- The Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne are launching a training and employment programme in La Ribera.
- The aim is to facilitate access to the labour market, promote professional retraining and more sustainable entrepreneurship.
- The project is part of the national Empleaverde+ initiative, managed by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico and co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
6 May 2025.- The EmpleaXúquer project is launched with the aim of improving the skills and competences of unemployed people in the La Ribera region (Valencia). The initiative, coordinated by the Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne, focuses on the restoration, conservation and promotion of river areas in the lower basin of the Júcar River.
Through practical training and recruitment, EmpleaXúquer will train programme participants in two key occupations: specialists in ecological restoration and nature promotion agents. These occupations are a continuation of the Canya a la canya project, as the trained and hired personnel will work on restoration and maintenance actions for the Júcar’s aquatic ecosystems, or on the design and promotion of actions to disseminate, raise awareness and promote these natural spaces.
The project includes five training activities covering everything from the theoretical foundations of aquatic ecosystems to practical and soft skills, with a focus on equal opportunities.
After the initial training, 16 ecological restoration workers will be selected from among all the participants in the training programme and hired for more than 12 months to maintain and conserve sections of the Júcar River that are part of the Natura 2000 Network. In addition, five nature promotion agents will be selected and hired to promote awareness and understanding of the river ecosystem.
EmpleaXúquer will not only improve the employability of participants, but will also contribute to the maintenance and promotion of the ecological status of the restored areas of the Júcar River, reducing the risk of flooding and promoting other essential ecosystem services.
The project is in line with the growing demand for job skills in the river restoration sector and responds to the local community’s needs to maintain and protect the Júcar River ecosystem.
Context and needs
The La Ribera region, with an economy based on agriculture, has experienced a decline in cultivated land and an increase in unemployment in recent years. In addition, the municipalities in the area are facing population loss and ageing.
The Júcar River is a key feature of this region, and the EmpleaXúquer project will contribute to the conservation of this valuable river ecosystem, generating green jobs and promoting environmental sustainability.
European funding
The EmpleaXúquer training and recruitment programme is supported by the Empleaverde+ Programme, managed by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico. Co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), it aims to support training projects for green employment and entrepreneurship, aimed at helping unemployed people, workers and entrepreneurs to acquire or improve the skills required for the ecological transition. The aim is to facilitate access to the labour market, promote professional retraining and more sustainable entrepreneurship.