Forum

Forum on green construction and job creation in the Sahel

The Sahel region is facing multifaceted challenges caused by the resurgence of insecurity, the negative effects of climate change, and consequent poverty and the high rate of youth unemployment.

In this context, the Forum aims to exchange experiences and ideas to consider green construction as a tool for creating decent employment opportunities in the Sahel. Green construction is defined as public infrastructure and building works, implemented according to ecological solutions, based on local resources, and intensive in employment, which protects the environment and restores the natural ecosystem.

Four areas of discussion are planned to structure the content of the Forum. Each of the thematic discussions consists of one or more conferences and panel discussions.
  • Theme 1: Employment and skills in green construction;
  • Theme 2: Local entrepreneurship, professionalization and value chain of green construction;
  • Theme 3: Appropriate technologies, scientific research, research products;
  • Theme 4: Public policy and initiatives in support of standardization, local materials, renewable energies, ecological transition
The expected outcomes of these thematic discussions are:
  • Main strategies/priority axes to be identified to promote job creation through construction works that protect the environment and value ecosystem conservation;
  • Knowledge and information sharing of the results of the country work and experiences that will later feed into a publication on green works, local technologies and employment in the Sahel;
  • The outlines of a project (immediate objectives, outputs and key activities) at the G5 Sahel country level.
Several institutions and individuals who have an interest and competence in green building and employment in the Sahel will be invited to participate in the Forum. These include the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, the Ministry of National Education, researchers and public and private universities concerned, technical and vocational schools, the General Directorate of Local Authorities, the Technical Unit of the CSLP (Mali), associations of architects and engineers, trade unions, construction companies, and technical and financial partners in the field of environment, among others.