Africa's workforce at a crossroads amid climate change

WHILE the winds of change sweep across Africa, they carry both promise and peril. As the continent grapples with the relentless march of climate change, its workforce stands at a pivotal juncture — one that demands urgent, strategic action to avert economic devastation and harness the opportunities of a green future.

This was the resounding message from a high-level side event at the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), where policymakers, economists, and development experts convened to dissect the findings of the Economic Report on Africa 2023 and 2024.

The report paints a stark picture: Africa’s labour market is under siege from climate-induced disruptions, yet it also holds the seeds of a transformative green revolution — if leaders act decisively.

Nadia Ouedraogo, economic affairs officer at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), laid bare the vulnerability of the continent’s workforce. A staggering 83% of employment on the continent remains informal, concentrated in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, construction, and services. These jobs — often the lifeline for millions — are now on the frontline of climate change.

“Women and youth bear the brunt of this crisis,” Ouedraogo said. “When droughts wither crops, when floods wash away infrastructure, it is they who suffer first — losing incomes, slipping deeper into poverty.”

Zuzana Schwidrowski, the director of the ECA’s macroeconomic policy division, echoed these concerns but struck a note of cautious optimism. “Yes, climate shocks are eroding growth, draining state coffers, and destabilising financial systems,” she said. “But within this upheaval lies an opportunity — for innovation, for structural transformation, for a new economic paradigm.”

The numbers are sobering. Andrew Mundalo Allieu, senior economist at the ILO Regional Office for Africa, revealed that 1.2 billion workers globally — many in Africa — depended on ecosystems now under threat. Rising temperatures alone were already costing the continent 2.3% of working hours — a figure projected to balloon into 14 million lost jobs in the next five years.

“We are witnessing a silent crisis,” Allieu said. “Farmers can no longer predict rains. Fishermen return with empty nets. Pastoralists are forced to migrate. The social fabric is fraying.”

The solution? Coordinated action — and fast. Etienne Espagne, senior climate economist at the World Bank, argued that Africa needed to leverage its regional strengths to build climate-resilient industries. “Renewable energy costs are falling, but uncertainty lingers,” he said. “Early investment in green infrastructure is non-negotiable.”

Uganda’s Sam Mugume Koojo, assistant commissioner for finance, issued a clarion call to policymakers and private sector leaders: “The time for half-measures is over. We need bold climate action that prioritises decent jobs and inclusive growth.”

The transition will not be painless. Fossil fuel-dependent economies, particularly in West and Central Africa, face job losses. Without targeted policies, inequality could deepen.

Yet, the potential rewards are immense. The carbon market alone could generate about 400 million jobs by 2050. Renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green tech offer fertile ground for employment — if Africa invests in skills, innovation, and gender equity.

Olapeju Ibekwe, chief executive of Sterling One Foundation, emphasised the need for public-private partnerships and women’s inclusion in green industries. “We cannot afford to leave anyone behind,” she said.

The stakes could not be higher. With 1°C of warming potentially slashing Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.2% by 2030, the continent must choose — between stagnation and reinvention, between vulnerability and resilience.

As the forum concluded, one truth stood unchallenged: Africa’s workforce will either be climate change’s greatest casualty — or its most triumphant architect. The clock is ticking.