28 November 2023, Geneva, Switzerland – On 9 November 2023, UNITAR Division for Prosperity held a programme launch and orientation for the Japan-funded training programme “Developing Green Livelihoods for Women and Youth in Africa: Strengthening Food Security, Supporting Climate Resilient Economies”. Through the programme, 150 women and youth participants from Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe with a passion for development will gain skills to support climate-resilient economies. It will run from November 2023 to February 2024 and have online and in-person elements.

Guests of the launch and orientation included government officials, programme partners and participants of the new programme.

Guests and Moderator for the Green Livelihood Training Programme in Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
UNITAR

Mr. Michael Adalla, Programme Officer, UNITAR Division for Prosperity, welcomed the participants and highlighted that UNITAR hopes to contribute to the countries’ development goals that facilitate green growth, youth development and gender equality.

The programme aims to empower women and youth through providing them with skills to enhance both their own and their communities’ livelihoods, for a sustainable future. —Michael Adalla, Programme Officer, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR.

H.E. Satoshi Tanaka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Zimbabwe, thanked UNITAR for implementing the programme. The Ambassador acknowledged the impact of climate change on the lives and livelihoods of communities, women and youth in African countries like Zimbabwe. He expressed his hopes for the programme participants: that they build on their experiences, skills and traditional knowledge, be catalysts for transformational change and pioneer the transition to green economies – thereby enhancing sustainable livelihoods in their communities.

Ms. Naome Chimbetete, Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, provided a walk-through of the training programme structure and objectives, including the programme’s phased approach.

  • Phase 1 (November to December 2023) will provide training critical to generating project proposals for green livelihoods. It will cover climate change and green enterprise, entrepreneurship, generating and evaluating business ideas, financial planning and literacy. 
  • Phase 2 (January to February 2024) will cover marketing, staffing, legal responsibilities, costing and financial planning.
  • Phase 3 (February to March 2024) will involve in-person training in Japan. Participants will pitch their business plans and be trained on topics such as record-keeping and stock control.

This training programme will include a Geographical Information System (GIS) course and its application to green livelihood development. The course will be provided by Eukarya Inc.

Mr. Kenya Tamura and Mr. Taichiro Fujino of Eukarya Inc. explained how participants will learn GIS skills to transform spatial data into meaningful information. Such skills will be especially useful for work in agriculture, environmental conservation and disaster management.

Ms. Caroline Raradza, Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, expressed gratitude to UNITAR and the Government of Japan for their recognition of the role women and youth play in national development.

LAUNCH EVENT AGENDA

Opening remarks

  • Mr. Michael Adalla, Programme Officer, Division for Prosperity, UNITAR
  • Ms. Naome Chimbetete, Commissioner, Zimbabwe Gender Commission

Keynote speeches

  • H. E Satoshi Tanaka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Zimbabwe, Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe (remote participation)
  • Mr. Kenya Tamura, CEO, Eukarya Inc.
  • Ms. Caroline Paradza, Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development
  • Ms. Axila Chikava, Head of Credit, Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank
  • Mr. Obert Ngwenya, CEO, of Zimbabwe Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation
  • Ms. Juliana Kariri, Legal and Compliance Manager, Zimbabwe National Youth Council

Training programme orientation

  • Ms. Monicah Wangeci, Project Coordinator (Nairobi), UNITAR
  • Ms. Tariro Chipepera, Director of Community Development, Zimbabwe Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, SMEs Development.
  • Mr. Eliam Mahohoma, social scientist and research and development expert
  • Mr. Taichiro Fujino, Business Development Specialist, Eukarya Inc.

 

ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAMME

“Developing Green Livelihoods for Women and Youth in Africa: Strengthening Food Security, Supporting Climate Resilient Economies” will train women and youth from Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to create inclusive, environmentally responsible and viable businesses and livelihood opportunities that contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation. The programme will cover topics such as climate change and green enterprise, entrepreneurship, generating and evaluating business ideas, financial planning and literacy and GIS.

The programme will run from November 2023 to February 2024 and will be delivered in online and in-person formats. Thanks to the generous financial support from the Government and People of Japan, this programme is being offered to the participants free of charge.

ABOUT UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations. In 2022, UNITAR trained over 395,000 learners around the world to support their actions for a better future. In addition to our headquarters in Geneva, we have offices in Hiroshima, New York and Bonn and networks around the world.

The Division for Prosperity is based in the Hiroshima Office and Geneva. We seek to shape an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world through world-class learning and knowledge-sharing services on entrepreneurship, leadership, finance and trade, digital technologies, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We empower individuals from least-developed countries, countries emerging from conflict, and small-island developing states – especially women and young people – to bring about positive change.

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