Green Jobs for Rural Youth

Youth unemployment is at an all-time high in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. At the same time, populations are growing rapidly in these regions, increasing the need for meaningful employment opportunities. Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) technologies offer a promising solution by creating sustainable growth and green jobs. DRE technologies generate green electricity near the point of use, reducing reliance on centralized power plants, increasing productivity, and improving sustainability. This creates new and enhanced employment opportunities in rural communities, particularly in agriculture, the largest employer in these regions, with 50% to 85% of the labor force working in the sector. However, high upfront costs, limited product availability, lack of awareness of the benefits, and shortage of local talent hinder the widespread adoption of DRE technologies in emerging economies.

This new research fills many of the data gaps in this sector by analyzing four countries, and quantifying the jobs created by DRE technologies in agriculture. It also provides the first comprehensive estimate of employment levels and trends at the country level.

Key Findings

• The solar irrigation sector in India and Kenya alone has the potential to create more than 115,000 jobs by 2030, offering higher incomes for graduates from DRE courses.
• DRE creates opportunities for farm workers to transition into less physically demanding roles, avoiding long-term job displacement and improving life quality.
• DRE innovations significantly reduce labor-intensive tasks for women. In India, mechanized roti-rolling can save women up to 1,800 labor hours per year.

Recommendations

• Investors, financiers, philanthropies, and governments should improve financial support and market incentives to increase the demand for DRE equipment in the agriculture sector to address consumer affordability – the biggest challenge for the growth of DRE markets. This includes creating better financing options to make it easier for farmers to adopt these technologies.
• Governments and stakeholders need to strengthen the manufacturing sector for solar equipment to create thousands of skilled jobs in the DRE industry. For example, India could see up to 5,500 manufacturing jobs created in the solar water pump sector by 2030.
• Educational institutions, government bodies, DRE companies, and development programs need to collaborate to strengthen the DRE workforce. Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutes (TVETs) can play a key role in rural skill development but face challenges like outdated curricula and high tuition costs. To support labor transitions in the DRE sector, integrating short-term internships, apprenticeships, and job training programs is essential.
• Improving coordination between agricultural and energy stakeholders is critical to improve the adoption of DRE products. Uganda has successfully integrated renewable energy into its agricultural development plans by assigning responsible parties to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for implementing renewable energy targets. This approach has stimulated growth in the DRE market and attracted business investment in the sector.