Green Skills Now – training young people for a sustainable future

The labour market in Colombia and Ecuador is changing rapidly due to climate change, digitalisation and the transition to a green economy. These shifts create opportunities but also bring risks. Many young people, especially girls and young women, have limited access to training that prepares them for sustainable and future‑proof employment.

Green Skills Now responds to this challenge. The two‑year programme strengthens vocational education and equips young people with the green skills they need to actively contribute to a sustainable future. The project is funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ programme and implemented by Plan International in collaboration with local and international partners.

Stronger vocational education for a green economy

Green Skills Now invests in vocational education and training (VET) institutions in Colombia and Ecuador. By integrating an inclusive and labour‑market‑oriented “green curriculum” into existing programmes, young people are better prepared for decent and sustainable work.

In Ecuador, Plan International works with SECAP, a public training institution. In Colombia, the programme partners with Fundación Colombia Incluyente, an organisation specialised in inclusive education. These partnerships strengthen knowledge exchange and support vocational education at both national and international levels.

Gender equality and inclusion at the core

The green transition offers opportunities to reduce inequality. That is why Green Skills Now focuses specifically on increasing access to vocational education for girls, young women and marginalised youth. Teachers receive training in gender‑responsive and inclusive pedagogy, enabling more young people to fully participate in the green economy.

Innovative learning and stronger links to employment

The programme combines vocational skills with knowledge on climate change, sustainable practices and green entrepreneurship. By using innovative learning methods, training becomes more aligned with the needs of a rapidly changing labour market.

Green Skills Now also strengthens cooperation between training institutions and employers. In Ecuador, a digital employment platform is being improved to connect young people with jobs in the green sector. In addition, international knowledge exchange takes place through global learning sessions.

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Impact and results

By the end of 2026, the programme will have trained 150 teachers in delivering green, inclusive and gender‑responsive education, and 200 young people will have gained the skills needed to prepare them for work in the green economy. The knowledge, learning materials and tools developed through the programme will be shared with other vocational institutions, enabling even more young people to benefit from a sustainable and inclusive future.

About the EU Erasmus+ programme

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme for education, training, youth and sport. For the 2021–2027 period, it focuses on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and youth participation in democratic life, in line with the European Education Area, the Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda.