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: JET Communications will support the implementation of the communications and stakeholder engagement strategy for the JET PMU by providing technical, analytical, and operational expertise. This role will focus on high-volume content development, media monitoring, media analytics, digital communication, and organising effective stakeholder engagement efforts. The incumbent will contribute to ensuring that the JET PMU communicates effectively with key stakeholders, including government institutions, international partners, the media, and the public. The Analyst will ensure that the JET PMU’s communications and stakeholder strategies are translated into high-quality, day-to-day tactical outputs across digital and traditional platforms; and that these strategies and outputs are informed by timely and insightful analysis of ongoing public discourse on the JET.

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

Key Deliverables:

Strategic Content Development

• High-Level Authoring: Draft professional press releases, media statements, briefing notes, and speeches that align with the JET PMU “Master Narrative”.
• Thought Leadership: Produce engaging newsletters and leader articles to position the JET PMU effectively within the energy sector.
• Information Gathering: Proactively collaborate with team members and lead institutions to synthesise technical data into strategic, public-facing content.

Multimedia & Digital Management

• Visual Simplification: Develop infographics and multimedia assets to translate complex energy transition concepts into accessible formats for public consumption.
• Platform Optimisation: Maintain and continuously improve the JET PMU’s digital footprint, including the website and social media channels.
• Digital Content Curation: Ensure all digital platforms are populated with timely, relevant, and engaging content that reflects current portfolio progress.

Media Monitoring & Crisis Vigilance

• Proactive Surveillance: Conduct daily scans of traditional and social media to track JET mentions and broader energy transition discourse.
• Reputational Risk Management: Immediately identify and escalate negative sentiment or emerging issues to management to ensure swift mitigation.
• Trend Analysis: Monitor public discourse and engagement metrics to compile analytical reports that inform ongoing communications improvements.
• Historical Records: Maintain a comprehensive digital archive of crisis communications, event timelines, and public reactions for future reference.

Stakeholder Event Coordination

• Logistical Execution: Manage the end-to-end logistics for media briefings, stakeholder dialogues, and public engagement events.
• Campaign Support: Coordinate the practical requirements for webinars, press conferences, and outreach initiatives.
• Database Stewardship: Build and maintain an accurate, up-to-date database of journalists, media houses, and key communication partners.
• Resource Management: Oversee the professional printing and distribution of stakeholder materials and engagement reports for public forums.

Impact Reporting and Brand Stewardship

• Performance Analytics: Aggregate media reach and digital engagement data to produce quarterly impact reports for senior management review.
• Brand Consistency: Conduct routine reviews of all internal and external presentations to ensure absolute adherence to branding guidelines.
• Knowledge Management: Support internal sharing by managing the SharePoint/Teams repository, ensuring team access to approved messaging and assets.
• Administrative Oversight: Track budget expenditure against invoices and manage project timelines for external service providers to ensure operational efficiency

Candidate Profile: What You Bring

Education

• Master’s Degree: Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or Media Studies.

Experience & Track Record

• 5+ Years Experience: Proven track record in communications analytics, media relations, or PR.
• Sector Familiarity: Prior experience in government, development, climate change, or energy is a distinct advantage.
• Technical Toolset: High proficiency in social media analytics, web CMS, and basic graphic design (Canva or Adobe Creative Suite).

Core Competencies

• Master Communicator: Exceptional writing and editing skills across formats (speeches to tweets).
• Analytical Mindset: Ability to translate raw media monitoring data into strategic insights for management.
• Logistical Expertise: Experience managing the coordination of high-profile events and maintaining complex stakeholder databases.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

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

Closing date: 23 February 2026

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

Should you not hear back from us by 31 March 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.