Technical Advisor Seconded to the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency as a Senior Analyst for Circular Economy (100%)

Reports to: Programme Director JUST SA

Duration: Until – 30.06.2025 (2 years)

Duty Station: Middelburg with extensive travelling across Mpumalanga and SA

BACKGROUND

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH 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 regional level, JUST SA assists 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. JUST SA cooperates closely with the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency.

The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency employs the triple helix cluster model with representation from Government, Industry, and Academia as part of its design setup. The cluster works at the interface between business, government, and academia in order to identify and remove barriers to an economically viable green economy catalysing its uptake to enable the region and its citizens to prosper.

MGCA is a non-profit organisation that works to advance a sustainable and inclusive green economy and create shared value in the Mpumalanga province. We work both at the micro and macro level supporting green-tech SMEs build their businesses, enabling bigger businesses to improve their environmental footprint, and assisting the provincial government to create the right environment for a more resilient green economy. Ultimately, we are helping to facilitate more investment, ecosystem building and stimulate job creation into Mpumalanga’s green economy. The MGCA is a member of the International Cleantech Network, a body with 20 Clusters from 4 continents.

For MGCA circular economy is understood as an economic system that seeks to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in circulation, and regenerate natural systems. MGCA recognises the traction circularity economy gained as a concept. As a leading organisation supporting the development of the green economy, GreenCape is adding to its capacity to deliver on circular economy projects. 

An inclusive approach to developing a circular economy is a key need in South Africa’s economic development trajectory. The Senior Analyst will facilitate conversations between diverse role players to drive inclusivity in the design and implementation of our circular economy in (largely) packaging materials. The role players the Senior Analyst will engage with include the informal sector, local and national government officials, producer responsibility organisations, and the private sector (brand owners, retailers, and waste management companies among others). The role will include site visits and surveys to assess current challenges and opportunities of both the informal and formal sectors, in order to facilitate the breaking down of barriers to inclusivity and to realise the opportunities in a circular economy in South Africa.

Senior Analyst Circular Economy

TASKS

The Senior Analyst is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Market research and data collection
    • Data collection on types, tonnages and flows of secondary material streams
    • Surveys will also include information to understand levels of trust and integration between different parts of the value chain
    • Interviewing diverse stakeholders will be required
  • Stakeholder Identification, engagements and mapping
    • Coordination, planning and event management of workshops aimed at integrating the informal waste sector (including all stakeholders referred to above)
    • Facilitate engagements with government officials and Producer Responsibility Organisations to support integration of sustainable circular economy (informal and formal sector)
    • Liaise with the informal sector and PROs to co-design an efficient collection, sorting and aggregation of dry recyclables, synergising with municipalities.
    • Lead the Circular Economy Sector Desk/cluster and regularly convene workshops
  • Report writing
    • Collate diverse sources of informal on secondary material flows, current infrastructure and operations, and optimisation of operations (in partnership with the team) to develop a business plan for increasing supply of recyclables in metropolitan areas
    • Monthly report backs on data analysis with a view to impacting in driving a circular economy for packaging
    • Develop briefs and case studies to stimulate interest and engagement in a circular economy for packaging
  • Key Areas to unearth opportunities
    • Support activities of the circular economy not limited but including:
      • Land rehabilitation
      • Water preservation and reclamation
      • Climate-smart agriculture
      • Tyre and plastic pyrolysis
      • Industrial symbiosis
      • Waste recycling 
      • Smart buildings
      • Biomass
      • Bioplastics
      • Biogas etc.

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
  • Copies of academic transcripts and proof of qualification
  • Proof of eligibility to work in South Africa (copy of SA ID)

Applications should be submitted to: recruit-pretoria@giz.de with subject line “Application for MGCA Senior Analyst” for the attention of Head of Human Resources.

Closing date for applications: 9 June 2023

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications without a motivation letter will not be considered!

Full job description below.