Design Thinking, an effective tool for identifying

and developing promising sectors in a green economy

By: Mahammad Khan

Challenge:

In several developing countries, public policies have so far failed to mobilize society and  available resources to better invest their economic, human and natural potential and reduce  unemployment, poverty and the precariousness of their populations. Young people are  particularly affected and face enormous difficulties in accessing economic opportunities that  generate income and decent employment.

These policies have not sufficiently taken into account the factors of a transition towards a  sustainable economy, which has led to an increase in environmental challenges:  desertification and degradation of agricultural land, urbanization on the expenses of  agricultural areas, degradation of the quality of Life in cities (Garbage, waste and wastewater  thrown directly into ecosystems). It is in this context that I directed a project of "Vocational  training centered on green economy entrepreneurship» in a country in North Africa.

Selection:

The choice of promising sectors - those that offer a greater opportunity to create eco-projects  viable economically - was a real challenge to be overcome at the start of the project. Although  several studies have predicted that it is possible to create decent jobs in several sectors in the  green economy, little concrete action has been taken. Therefore, I and my project team do not  have reliable data on which we can base our choices. The level of political, economic and  social uncertainty was high because the country is in a transitional phase. Public institutions  were weak and could not support us. Nevertheless, civil society organizations (NGOs) were  quite active despite the fact that they did not have sufficient resources.

Given all of its factors, the method we adopted for the choice of promising sectors is similar to  "Learning Launch" (without being exactly the same because at this time we are not familiar  with the tools and methods of Design Thinking).

Application:

To this end, a preliminary step has been carried out: (1) a critical synthesis of the various studies  carried out in the project’s intervention regions, (2) meetings with representatives of civil society  organizations (NGOs) (3) interviews with experts (national and international) in the field of the  green economy, (4) meetings with representatives of youth organizations and (5) meetings with  Local governments. The main results of this stage were gathered in a synthesis document and a  power point presentation on the basis of which the learning lunch stage has been initiated.

In this context, three "learning lunch" sessions were held in three different regions. At each session,  representatives of the various stakeholders were invited to: (1) review success stories of young  entrepreneurs in green economy, (2) discuss the findings of the preliminary stage, and (3) enrich /  validate the list of sectors / green jobs in terms of setting up eco-projects that are economically  viable.

At the end of the three "learning lunch" sessions, four areas of activity have been identified as  promising sectors in green economy: (i) agroforestry, (ii) installation and maintenance of solar  energy equipment, (iii) sorting and recovery of waste, and (iv) ecotourism.

Insight:

In projects with high levels of uncertainty and where historical data are unavailable or unreliable,  analytical methods may lead to inappropriate results. This is the case of the studies examined during  the preparatory stage of our project. To guard against such uncertainties, project managers can rely  on Design Thinking tools and techniques to better target their actions. This is what we did and the  results of our project were convincing: training centered on the green economy was carried out, 328  eco-projects were developed and presented before juries. Of these eco-projects, 73 were judged to  be of outstanding quality.

Approach:

The approach taken and the results achieved encourage project managers to master and apply the  tools and methods of Design Thinking in most of their work. Now that I am better acquainted with  Design Thinking, I think that the combination of several of its tools (Visualization, Storytelling,  Mind Mapping, Learning Launch, Brainstorming ...) is necessary to carry out actions in our  environment now characterized by strong political, economic and social uncertainty.


Design Thinking , an effective tool for identifying and developing promising sectors in a green economy By : Mahammad Khan Challenge : In several developing countries , public policies have so far failed to mobilize society and available resources to better invest their economic , human and natural potential and reduce unemployment , poverty and the precariousness of their populations . Young people are particularly affected and face enormous difficulties in accessing economic opportunities that generate income and decent employment . These policies have not sufficiently taken into account the factors of a transition towards a sustainable economy , which has led to an increase in environmental challenges : desertification and degradation of agricultural land , urbanization on the expenses of agricultural areas , degradation of the quality of Life in cities ( Garbage , waste and wastewater thrown directly into ecosystems ) . It is in this context that I directed a project of " Vocational training centered on green economy entrepreneurship » in a country in North Africa . Selection : The choice of promising sectors - those that offer a greater opportunity to create eco - projects viable economically - was a real challenge to be overcome at the start of the project . Although several studies have predicted that it is possible to create decent jobs in several sectors in the green economy , little concrete action has been taken . Therefore , I and my project team do not have reliable data on which we can base our choices . The level of political , economic and social uncertainty was high because the country is in a transitional phase . Public institutions were weak and could not support us . Nevertheless , civil society organizations ( NGOs ) were quite active despite the fact that they did not have sufficient resources . Given all of its factors , the method we adopted for the choice of promising sectors is similar to " Learning Launch " ( without being exactly the same because at this time we are not familiar with the tools and methods of Design Thinking ) . Application : To this end , a preliminary step has been carried out : ( 1 ) a critical synthesis of the various studies carried out in the project ’s intervention regions , ( 2 ) meetings with representatives of civil society organizations ( NGOs ) ( 3 ) interviews with experts ( national and international ) in the field of the green economy , ( 4 ) meetings with representatives of youth organizations and ( 5 ) meetings with Local governments . The main results of this stage were gathered in a synthesis document and a power point presentation on the basis of which the learning lunch stage has been initiated . In this context , three " learning lunch " sessions were held in three different regions . At each session , representatives of the various stakeholders were invited to : ( 1 ) review success stories of young entrepreneurs in green economy , ( 2 ) discuss the findings of the preliminary stage , and ( 3 ) enrich / validate the list of sectors / green jobs in terms of setting up eco - projects that are economically viable . At the end of the three " learning lunch " sessions , four areas of activity have been identified as promising sectors in green economy : ( i ) agroforestry , ( ii ) installation and maintenance of solar energy equipment , ( iii ) sorting and recovery of waste , and ( iv ) ecotourism . Insight : In projects with high levels of uncertainty and where historical data are unavailable or unreliable , analytical methods may lead to inappropriate results . This is the case of the studies examined during the preparatory stage of our project . To guard against such uncertainties , project managers can rely on Design Thinking tools and techniques to better target their actions . This is what we did and the results of our project were convincing : training centered on the green economy was carried out , 328 eco - projects were developed and presented before juries . Of these eco - projects , 73 were judged to be of outstanding quality . Approach : The approach taken and the results achieved encourage project managers to master and apply the tools and methods of Design Thinking in most of their work . Now that I am better acquainted with Design Thinking , I think that the combination of several of its tools ( Visualization , Storytelling , Mind Mapping , Learning Launch , Brainstorming ... ) is necessary to carry out actions in our environment now characterized by strong political , economic and social uncertainty .