Empowering South Asia’s Youth for a Greener Future: ILO and UNICEF held a regional webinar on Skills for Green Jobs

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF jointly hosted a regional webinar titled “Skills for Green Jobs: Empowering Adolescents and Young People in South Asia”, bringing together policymakers, skills practitioners, academia, and youth advocates, a total of 70 participants from 22 countries. 

The webinar spotlighted the urgent need to equip South Asia’s youth with the skills required for a just transition. With participation from UNEP, the World Bank, and national partners such as the Skill Council for Green Jobs (India), the webinar served as a platform to share innovative practices, policy insights, and youth-led initiatives.

A Call for Action

In his welcome address, Mr. Satoshi Sasaki, Deputy Director, Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, ILO, emphasized the transformative potential of skills for green jobs in addressing climate change, economic inequality, and youth unemployment. He highlighted the ILO’s commitment to a “just transition” and added “South Asia’s large youth population is a powerful asset. By investing in green skills, we can unlock opportunities for decent work, social equity, and environmental sustainability,”.

Understanding Skills for Green Jobs and Just Transition

The webinar featured a conceptual session led by Pragya Gurung, Adolescent Development Specialist, UNICEF and Yukari Kanamori, Technical Officer, ILO, who outlined that skills for green jobs include not only sector-specific technical skills but also core skills such as problem-solving, leadership, and innovation. The session also clarified the distinction between a “green transition” - the shift to a low-carbon economy - and a “just transition,” which ensures that this shift is equitable and inclusive, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Regional Perspectives and Country Initiatives

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Memon, Regional Coordinator, UNEP, provided a regional overview, noting the increasing demand for green jobs in response to climate challenges and the need for coordinated policy and skills development.

The panel discussion showcased country-level innovations:

Bhutan’s UPSHIFT Programme, presented by Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist, UNICEF Bhutan, empowers youth with 21st-century skills through experiential learning and social innovation projects, reaching over 25,000 young people.

Bangladesh’s Alternative Learning Pathway (ALP), presented by Mr. Md. Mostafa Kamal, Education Officer, UNICEF Bangladesh, targets NEET youth, especially women, with green entrepreneurship training. Success stories illustrated the program’s impact in youth-led eco-friendly handicrafts business and solar repair training in Rohingya camps.

ILO’s programme on Green Jobs in Bangladesh, presented by Mr. A.N.M. Tanjel Ahsan, National Programme Officer, ILO Bangladesh, has made comprehensive interventions since 2008 ranging from policy advisory, research, capacity building, development of guidelines and tools, project implementation and knowledge sharing. 

India’s Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ), presented by Arpit Sharma, CEO, SCGJ, has trained nearly 600,000 individuals in green sectors such as renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. SCGJ’s work in gender inclusion and green hydrogen skilling was also highlighted.

Looking Ahead

The webinar concluded with a Q&A session and a shared commitment to scaling up green skills development across South Asia. Some key takeaways include the need for Stronger policy frameworks and financing for skills training for green jobs; Greater inclusion of women and marginalized youth; and Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.