Background
The African Climate Foundation (ACF) is the first and only African-led climate change re-granting organisation on the continent. Through a combination of grant making, fellowships, transformational research, technical assistance, coalition building and advocacy the ACF seeks to support interventions at the nexus of climate change, and development that have the greatest potential to deliver long-term socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.

The JET PMU

The JET PMU operates as a high-impact delivery unit, driving the Just Energy Transition (JET) through strategic coordination, agile execution, and results-driven implementation. Focused on accelerating project pipelines, mobilising resources, problem solving and fostering collaboration, the PMU bridges policy and action.

About the role

As part of the MOU signed between the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and the Just Energy Transition Projects Management Unit (JET PMU); the ACF agreed to provide resources to the JET PMU to enable the JET PMU to fulfil its mandate pursuant to the JET PMU’s terms of reference. This includes the secondment of technical experts across all relevant disciplines to support the agenda of the JET PMU.

The Analyst: Projects: JET Funding Platform plays a key role in ensuring the efficient tracking, assessment, and management of projects under the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET IP). This role is responsible for project matching, maintaining the JET Projects Register, analysing project data to inform decision-making, facilitating project alignment with funding opportunities, stakeholder engagement, and project preparation support to enhance project readiness for JET grant funding.

This role will be seconded to the JET PMU and will report to the Manager: JET Funding Platform. The JET PMU will be responsible for managing, engaging with, and overseeing the Analyst: Projects JET Funding Platform responsibilities and deliverables.

Key Deliverables:

• Strategic Grant Matching & Partner Management: Direct the technical support partners responsible for the end-to-end assessment of applications. You will serve as the primary architect in identifying synergies between project developers and grant providers, ensuring every recommendation to the Adjudication Committee/Steering Committee is data-backed and strategic.

• Project Origination & Pipeline Development: Partner with the JET Funding Platform Manager to originate high-priority project preparation and implementation activities. You will lead the onboarding of preparation support services, ensuring that every project in the pipeline has the potential to evolve into a bankable, feasible proposal.

• Capacity Building & Just Transition Compliance: Act as a technical bridge by coordinating with consultants and implementing partners to enhance developer capacity. You will provide critical guidance on climate finance mechanisms, sustainability reporting, and adherence to Just Transition principles to ensure projects meet international standards.

• Financial Intelligence & Impact Reporting: Transform raw financial data into sophisticated dashboards and reports. You will track financial flows to ensure efficient disbursement while maintaining radical transparency through public-facing reports on fund deployment, pipeline readiness, and bankability outcomes.

• High-Level Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a key intermediary between project originators, donors, DFIs, and private investors. You will represent the JET PMU at forums and facilitate specialised workshops to align project needs with available funding sources and increase understanding of the JET Funding Platform.

• Research & Investment Intelligence: Translate pipeline data into action by spearheading the preparation of high-impact investment briefs, funding proposals, and donor reports. By benchmarking against international best practices, you will ensure the JET IP portfolios are supported by a world-class pipeline that meets community and portfolio objectives.

Candidate Profile: What You Bring

Education & Experience

• Advanced Academic Background: A Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, or Business Administration.
• Proven Track Record: At least 5 years of professional experience in development finance, climate finance, private sector development, socio-economic development, project analysis, or high-level financial management.
• Sector Expertise: A deep understanding of South Africa’s energy transition landscape, sustainability finance, and the nuances of public-private funding mechanisms.

Technical Mastery

• Institutional Fluency: Prior exposure to Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), or large-scale private sector investments.
• Financial Rigor: Expert-level skills in financial reporting, fund tracking, and budget analysis, with a keen ability to ensure fiduciary compliance and navigate complex financial governance.
• Project Assessment: A sharp eye for evaluating project proposals and pipelines to determine their viability, bankability, and specific support requirements.

Digital & Analytical Excellence

• Data-Driven Insights: The ability to synthesize complex financial data into actionable trends and strategic insights using advanced reporting tools and database management.
• Collaborative Tech: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office 365 ecosystem (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive) to manage documentation and streamline workflow in a digital-first environment.

Core Competencies

• Precision & Accuracy: A detail-oriented approach where accuracy is non-negotiable.
• Stakeholder Diplomacy: Highly skilled at collaborating with diverse internal and external partners to remove bottlenecks and streamline funding flows.
• Proactive Strategy: A self-starter who anticipates market needs, funding opportunities and mitigates risks within a rapidly evolving global policy environment.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

Contract duration: 12 months, consisting of 2 x 6-month renewable contracts

Closing date: 9 February 2026

For further information about the ACF, visit www.africanclimatefoundation.org.

Should you not hear back from us by 28 February 2026, please consider your application to be unsuccessful.

The ACF strives to be an equitable organisation with a team which reflects the diversity of Africa.

In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), The ACF assures all applicants that any personal information provided during the recruitment process will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for recruitment purposes. Your privacy and data security are of paramount importance to us. By applying for this position, you consent to the collection, processing, and storage of your personal information for recruitment-related activities only. The ACF is committed to safeguarding your privacy and maintaining the trust you place in us.