Senior Technical Advisor: GET and JET CR Platform

Green Economy Transformation and Decarbonization Pathways in the Context of Economic Recovery from the Pandemic (GET) (Part-time 50%); Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions – Interregional Platform (JET CR Platform) (part time 50%)

Reports to: Programme Manager JUST SA

Duration: Until – 30 November 2025

BACKGROUND

GET (50%)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have formed a partnership to deliver the Global Project “Green Economy Transformation and Decarbonization Pathways in the Context of Economic Recovery from the Pandemic (GET 4.0)” to support the transition to an inclusive green economy in several partner countries and regions. The project is financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

The GET Project strengthens relevant international partnerships and alliances to promote an Inclusive Green Economy (PAGE, GO4SDGs, GGKP, Green Fiscal Policy Network), and supports four partner countries (Argentina, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and South Africa) in preparing and implementing policy solutions for the transformation towards an Inclusive Green Economy through targeted technical advice, learning formats and stakeholder consultations, among others. In South Africa, GET supports the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) on the prior topics.

Building on the cooperation successfully established in the previous project GET 3.0, the project activities will focus on supporting Green Bonds issuance by municipalities, on promoting green jobs and green business development (including through training activities) and on accompanying the Green Economy Advisory Group (GEAG), consisting of sector experts that provide the possibility for reflection on current green economy themes and support to the development of those.

The focus of the position is to support the implementation of the GET project activities in South Africa in the areas of policy advisory work, project management and cooperation with partners to achieve a Green Economy Transformation. The thematic focus lies on green fiscal reforms, green finance / green bonds, sustainable infrastructure, and inclusivity.

JET

Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions - Inter-regional Platform (JET-CR Platform) is a joint German-European Union (EU) Action contributing to strengthening capacities, mutual learning and sharing experiences on the just energy transition in the context of coal regions globally, including drawing on learnings from the EU.

The JET-CR Platform is embedded, as its global component, in the Project “Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition” (IKI JET) by the IKI of the BMWK. The overall IKI JET project in general aims at supporting and accelerating just energy transitions (JET) away from coal to renewable energy and other sustainable economic activities in the Global South, contributing to a reduction of GHG emissions. Focussing on required economic transformations in coal regions, IKI JET works with government, industry, employers, unions, communities, civil society, and academia to spur localized pathways to low-carbon and resilient energy systems and sustainable and just local economies and decent jobs, in line with the Paris Agreement and the ILO Just Transition Guidelines.

The IKI JET project, including the JET-CR Platform is implemented by a consortium of six partners, with the GIZ as leading partner and Climate Action Network - CAN, International Institute for Sustainable Development- IISD, International Labour Organisation- ILO, International Trade Union Confederation - ITUC/ Just Transition Centre, and Wuppertal Institute für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbH as implementing partner.

The JET-CR Platform supports interregional peer-to-peer exchange, learning, policy dialogues amongst and with coal regions in coal-dependent developing countries and economies in transition from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, small scale in country technical assistance and capacity building measures as information sharing via a Knowledge Hub. The eight countries to participate in the Inter-regional Platform include Colombia, Chile, South Africa (focus on Mpumalanga), India, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Mongolia.

TASKS

The Senior Technical Advisor is expected to undertake the following tasks:

GET

  • Independently support the strategic development of policy advisory services for the DFFE and other relevant institutions/partners.
  • Overview of the ongoing processes in the areas of Green Economy Transformation in South Africa.
  • Liaison to relevant stakeholder and relevant projects in South Africa.
  • Project management and coordination of project measures.
  • Tasks required for project implementation, including research, establishment of baselines, monitoring of progress and impacts, and technical contributions.
  • Manage advisory work by consultants including preparation of ToR, conduct the procurement process, provide technical oversight of implementation and quality assurance of deliverables. Independently plan and implement consultations, meetings, workshops with various stakeholder, as well as ensure knowledge management of proceedings.
  • Other tasks as needed in coordination with the GET line-manager/ project AV.

JET-CR Platform

  • Keep an overview of ongoing processes around Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions in South Africa, especially Mpumalanga.
  • Engagement and liaison with subnational and national stakeholder relevant for the Just Energy Transition in Mpumalanga as well as other relevant GIZ and German and or EU funded activities.
  • Tasks required for project implementation, including research, establishment of baselines, monitoring of progress and impacts, and technical contributions.
  • Facilitate regional and national stakeholder participation and integration in international peer-to-peer exchange (communities of practice, working groups, study tours, trainings) and dialogue formats (expert exchanges, conferences, seminars etc.).
  • Facilitation / moderation of interregional communities of practice / working groups on JET between key stakeholder of coal regions as well as global expert exchanges on JET policies.
  • Manage advisory work by consultants including preparation of ToR, conduct the procurement process, provide technical oversight of implementation and quality assurance of deliverables.
  • Elaboration of knowledge products on JET, such as technical policy briefs on JET policies, or case studies.
  • Roll-out of a social simulation gamification tool on Just Energy Transition in South Africa.
  • Elaboration of a structured assessment of the starting situation for JET in South Africa / Mpumalanga and establishment of a framework for progress monitoring for a successful JET.
  • Support in coordination with the JUST SA AV the German Embassy and EU Delegation in South Africa for policy dialogues on Just Energy Transition coal phase out in policy dialogue with country / target region.
  • Other tasks as needed in coordination with the IKI JET line-manager/ project AV.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Suitable candidates should apply by submitting:

A motivation letter (max. 1 page) stating why they should be the preferred candidate and the value added they will bring to the project.

A detailed CV indicating their nationality

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de with subject line “Application for GET&IKI STA” for the attention of Head of HR.

Closing date for applications: 03rd of February 2023

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!