Africa has capacity to fund the green growth agenda

Editor, RE: “How Rwanda, Africa can finance the green growth agenda” (The New Times, January 10). The sustainable approach to achieving green economies is definitely looking for financing from within. Africa and the respective countries have to take lead in this. But in search for the funding sources, one has to look at what we have been doing and what is recommended by the green growth strategy. The green growth strategy implementation looks for paradigm shift in our current practices, for example it brings new knowledge and skills, it questions the technologies being developed and used and it exposes our low capacities to transition into green. There is need to start tremendously reducing budgets for business as usual and increasing budgets for a green business. Agricultural sector, energy, education and infrastructure percentage budgets should start to be allocated to skills, technologies and green innovations. For us to even start mainstreaming green adaptation, mindset should lead the way. Do we have the right human capital that can facilitate green growth and climate resilience? Can we start reducing budgets in general education and skills development and start investing in green skills? Can the agricultural sector allocate much on green skills development and technologies that bring the strategy to life? The energy sector should have a percentage financing coming from within to support human capital in clean energy. If every sector, by obligation, allocated 10% of its annual budget to go green and particularly skills and knowledge development around green economy and technology and innovations for green economy, I see no reason we cannot achieve our annual targets within resources we have. Richard Niwenshuti

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Africa has capacity to fund the green growth agenda