How they build a low-carbon economy

Hey,

Welcome to Green Jobs Rising!

African professionals in renewables keep getting good news. 

The Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) continues to scale across emerging markets, backing businesses and homeowners to invest in proven green technologies. 

Through a network of 191 local financial institutions in 29 countries (and backed by €6.3 billion of EBRD finance), GEFF has supported more than 231,000 clients and helped avoid over 10 million tonnes of CO₂ a year.

The latest chapter: Tunisia

GEFF has launched its first facility in Tunisia, channeling green capital to the private sector to speed the country’s shift to a more sustainable, competitive economy.

How it works

• GEFF will lend to up to six local banks, which will on-lend to MSMEs investing in energy efficiency, renewables, climate adaptation and circular-economy projects.

• It also offers protection against exchange-rate swings, which can be a big problem when currencies are unstable.

• The goal aligns with Tunisia’s 2030 targets to lower carbon intensity; the sweet spot is helping MSMEs (over 90% of the economy) cut energy costs and modernise.

Why it matters
Across Africa, green finance is expanding but still under-supplied.

GEFF’s model, pairing local banks, technical criteria and risk tools,creates a repeatable pathway that can pull in private capital, stimulate local manufacturing and generate skilled jobs wherever it lands next.

What jobs this kind of facility tends to create:

• Renewables & distributed energy: solar PV technicians, site supervisors, O&M crews.

• Energy efficiency (industry & buildings): auditors, controls engineers, retrofit specialists.

• Cooling & cold chain: HVAC/refrigeration technicians, commissioning techs.

• Water & agriculture: irrigation techs, pump efficiency specialists.

• Manufacturing & supply chains: panel/inverter assembly, metalwork, fabrication.

• Waste & circular economy: sorting/recycling operators, process techs.

• Green finance & investment: loan officers with green criteria, project analysts.

• Data, MRV & compliance: monitoring/reporting analysts.

Wondering how to position yourself for these opportunities? Get to hear from our co-editor Ian.

Tunisia is an important stop on the journey, not the final destination. It is the beginning of a broader move to green Africa.