Nairobi, Kenya, 6th September 2023 – In a groundbreaking announcement at the Africa Climate Summit, Kenya’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports, and The Arts, Ababu Namwamba, unveiled a transformative partnership aimed at training one million youth from the Green Army on adaptation and leadership. This innovative initiative, a collaboration between the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), the University of Nairobi, the University of Groningen, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, marks a significant step towards building a resilient and climate-aware generation.
Green Army Initiative
The Green Army Initiative, spearheaded by youth-led organizations including the Youth Empowerment and Development Foundation (YED-F), the Kenya Youth in Forestry, and the National Youth Council, aligns with Kenya’s ambitious National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign. This campaign aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land.
Speaking at the High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue hosted by GCA, Minister Ababu Namwamba emphasized the need to empower young people as effective warriors for climate adaptation. The initiative plans to deploy trainers from diverse fields such as music, film, fashion, pageantry, arts, theatre, and sports to mobilize communities, raise awareness, and enhance local resilience. Participants in the program will receive certificates to further advance their careers in climate action.
Professor Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA, expressed the organization’s commitment to collaborating with the Kenyan government to equip young leaders with the knowledge and skills to champion climate adaptation. The partnership seeks to cultivate a new generation of leaders dedicated to creating a greener, safer, and more prosperous future for Africa.
The training program will leverage the “Toolkit for Youth on Adaptation and Leadership,” launched by Hon. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Minister for International Development, Norway. This resource aims to equip young individuals with the expertise to engage in climate adaptation policy, advocacy, and action.
As Kenya positions itself as a hub for climate resilience, the Green Army Initiative becomes a catalyst for meaningful youth engagement in the global fight against climate change. The program is not just a training ground; it is a rallying call for the youth to become leaders, advocates, and ambassadors for a sustainable and climate-conscious future.
This partnership underscores the collective determination to address climate challenges head-on, leveraging the passion and energy of Kenya’s youth to create lasting change on the African continent and beyond.