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29 May 2025

First PAGE Regional Academy for Africa

Group picture Regional Academy for Africa

The Government of Morocco recently hosted the inaugural PAGE Regional Academy for Africa under the theme “Financing a Just Transition to Green and Circular Economies.” This academy, delivered by the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), is designed to foster cross-sectoral learning and South-South exchange.

The hybrid event combined an online phase from 28 April to 9 May with an in-person session in Rabat from 21 to 23 May, serving as a platform for policymakers, practitioners, and experts to engage in for in-depth deliberation on the structural and financial mechanisms required for a just and green transition.

Nearly 70 representatives, drawn from PAGE countries Burkina Faso, Senegal, Rwanda, Morocco, South Africa, Ghana, and Mauritius, and non-PAGE nations Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Djibouti, provided critical insights. Their collective contribution established the Academy as a genuinely regional and collaborative endeavour, highlighting the essence of South-South collaboration. The Academy took place back-to-back with Morocco’s Green Nexus Week and the national Green Crossroads Conference.

Fostering South-South Collaboration

The online phase of the PAGE Regional Academy consisted of 6 webinars and 4 self-guided modules. The hybrid format helped expand access to specialized knowledge and foster peer learning. Participants explored public and private financing tools, national and cross-border strategies, and the integration of social inclusion in climate finance.  

The in-person segment offered four masterclasses, five electives, and welcomed high-level speakers, including Mohamed Ouahmid, General Secretary of Energy Transition, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco; Rie Vejs-Kjelgaard, Director of the ILO Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition Department, and the ILO member to the PAGE Management Board; Sanae Lahlou, Country Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Morocco; Sam Mugume, Co-Chair Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. 

Dialogue at PAGE Regional Academy

Discussions highlighted South–South cooperation as a key driver in advancing low-carbon and circular economies. Participants examined frameworks such as sustainable procurement and green bonds, while also building professional networks and exchanging good practices. Organizers emphasized moving from dialogue to action, calling for structured follow-up and practical implementation.  

Representing the PAGE Management Board, Ms. Vejs-Kjelgaard highlighted, “With the PAGE Academy for Africa, we hope to have a strong regional knowledge and experience sharing that will support each of the countries in developing further policies and approaches for transitioning to a green economy.”  

The PAGE Country Ambassadors Network was also launched. PAGE Ambassadors are representatives from PAGE countries who serve as advocates and knowledge-sharing agents for inclusive green economy initiatives.

 

PAGE at the Regional Academy

Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact Across Africa

PAGE Regional Academy is a central component of PAGE’s approach to facilitating cross-sectoral learning and South-South exchange. It mirrors PAGE’s broader efforts to connect the champions of green economic transformation and leverage PAGE partner countries as front runners of green economy for global agenda setting.  

PAGE continues to support African nations in achieving their sustainable development goals and looks forward to the next opportunities to building more knowledge, collaboration and impact.

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