The African Development Bank, through the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has awarded a $1 million grant to the National Business Initiative (NBI) to strengthen efforts in building a dynamic, demand-led skills ecosystem. The goal is clear: to equip South Africans – especially young people – with the tools to access emerging job opportunities in the green economy.
South Africa faces ongoing challenges in youth employment, and initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP) are designed to change that. Led by NBI in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the programme brings together the private sector, government, and civil society to prepare the workforce for an inclusive energy transition.
The grant will support the programme’s first phase, which includes feasibility studies for innovative skills development zones and strengthening public technical and vocational training systems. These zones are expected to anchor the delivery of inclusive skills programmes while boosting local economic growth in communities most affected by the country’s energy transition.
Launched with the support of the Presidency’s JET Project Management Unit, JET SEP has already brought more than 30 influential CEOs, government leaders, and civil society organisations together to back the initiative. By aligning business, academia, and NGOs with government priorities, the programme ensures that workforce development efforts are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the real needs of the economy.
Kennedy Mbekeani, African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa, emphasised the catalytic role of the grant: “By linking a strong private sector coalition – the engine for job creation – with government, academia, and NGOs, this support will strengthen skills development, boost small business growth, and create opportunities for youth in South Africa’s green economy.”
For the NBI, the grant represents a chance to turn vision into action. CEO Shameela Soobramoney explained: “This grant is a critical step toward strengthening the national skills system and ensuring that South Africans are equipped to seize new opportunities in the green economy. We are committed to building an inclusive, future-ready workforce that stimulates local economies and leaves no one behind.”
Since 2007, the African Development Bank has invested more than $3 billion into South Africa’s energy sector, with renewable energy at the core of that commitment. The JET SEP grant builds on this momentum, ensuring that the shift to renewable energy also becomes a shift toward meaningful work, inclusive growth, and hope for the next generation.
At the heart of this story are young people, like the women already benefiting from NBI’s skills training programmes, gaining practical trade skills that contribute directly to South Africa’s green economy. Their journey reflects the broader promise of this initiative: a transition that creates opportunity, drives innovation, and empowers communities.
