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 Specialist: JET Investments Register is responsible for leading the technical design, day-to-day operationalisation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the JET Investments Register to ensure that it becomes the definitive source of reliable information on investments in South Africa’s JET by the public sector, the private sector, international partners, and philanthropies. Reporting to the Manager: JET Financing, the role provides the technical depth required to ensure that the Register evolves into an authoritative data system supporting ongoing JET IP governance, JET financing mobilisation, implementation, communications, stakeholder engagement, and policy coordination.

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

Key Deliverables:

Design and Operationalisation of the JET Investments Register

• Support the Manager: JET Finance in establishing the appropriate technology architecture, taxonomy, and data standards for the JET Investments Register by engaging with the relevant sources and users of JET data to ensure a fit-for-purpose system design.
• Formulate precise user requirement specifications (URS) and terms of reference for the procurement of a technical service provider for the design and establishment of the JET Investments Register.
• Translate the design outputs of the service provider into an operational register embedded within JET PMU systems and workflows.

Analysis, Reporting, and Decision Support

• Produce routine analytical reports, graphics, and other communications materials (on investment trends, pipeline tracking, financing gaps, portfolio composition, amongst others).
• Prepare technical JET Investment Register reports to support the Manager: Finance’s JET PMU’s reporting to the JET Government Steering Committee, JET Inter-Ministerial Committee, Parliament, the International Partners Group, MDBs, donors, and others as required.
• Produce evidence-based inputs to the JET IP Quarterly Report.
• Produce subject-specific reports for the JET PMU’s ongoing stakeholder engagements.

Ongoing Data Management and Updates

• Execute the maintenance and updating of data on public and private JET investments (including capex, sources of capital, financing instruments, project status).
• Administer update cycles (quarterly / bi-annual), including data from the relevant institutions (eg. departments, state-owned entities, municipalities, DFIs, and private parties).
• Flag actual vs planned investment flows and identify data gaps or inconsistencies.

Continuous Improvement and Institutionalisation

• Identify and propose technical opportunities to improve data automation, system integration, and analytical functionality over time.
• Support the Manager: Finance in the institutionalisation of the JET Investments Register as a long-term national JET intelligence asset.
• Ensure continuity between consultant-led design phases and in-house operational ownership.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Data Governance, Verification, and Quality Assurance

• Develop and maintain SOPs for the management of the JET Investments Register.
• Implement data governance protocols, including version control, audit trails, and verification.
• Triangulate reported data with financiers, implementing entities, and public expenditure information where feasible.
• Manage confidentiality arrangements, non-disclosure agreements, and access controls as required.
• Maintain a credible Risk Register and implement measures to mitigate risks of cyber-crime, data security, data contamination, software failure, and any other strategic and operational risks.

Stakeholder Engagement and Data Collection

• Serve as the technical JET PMU focal point Serve as the technical JET PMU focal point for data engagement with:

- National Treasury, line departments, SOEs, provinces

- Municipalities and their utilities

- DFIs, commercial banks, and funders

- Private sector firms and developers

- International JET partners.

• Facilitate rollout and refinement of any survey-based or structured data collection instruments.

Candidate Profile: What You Bring

Education

• Master’s Degree: Finance, Economics, Data Management, Data Analytics, Development Finance, or a related field.
• Professional certifications (CFS, CA, CISIS, or other applicable) are highly valued for the role.

Experience & Track Record

• 10+ Years Professional Experience: In data management, financial analysis, or data analytics—specifically within development finance, climate finance, or infrastructure sectors.
• Systems Expertise: Proven history of establishing data systems that draw on multiple sources to track and report on large-scale financial flows.
• Financial Fluency: Strong understanding of funding mechanisms, including blended finance, project finance, and grant management.
• Institutional Navigation: Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), government institutions, and commercial banks.

Core Competencies

• Financial Modelling: Ability to assess financial structures and track disbursements.
• Regulatory Awareness: Familiarity with funding compliance, fiduciary standards, and financial governance in climate finance.
• Software Proficiency: Experience with investment management platforms and the strategic use of AI to enhance reporting quality.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Works effectively with internal and external stakeholders to monitor and facilitate funding flows.
• Negotiation & Influence: Engages effectively with donors and investment partners to correctly reflect the alignment of financing instruments with JET Portfolio project pipelines.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

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

Closing date: 25 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.