Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Lead - Just Energy Transition in South Africa

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. ACF also provides Fiscal Hosting (also called Fiscal Sponsorship) services to support emerging and mission aligned organisations and initiatives.

The Just Energy Transition Project Management Office (JET PMU)

The JET PMU operates as a high-impact delivery unit located within the Project Management Office of the Presidency, 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.

Under the MOU signed between the African Climate Foundation (ACF) and the Presidency, the ACF provides Fiscal Hosting services to the JET PMU and supports resource mobilisation to enable the JET PMU to fulfil its mandate of implementing the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET IP). This includes the secondment of technical experts across all relevant disciplines to support the agenda of the JET PMU.

About the role

The ACF and the JET PMU are seeking an experienced GESI expert to lead the implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) as part of the overall objective of delivering the Accelerating the Implementation of the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET IP) in South Africa project funded by IKI. The GAP for the IKI Project is designed to actively promote gender justice within the program’s scope and implementation. The approach acknowledges the fundamental role of gender equality in achieving sustainable development, aligns with international and national frameworks, and supports the achievement of the IKI Policy marker GG1.

The GESI Lead, JET SA, will report to both the ACF and the JET PMU regarding the delivery of the programme of work outlined below. The JET PMU will be responsible for managing, engaging with, and overseeing the GESI Lead responsibilities and deliverables.

Key Deliverables:

• Lead the implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the Gender Action Plan (GAP), working closely with technical partners, consultants, and internal teams responsible for the project delivery.
• Developing and applying a gender lens to address critical funding gaps and improve funding flows.
• Fostering the economic empowerment of women and socially excluded groups through targeted mechanisms.
• Improving project processes and activities to enhance inclusivity and equity (mainstreaming).
• Contributing to closing the gender data gap, enabling more informed, evidence-based decision-making and learning.
• Ensure alignment, quality, and compliance with the GAP and ensure full alignment with IKI gender requirements.
• Operationalise gender equality and social inclusion across all project components by embedding gender into:
  • JET investment systems
  • Municipal planning and implementation
  • Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems
  • Institutional processes within ACF and the JET PMU

The GESI Lead-JET SA will deliver across seven core pillars aligned with the GAP as outlined below:

• Gender Mainstreaming and GAP Implementation
• Gender Safeguarding and Gender- Based Violence (GBV) Prevention
• Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Across the JET Ecosystem
• Gender-Responsive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
• Participation, Inclusion and Stakeholder Engagement
• Knowledge Management and Learning
• Institutional Capacity Strengthening

Requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Master's degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, or Development Studies, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years experience in gender mainstreaming, policy development, and experience with donor-funded projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in applying Gender Lens Investing in development projects, preferably in the South African context.
• Demonstrated experience in mainstreaming GESI into programs, policies and monitoring/evaluation systems.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating GESI workshops and training.
• Strong knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion frameworks and international standards.
• Technical experience in undertaking intersectional gender analysis (including youth, disability, marginalised groups, and indigenous communities).
• Strong understanding of gender and climate/energy transition in South Africa
• Proven competency in safeguarding and GBV/SEA/SH risk mitigation approaches.

Start date: Position available immediately

Location: South Africa

Contract duration: 12 months (renewable based on mutual agreement)

Closing date: 1 June 2026

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

Should you not hear back from us by 31 July 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.