Source: Sweden, Unicef sign funding pact | The Herald April 25, 2017
Lionel Depute Herald Reporter
The Swedish government has signed a funding agreement worth $773 000 with Unicef, that will see the creation of employment for young Zimbabweans.
The funding is meant to scale up the Global Innovations Hub set up to ignite creative ideas and unlock young people’s potential to environmental sustainability and renewable energy innovations.
The project seeks to address the dual challenge of climate change and youth unemployment.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement, Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe Sofia Calltorp said this was the first programme they were funding that would provide both economic development and jobs for young people.
“We are proud that this first programme is one that aims to ignite social change and unlock young people’s potential to achieve sustainable economic development, green innovations and green jobs,” she said.
Unicef representative Dr Mohamed Ayoya said women would benefit more from the “green” jobs and increase the participation of young people in environmental sustainability.
“At the end of three years, the project will not only have strengthened the participation of young people in environmental sustainability and renewable energy, but also increased the number of young people employed in green jobs, especially females,” he said.
Dr Ayoya said the agreement was well timed in response to climate change.
“This agreement is timely because it comes at a time when the world, including Zimbabwe, is grappling with the effects of climate change and environmental degradation,” he said.
Earlier on this year, a number communities in the country were ravaged by severe floods, which resulted in disrupted lives and loss of life and property.
The floods caused by Cyclone Dineo are a direct result of climate change.
Dr Ayoya said the project sought to address obstructions to energy access.
“Energy demand in Zimbabwe is growing gradually at the rate of two percent per year, while access remains low, currently at 40 percent,” he said.
“There are still numerous barriers to energy access, among them lack of finance and technology; this project seeks to address some of these challenges by creating a platform for young people to come up with smart energy solutions.”
Dr Ayoya said details of a media campaign to be launched soon where young people will submit their ideas would be revealed in due course.
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