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Skills for a Green Economy

October 25, 2021 por Mihwa Park - Emma Näslund-Hadley - Juan Roberto Paredes - Maria Fernanda Prada Leave a Comment


Small island states are particularly vulnerable to climate change. In response to this common threat, a greener, resilient and more sustainable economy is a common goal for the English-speaking Caribbean. Countries have pledged to mitigate climate change and increase the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. While this resolve is praiseworthy, the transition to renewable energy is hampered by the need for qualified professionals. At least 27,066 renewable energy professionals are required to fulfill national clean energy targets in these countries. This includes jobs in installation, operation and maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure such as solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants.  

Renewable Energy can Create Jobs 

The energy transition is probably the best job creation opportunity of any sector in the decades to come. A recent study from the IDB estimated that a net-zero carbon emissions economy in Latin America and the Caribbean could create 15 million net jobs in the next decade. The region is very well positioned to achieve this considering the tremendous natural resources at hand, the cheapest renewable electricity worldwide and the largest copper and lithium reserves necessary for the looming revolution and electrification of the transport sector.  But first, we need to train our people to seize this opportunity, facing a green social development. 

With 57% of Belize’s electricity supply from renewable energy, the country surpasses the average for small island countries (13.6%2).  Yet, the country will not reach its goal of 85 percent of renewable energy by 2030, unless more professionals are trained. The skill gap is felt keenly in the renewable energy sector. As Marbelie Lozano, manager at Solar Energy Solutions Belize Limited puts it “The lack of technical degrees in renewable energy makes it very challenging for a company operating in the solar energy sector. We have to train our own professionals to install solar systems. We offer them our very own 4-week course including hands-on training as there aren’t any complete technical degrees in the country for installing solar systems.” Of course, what the training companies are currently providing is an immediate business solution that cannot substitute a comprehensive technical training in renewable energy with a formal degree.  

Technical Education to Help Close the Renewable Energy Skills Gap 

To help close the green economy skills gap, the IDB has joined forces with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MOECST), Solar Energy Solutions Belize (SESB), the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and other private sector partners to start a modern technical and vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem in the country. Nova Scotia Community College, an institution with extensive experience in technical and vocational education and the development of skills for the green economy, will develop and implement a 2-year renewable energy program at the Belize City Institute for Vocational Technical Education and Training (ITVET). This program will be launched in January 2022.  

The vision in the medium term is to promote Belize as a laboratory for innovation in skills formation on green energy for the English-speaking Caribbean. Belize has a small population which makes the country the perfect setting for testing models and materials that can be scaled, adapted, and transferred to its neighbors in the Caribbean. Once validated and evaluated, all content will be made available for countries across the region through a community of practice and an online knowledge-sharing platform that will work as an information repository. In addition, this project presents a key opportunity for a tourism-depended economy (39% of Belize’s GDP) to diversify sources of growth and employment after the harsh consequences of COVID-19. By creating opportunities to train youth to work in renewable energies, this project will offer highly qualified professionals to a new industry with high employment generation potential that also supports the transition to the green economy. 

This project is funded by the Multi-Donor Fund for the Transformation of TVET in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Fund was formally established in October 2019 with the contribution of the Governments of Germany and Switzerland with the objective of financing innovative solutions aimed at creating or consolidating modern, private sector-led skills ecosystems to prepare the region to successfully face the challenges of the future of work. 

How do we boost green skills across LAC? How do we entice youth to pursue green careers? Share your comments with us in the section below, or comment on #climateskills #energytransition #sutainability #climateaction #greenjobs #buildbackbetter  


Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: #buildbackbetter, #climateaction, #climateskills, #energytransition, #greenjobs, #sutainability, #Vision2025, green economy, GreenEducation, youth

Mihwa Park

Mihwa Park is a consultant at the Social Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank, working on digital projects in Social Protection and Health Division, and Education Division. She holds a master's degree in International economics and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Emma Näslund-Hadley

Emma is a Lead Education Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington DC, where she directs and collaborates in the design and execution of a wide range of education sector projects and reforms throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Emma’s research spans pre-primary through secondary education, focusing on discovering learning processes in the classroom that promote children’s development of conceptual, generalizable knowledge in mathematics and science. Previously she held positions with the European Parliament and the United Nations. Emma has a master’s degree in international economics and finance from the University of Linkoping and a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University.

Juan Roberto Paredes

Juan es responsable de la asesoría técnica de los proyectos en energías renovables financiados por el banco, incluyendo eólicos y solares. También ha trabajado con varios gobiernos de la región en estudios y diseño de políticas para la integración de las energías renovables no convencionales en los sistemas eléctricos, redes inteligentes y proyectos de integración eléctrica regional. Anteriormente ha estado vinculado con desarrolladores privados y consultorías de proyectos en energía renovable en Alemania, España y el Reino Unido. Ha realizado estudios de Ingeniería Mecánica y Física en la Universidad de Los Andes en Bogotá, Colombia y una maestría en Energías Renovables de la Universidad de Oldenburg en Alemania. También cuenta con cursos de especialización en Infraestructura de la Universidad de Harvard, Energía y Cambio Climático en el MIT, e Innovación en Energía en la Universidad de Stanford. Sigue a Juan en Twitter: @juanrenovable

Maria Fernanda Prada

Maria Fernanda Prada es economista y trabaja en la División de Educación del BID desde Mayo de 2016. Dirige y colabora en proyectos de investigación y operativos relacionados con educación y empleabilidad en la era digital, educación técnica y desarrollo de habilidades. Antes de unirse a la División de Educación, trabajó en la División de Mercados Laborales y Seguridad Social del BID. También ha trabajado en los Departamentos de Investigación del BID y del Banco Mundial en Washington, DC, y en el Centro de Estudios sobre Desarrollo Económico de la Universidad de Los Andes en Bogotá, Colombia. Maria Fernanda tiene un Doctorado en Economía de la Universidad de Maryland, y es Economista con Maestría en Economía de la Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia).

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Education In Focus

"Education In Focus" is the Education Division's blog, a space where our specialists and guest authors share their reflections, experiences and knowledge to promote informed discussions on educational issues among policy makers, experts, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders. Our goal: to provide insights to public policies that guarantee effective and quality education for all children and young people in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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