JUST SA Communications Technical Advisor and IKI JET Technical Advisor

Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) (50%)

Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions – Interregional Platform (JET CR Platform) (50%)

Reports to: Programme Director JUST SA

Duration: Until – 31 December 2026 (with possibility of extension)

BACKGROUND

Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is leading the JUST SA consortium, comprising five local implementing partners: GreenCape, TIPS, NBI, WWF and Yes4Youth. The 5-year JUST SA project is commissioned through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

JUST SA supports the implementation of pathways towards a Just Transition in South Africa towards an environmentally sustainable, climate-change resilient, low-carbon economy and just society. At the national level, JUST SA supports the Just Transition work lead by the South African Presidential Climate Commission (PCC).

At the regional level, JUST SA supports the Mpumalanga provincial government in formulating a concrete, sustainable and just green economy transition plan for a diversified regional economy, which covers skills pathways development and finance mechanisms. At the local level, the project plans, pilots and scales up action in selected municipalities of Mpumalanga and incentivises private sector action. Furthermore, mine rehabilitation is addressed with a focus on mine water treatment through research, policy implementation and community engagement. Lessons learnt are fed back into the dialogue process.

The overall project aims to achieve the following impact: i) introduce diversification to the provincial economy; ii) establish green economy activity in the provincial economy; iii) direct and indirect job creation due to the development of new value chains in the region and in other parts of the country; iv) Re-alignment of skills development, education and training to support green economy opportunities, and v) clean, reliable and affordable energy supply.

Just Energy Transition (JET)

Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions - Inter-regional Platform (JET-CR Platform) is a joint German-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 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - 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 Technical Advisor will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

JUST SA (50%)

  • Liaison to relevant stakeholder and relevant projects in South Africa.
  • Project management and coordination of project measures.
  • Manage advisory work by consultants including preparation of ToR, conduct the procurement process, provide technical oversight of implementation and quality assurance of deliverables.
  • Independently Organise events/meetings/workshops (physical or virtual) with JUST SA partners in South Africa and globally as well as ensure knowledge management of proceedings.
  • Promote knowledge sharing and networking.
  • In close coordination with the Program Director contribute to a synergetic knowledge management of JUST SA consortium towards the IKI Interface.
  • Provide monitoring, analyses and reporting on media and/or scientific reports as well as key political announcements and statements on Just Transition relevant issues.
  • Preparation of JUST SA communication and outreach products (internal and external articles, factsheets, infographics, newsletters, project presentations, press releases, etc.).
  • Management of JUST SA online presence (incl. social media).
  • Liaison with service providers for communication related matters (photographers, videographers, graphic designers, proof-readers, copywriters, event managers, etc.).
  • Manage JUST SA picture database.
  • Other tasks as needed in coordination with the JUST SA Consortium Management Unit Coordinator / project AV.

JET-CR Platform (50%)

  • 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 (concisely 1 page) stating why they should be the preferred candidate, the value added they will bring to the project and their desired salary range.

This should be accompanied by a detailed CV and indicating their nationality.

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de, with the email subject line “Application for JUST and IKI JET TA Role” for the attention of Head of Human Resource.

Closing date for applications 30 April 2023

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed!

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!