives of the Zambia Green Jobs Programme social protection component shared experience and best practices on how to extend social protection to workers in the informal  economy.