This webinar contributes to ongoing discussions on “Green Economy and Rural Livelihoods in Africa: Policies and Implementation Pathways.” It aims to strengthen understanding of how green economy approaches can help transform rural livelihoods, build climate-resilient communities, and advance sustainable development across the continent. The event will provide an interactive platform to examine policies, strategies, and practical implementation pathways for an inclusive green transition in diverse African rural contexts. Given the central role rural communities play in agricultural production, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management, the discussions will explore how green economy models can increase incomes, strengthen resilience, and reduce environmental vulnerability.

To deepen the discussion, the webinar will feature three speakers addressing key strategic themes. (1) Policy Coherence for an Inclusive Green Economy will examine how African governments can better align climate, energy, agriculture, and rural development policies to create enabling conditions for green transitions. (2) Green Technologies and Climate-Smart Innovations for Rural Livelihoods will highlight practical experiences from the Africa RISING program, which provides real-world lessons on how sustainable agricultural innovations can strengthen rural livelihoods and climate resilience. (3) Financing and Implementation Pathways for Community-Level Green Initiatives will explore financing mechanisms, institutional arrangements, and community-driven models that can support scalable and sustainable green interventions.

Speakers:

• Dr. Cecy Balogun - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Race, Gender and Class, University of Johannesburg
• Dr. Jama Mashele Mohale - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre of Ecological Intelligence, University of Johannesburg
• Dr. Carlo Azzarri – Senior Research Fellow in the Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit at IFPRI
• Mr. Devandran Pillay  - Presidential Climate Commission, South Africa

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