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 Portfolio Lead: Electricity leads the JET Electricity Portfolio and has three distinct focus areas that must be pursued simultaneously:

• Transmission grid investment: mobilising and structuring the financing needed for large-scale investment in the national electricity transmission grid, working closely with DEE, Eskom, NTCSA, and the JET Financing Manager.
• Coal transition: supporting the implementation of the Accelerating Coal Transition Investment Plan (ACT IP) for the decommissioning, repowering, and repurposing of retiring coal power stations, and for economic and social support to affected communities and workers.
• Industrial decarbonisation: facilitating South Africa's Climate Investment Funds-supported Industrial Decarbonisation Plan.

Underpinning all three is a fourth responsibility: supporting the Department of Energy and Electricity (DEE) and Eskom to build the long-term institutional capacity they need to manage these investments themselves — including through a formal MOU with DEE.

This role will be seconded to the JET PMU and will work under the direction the Manager: JET Portfolios.

Key Deliverables:

Electricity Transition Strategy

• Lead the JET Electricity Portfolio in alignment with the JET IP and national energy policies.
• Develop strategies with DEE, Eskom, and NTCSA for institutional capacity resourcing for the electricity sector transition.
• Conclude and manage a Memorandum of Understanding with DEE supporting its long-term role as JET electricity sector lead institution.
• Identify policy and regulatory barriers to power sector transition and develop recommendations.

Transmission Grid Investment

• Work with the DEE, Eskom, NTCSA and JET Financing Manager to mobilise financing and develop innovative financing structures for transmission grid investment.

Coal Power Station Decommissioning

• Support the establishment of the ACT IP Desk for professional programme management of the ACT IP Multi-phase Approach 2026–2033.
• Work with the ACT IP Desk, Eskom, National Treasury, DEE, DFIs, and MDBs to drive coal station decommissioning, repowering, repurposing, and community development.
• Represent the JET PMU on the ACT IP Governance Steering Committee.
• Identify and mobilise additional financing sources for the coal-to-clean transition over the decade ahead.

Investment & Financing Mobilisation

• Identify funding sources for the electricity sector transition, including blended finance options.
• Liaise with international partners to plan and track the use of JET grants and concessional loans.
• Mobilise grants, concessional loans, and commercial investments for transmission, decommissioning, and industrial decarbonisation.

Project Pipeline Development

• Build and support robust pipelines of electricity transition projects aligned with JET investment priorities.
• Source technical assistance and preparation funding for transmission, decommissioning, and industrial decarbonisation projects.
• Monitor progress and mobilise resources to resolve bottlenecks in delivery.

Governance, Reporting & Risk Management

• Ensure governance and compliance requirements are met across all electricity transition JET initiatives.
• Ensure electricity transition investments are accurately recorded in the JET Investments Register.
• Track KPIs for the Electricity Portfolio and prepare regular reports for the Manager: JET Portfolios.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies for electricity-related JET projects.

Who we are looking for

This role requires a rare combination of infrastructure finance expertise, deep knowledge of South Africa's electricity sector, and the institutional relationships to operate credibly at the highest levels of government and the development finance community.

Infrastructure and energy finance experience

• You have at least 10 years of direct experience in power sector finance, infrastructure investment, or development finance — with demonstrated success in structuring large-scale deals, working with blended finance mechanisms, and mobilising capital from DFIs, MDBs, and international partners. You have moved actual capital into complex programmes.

Electricity sector knowledge

• You have expert-level understanding of South Africa's electricity sector — including Eskom's structure, the transmission grid, coal power station operations and decommissioning, renewable energy policy, and the regulatory framework governing the sector. You understand the PFMA and how it shapes what is possible in public sector finance.

Institutional relationships

• You have a proven track record of working with Eskom, DEE (or its predecessor DMRE), National Treasury, and development finance institutions. You are known to the people who matter in these institutions, and your relationships are based on credibility, not just familiarity.

Coal transition and just transition understanding

• You understand what the coal transition means in practice — for the grid, for workers, and for communities. Direct experience with the ACT IP, coal decommissioning programmes, or community transition planning in coal regions is a significant advantage.

Institutional capacity building

• You have experience supporting government departments or SOEs to build their own long-term planning and financing capability — not just advising them, but enabling them to do the work independently over time.

Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field. Equivalent senior professional experience in infrastructure finance or energy sector roles will be considered alongside formal qualifications.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

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

Closing date: 20 March 2026

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

Should you not hear back from us by 30 April 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.