Second Phase of The Green Innovations Hub Kicks Off

By Shepherd Mutsiwegota

The second phase of the Green Innovations Hub kicked off in Harare with implementers pledging to simultaneously tackle the challenges of climate change and youth unemployment.

This second phase of the project which began in 2015, will be implemented with funding from the Embassy of Sweden in partnership with UNICEF. The GiHub is an incubation space that aims to ignite social change by inviting young people to develop creative solutions that can contribute to sustainable development. Young entrepreneurs have in the GiHub project been invited to come up with ideas for sustainable products and services that promote renewable energy, environmental sustainability and help fight climate change.

“The Embassy of Sweden recognises young people as key investors in green economic development in Zimbabwe. We are pleased to support an initiative that aims to tap into the innovation and creativity of young women and men to turn their ideas into practical solutions to the pertinent dual challenge of climate change and youth unemployment, through the creation of green and decent jobs” said Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, Ms. Maria Selin.

The GiHub presents for youths in Zimbabwe a unique opportunity to address the dual challenge of climate change and youth unemployment in the country through innovative solutions which use indigenous, clean and renewable energy whilst addressing social and community needs. This phase has three components — Green Schools, Green Jobs and Green Innovations which are being implemented by the partners Action 24, Boost Fellowship and SNV respectively.

“Young people have a vital role to play as they are key to contributing to sustainable development: they are the present and the future and therefore young people must be equipped to safeguard the environment for generations to come,” said UNICEF Representative, Dr. Mohamed Ayoya. “By tapping into their creativity and knowledge for ideas there is greater opportunity to harness their ideas for sustainable solutions.”

Earlier this year the Embassy of Sweden contributed US$773 000.00 (7 million Sweden Krona), towards this second phase in order to further engage the initially funded projects and also recruit more entrepreneurs from those who submitted their ideas in the initial call.

“The Ministry of women and Youth Affairs stands ready to participate in the GiHUB phase II project having already developed a framework to harness the country’s youth demographic dividend and directing it towards the national broader development and economic growth agenda,” said Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs Permanent Secretarty, Dr. Desire Sibanda. “The Ministry is in the process of establishing an ecosystem within which innovative, enterprising and resilient young entrepreneurs can participate through various measures including skills development, market linkages, value chain development and financial inclusion. “

The long-term vision for this programme is to create excitement about developing more environmentally sustainable programmes that will make Zimbabwe a global leader in establishing a vibrant green economy while creating a new generation of environmentally conscious social entrepreneurs.