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Integrating Green Skills Capacity Building for a Climate‐Responsive Workforce: A Comprehensive Review of Development Finance Institutions' Support Towards Achieving SDGs

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  • Aliyu Mustapha
  • Ahmed Aliyu Palladan

Abstract

This review offers a novel and integrated synthesis of the role played by Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in advancing green skills development, focusing on emerging economies. This domain remains insufficiently explored in the current literature. Drawing on bibliometric, qualitative, and engagement‐based methodologies, the study investigates the evolving landscape of DFI‐supported workforce initiatives aimed at fostering climate‐responsive industrial transformation. The review is grounded in a systematic analysis of literature retrieved from ScienceDirect and Scopus (2014–2024) databases. It employs tools such as VOSviewer, MAXQDA, and Python to map citation networks, keyword trends, and public engagement patterns. Key findings reveal fragmented scholarly engagement, emerging thematic concentrations such as climate finance and the circular economy, and persistent sectoral gaps in green skills training. The analysis underscores the collaborative potential of DFIs, the private sector, and educational institutions in aligning workforce development with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action). As global sustainability priorities intensify, the urgency of equipping the workforce with relevant green competencies has become increasingly apparent. DFIs offer both financial and strategic support for capacity‐building programmes that promote renewable energy expertise, green technology innovation, and resilience in climate‐vulnerable sectors. However, challenges persist, including constrained financing, limited programme continuity, and the absence of standardised curricula. It concludes by advocating for enhanced cross‐sectoral collaboration and real‐time feedback mechanisms between DFIs, training institutions, and industries. Future research should prioritise the long‐term evaluation of DFI‐backed green skills initiatives, particularly their impact on labour market transformation and sustainable economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Aliyu Mustapha & Ahmed Aliyu Palladan, 2026. "Integrating Green Skills Capacity Building for a Climate‐Responsive Workforce: A Comprehensive Review of Development Finance Institutions' Support Towards Achieving SDGs," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 966-978, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s2:p:966-978
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70380
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