Green Jobs for the Blue Economy

The climate crisis throws up challenges to economic growth and employment both today and in the future. But climate change action with a transition to a low-carbon, greener economy can lead to more and better jobs. Opportunities to create new jobs can emerge with adaptation to climate change and measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, these new green jobs require a workforce with the relevant skillsets. 



The International Labour Organisation (ILO) with support from the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office for Mauritius and Seychelles in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius organized a Tripartite Validation Workshop on the November 9th in Moka. The purpose of the workshop was to validate three reports: the Skills Roadmap for a Green Economy supported by PAGE, and two reports under the Joint SDG Fund Project, the Feasibility Study on the ‘Campus des Métiers de la Mer’ and Rapid Skills Needs Assessment on marine-based renewable energy for Mauritius. 

Sébastien Vauzelle, Senior Economist, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office for Mauritius & Seychelles highlighted: "Today's workshop is important...as the assessments it aims to validate are focused on education/skills for future jobs in the green and blue economy and local (renewable) energy production, both with environmental and climate action at their core."

Given the multiple, overlapping crises ongoing these years, and the high level of uncertainty characterizing the future building resilience is essential to sustainable development. This includes social resilience, through sustainable, inclusive, and adapted social, health and education systems; economic resilience, through economic diversification and energy and food security; and environmental resilience, through climate action and protection of natural ecosystems.

The presentation of the Skills Roadmap provided an opportunity to validate its approach and the potential to replicate in other countries. Mustupha Mauderbacus, Ag. Deputy Director, National Employment Department, Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, underlined: “The Skills Roadmap for a Green Economy is highly welcomed, and it comes at the right moment. This Roadmap has been prepared by the ILO and with PAGE’s support.  It aims to bring all key research findings, qualitative data and forward-looking recommendations produced in recent ILO studies with the objective to accelerate the process of setting up a sound national roadmap and implementation action plan.”

With the ambitious renewable energy target of a 60% share by 2030 set by Mauritius, the country will need to diversify its energy mix to include renewable ocean technologies. As such, under the Joint SDG Fund Project, the ILO consolidated the feasibility study initially commissioned by the Indian Ocean Commission for the development of a regional Vocation and Research Campus for the Blue Economy.  A Rapid Skills Needs Assessment for Mauritius also aimed to identify gender issues creating barriers to the enrolment of more young women in the sector, particularly for Ocean Renewables.  Additionally, the event examined the development of hybrid training modules through International Training Centre (ITC)-ILO on the promotion of decent work and sustainable entrepreneurship in the blue economy.

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Find out more about:

PAGE in Mauritius and Joint SDG Fund in Mauritius and Seychelles.

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