CRECCOM Participates in Green Jobs for Adolescents and Youth Project Dissemination Workshop

Project Partners and Stakeholders Pose for a Group Photo at the Green Jobs Dissemination Workshop

The Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (CRECCOM) participated in the National Dissemination Workshop on the Analysis of Policy Instruments Related to Green Jobs and Skills in Malawi, held in Lilongwe under the theme “Unlocking Green Jobs for Malawi’s Youth: Policy Coherence, Skills Development and Strategic Investment.”

The dissemination meeting forms part of the Green Jobs for Adolescents and Youth Project, a multi-partner initiative funded by Save the Children Italy and implemented from June 2023 to May 2026 in Ntcheu and Mzimba districts. The project is being implemented through a consortium comprising Save the Children Malawi, CRECCOM, ADRA Malawi, Mzuzu University, TEVETA, and Emerge Livelihoods. Each partner contributes specific expertise, ranging from community mobilisation and youth engagement to skills training, certification, and business incubation.

The dissemination workshop was graced by the Guest of Honour, Joseph Chirombo, Director of Assessment and Certification Services in the Ministry of Labour, who commended the consortium and partners for investing in young people and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking during the event, Chirombo emphasized the urgency of addressing youth unemployment by equipping young people with skills that respond to the changing labour market.

Guest of Honour, Joseph Chirombo from the Ministry of Labour, Delivers His Remarks During the Green Jobs Dissemination Workshop.

“Every year, approximately 270,000 young people enter the labour market, yet the formal sector creates only about 40,000 job opportunities. This gap calls for innovative approaches such as investing in green skills and green enterprises. By aligning policies and training systems with emerging opportunities in the green economy, we can equip young people with relevant skills while advancing Malawi’s development aspirations under Malawi 2063,” he said.

One of the highlights of the workshop was hearing directly from young people whose lives have been transformed through the project. From school dropouts and early marriages to confident entrepreneurs and skilled youth in green trades, their stories reflected resilience, opportunity, and hope for the future.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Chakufwa Munthali, Director of Operations at Save the Children Malawi*, said: “Investing in adolescents and youth is investing in Malawi’s future. Through green skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities, we are not only helping young people build sustainable livelihoods but also empowering them to become champions of environmental sustainability and drivers of inclusive economic growth.”

CRECCOM Executive Director, Alinafe Ireen Chibwana, Makes a Contribution During the Green Jobs for Adolescents and Youth Project Dissemination Workshop.

During the workshop, CRECCOM Executive Director Alinafe Ireen Chibwana contributed to discussions on the findings of the policy analysis study conducted by Dr. George Chiundu and Atusaye Mwalwanda, which examined policy alignment and financial resources supporting green jobs development in Malawi. Chibwana emphasized the importance of community-driven approaches in empowering young people to take advantage of green economic opportunities.

“At CRECCOM, we believe that empowering young people requires more than just skills training. It also requires strengthening community support systems and nurturing a positive mindset towards sustainable livelihoods. Through this project, young people are not only gaining skills but also becoming agents of change in environmental conservation and green entrepreneurship within their communities,” she said.

Stakeholders and Youth Representatives Engage in a Panel Discussion on Expanding Green Economic Opportunities for Young People in Malawi.

CRECCOM’s implementation focuses on Traditional Authorities Ganya, Masasa, Tsikulamowa, and Nkutumula, where the organisation applies a community-driven Social and Behaviour Change approach to promote youth-led environmental stewardship and green entrepreneurship.

Through community theatre groups, radio listening clubs, Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs), Disaster Risk Management Committees, and Youth Community-Based Distribution Agents (CBDAs), CRECCOM mobilizes communities to support sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, sexual and reproductive health awareness, and child protection.

To strengthen sustainability, the organisation also conducts weekly Green Mindset Framework sessions and collaborates with community radio stations to expand behaviour change communication across participating communities.