Africa is a land of boundless potential, filled with young people and some of the richest natural resources. Yet, millions of young people remain unemployed, and the continent faces rising climate threats, from droughts to unprecedented floods. Ironically, these very challenges present an opportunity for Africa’s transformation. Sellah Bogonko, Marceline Obuya, and Bilha Ndirangu co-founded Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) initiative to address some of these challenges.
Sellah Bogonko, a public policy expert with experience in both public and private sectors, has dedicated her career to finding sustainable solutions to youth unemployment in Africa. Marceline Obuya is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in the finance sector. She is passionate about business development, community engagement, and sustainability, and her background in financial services and commitment to developing talent make her a key member of the leadership team. Bilha Ndirangu is a transformational leader and serial entrepreneur with years of experience building sustainable businesses across various sectors in Africa. Together, the three women co-founded Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA), which aims to address youth unemployment through climate action.
The organisation focuses on green skills development, climate entrepreneurship, and strategic policy advocacy. JLA empowers the next generation to take charge of Africa’s environmental and economic future. These visionary women recognised that Africa’s future lies in empowering youth and creating opportunities in the green economy. They aim to create 30 million jobs in Africa’s green economy by 2033.
They collaborate with various organisations and governments to equip African youth with climate-friendly skills, facilitating sustainable development and employment opportunities. These partnerships have been pivotal in designing and implementing projects that create green jobs at the grassroots level.
In Kenya, JLA has partnered with the government to host the inaugural Green Jobs and Skills Development National Workshop. This event brought together stakeholders from the private and public sectors, development partners, youth-led organisations, policymakers, and research institutions. The workshop aimed to review existing policies on green jobs and skills development, assess their implementation, and establish a coordinated approach to equip young people for roles in the green economy effectively.
Together, they launched Green Lab, a comprehensive incubation program that nurtures and empowers young African entrepreneurs in the green economy. The program offers tailored mentorship, industry networking, secure funding for sustainable business ideas, and specialised training in green entrepreneurship, enabling participants to transform creative ideas into sustainable, market-ready startups.
A notable example of GreenLabs’ impact is the “Powering Food Systems Innovation Challenge.” A hackathon-style competition that explores how renewable energy can transform food systems. Young entrepreneurs get a chance to examine how renewable energy can improve food. Finalists with the best ideas receive full sponsorship for the nine-month GreenLabs incubation program, which provides expert guidance, business training, and networking opportunities to help develop their ideas into viable startups.
More so, JLA collaborates with local communities to design and implement grassroots projects that engage young intrapreneurs across various sectors. Bogonko, Obuya, and Ndirangu’s passion for sustainable development and belief in the potential of African youth is a significant driving force behind the creation of Jacob’s Ladder Africa and they are committed to equipping young people with the skills and opportunities needed to drive sustainable development in the green economy.
