PAGE Regional Academy for Africa
PAGE Regional Academy for Africa
Financing a just transition to green and circular economies
21–23 Maio 2025
Online phase: 28 April to 09 May 2025
Face-to-face phase: 21 to 23 May 2025
Background
In response to demand by partner countries for more regionally tailored learning and experience-sharing opportunities, the UN’ Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) is running a series of regional Academies in collaboration with UN Regional Economic Commissions, regional development banks and other key partners.
The first PAGE Regional Academy will focus on the African region and will be hosted by Morocco as a back-to-back event with the country’s national Green Crossroads Conference. In line with PAGE’s updated 2030 Strategy, the Academy will focus on the theme of “Financing a Just Transition to green and circular economies”, bringing together representatives from 7 PAGE countries in the region.
The Academy is designed to enhance knowledge and promote innovative and inclusive mechanisms to finance and implement green and just transitions across Africa. It offers a platform for peer-learning and knowledge exchange, drawing on best practices and case studies from the African context.
PAGE’s 2030 Strategy is aimed at fostering the green economic transformation of PAGE partner countries towards greener, circular and job-rich economies by 20301 and has prioritized developing regional and global capacity and South-South cooperation (SSC) to boost synergies, peer-learning and knowledge sharing for bold policy actions in response to climate change.
The PAGE Regional Academy for Africa will embed South-South cooperation as a cross-cutting approach, aligning with the PAGE 2030 Strategy, which prioritizes regional cooperation, capacity building, and peer learning to drive sustainable economic transitions. Building on PAGE’s global and regional engagement frameworks, the Academy will also serve as a catalyst for mapping future SSTC partnerships, linking them with existing intergovernmental collaboration efforts at the regional level. By reinforcing peer-learning and policy replication, the Academy will contribute to PAGE’s broader goal of scaling transformative policy solutions across the Global South.
Objectives
The first PAGE Regional Academy aims to:
- Strengthen the capacities of policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to formulate, actively participate in design and implement green and just transition strategies;
- Promote innovative solutions for financing a green economic transformation in Africa;
- Foster regional cooperation and South-South collaboration on leveraging public and private finance for a just transition and documenting SSC best practices, ensuring that policy lessons are captured, disseminated, and used to scale future partnerships;
- Encourage inclusive approaches to green economic empowerment, particularly for women and marginalized communities; and
- Facilitate hands-on learning and knowledge exchange through practical exercises and case studies.
Target group
The Academy is targeted to PAGE Country delegations, which may be composed of:
- Qualified practitioners and policymakers representing ministries of environment, finance, labour, industry, or planning who are engaged in policy processes relating to just transition
- Senior representatives of employers' and workers' organizations, acquainted with, and committed to, green economy or related topics
- Technical staff from national institutions and the private sector involved in finance and investment decisions
- Representatives from education and training institutions involved or interested in delivering learning action on financing just transitions
- Practitioners from PAGE's partner agencies, United Nation Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RCO) Economists, development partners, as well as PAGE Alumni Ambassadors
Participating page countries
The First PAGE Regional Academy for Africa will convene: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Rwanda, Morocco, South Africa, Ghana and Mauritius.
Programme and calendar
The training programme rests on a multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged model that blends online and in-person learning.
DISTANCE LEARNING PHASE (28 April – 09 May 2025)
The online phase of the PAGE Regional Academy offers training on the core concepts of the just transition to sustainable economies and societies, how to finance a just transition and key aspects of the circular economy. In this regard, during the two-week online phase of the PAGE Regional Academy for Africa, participants will have the chance to participate in online sessions that will enable them to gain more insights and share knowledge with a community of regional practitioners:
- Four self-guided learning modules on: understanding the Just Transition framework, fostering more inclusive and diversified circular economies, navigating a complex financial landscape, greening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
- Six zoom webinars with key experts
IN-PERSON PHASE (21 – 23 May 2025)
The first edition of the PAGE Regional Academy for Africa enables African PAGE countries to share expertise and experiences and deepen South-South collaboration on a just transition to sustainable, low-carbon and circular economies. By leveraging peer learning and cross-regional exchanges, countries can adapt and scale successful green economy policies, drawing from lessons within Africa and other regions. Key learning points include how to finance a just transition in the African region through policy reforms, multi-stakeholder engagement, social dialogue, and how to engage MSMEs in the transition.
The PAGE Regional Academy will highlight the role of governments, industry, civil society, social and development partners in fostering more just and greener investments, as well as financing mechanisms to leverage the continent’s huge potential for green growth.
Participants will share good practices and learn which partners to engage with at regional and national levels, while familiarizing themselves with existing international frameworks, partnerships, coalitions, and funding opportunities. Innovative tools and methods for better integrating the green economy into national and sectoral policies will be presented as well as fiscal, budgeting and finance tools. Focus will also be placed on social justice and social inclusion, by showcasing solutions on how to integrate those at greater risk of being left behind in the transition to a green economy, and leveraging solutions targeted to the most vulnerable.
Track for learning institutions
The PAGE Regional Academy will feature a dedicated track for education and training institutions from the region that are (or are interested in) delivering learning on financing just transitions. PAGE has extensive experience working with universities and civil service training institutes which play a key role in delivering nationally tailored training programmes at scale. The Academy will provide an opportunity for them to build their own substantive capacities, while engaging in a peer-exchange on challenges and opportunities for delivering systematic and impactful learning action on green and just transitions.
Language
The Academy will be delivered in English and French with simultaneous translation as needed.
Certification
After successfully completing all required activities, participants obtain an official PAGE / ITCILO Certificate of Participation in Digital Credentials Format.
Pratical information
Nominated participants can register using this link by Monday 07 April 2025.
Upon registration, participants will receive additional information for the online phase and for the subsequent face-to-face phase, which will take place at the Tour Hassan Palace Hotel in Rabat, Morocco.
For further information, please write to greenjobs@itcilo.org
Acknolwedgements
PAGE gratefully acknowledges the contributions of key sponsors and programme funding partners who demonstrate expertise and dedication to advancing Morocco’s transition towards the green economy.
PAGE also wishes to acknowledge the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, and more specifically to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, for its efforts and contributions in hosting this first regional event.
Page funding partners
The PAGE programme is supported by funding from the European Union, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. The Green Crossroads conference receives additional support from the Government of Flanders.
