AfriForum welcomes the R300 million biodiversity skills project launched by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

“AfriForum supports the initiative in developing people in a green economic context to ensure sustainable development and management of our natural resources. We would like to encourage government to develop similar opportunities throughout the environmental sector,” says Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.

The project is aimed at developing skills and driving job creation in the biodiversity sector which involves the placement of 800 unemployed youth in skilled jobs across public, private and non-governmental institutions in the local biodiversity sector for two-and-a-half years.

The initiative will focus on training, mentoring and workplace-based learning. With an allocation of about R375 000 per trainee it will create the opportunity to develop young professionals for the biodiversity sector addressing the skills shortages in the sector.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Jobs Fund will provide funding for the project. 32 public, private and non-governmental organisations in the local biodiversity sector have already placed 463 interns in work experience programmes and the remaining interns will begin later this month.

A steering committee comprising high-level representatives from the participant organisations and government departments will oversee the project.