The IEJ’s core objective is to provide policy makers and progressive social forces in South Africa with access to rigorous economic analysis, and well thought through policy options, as a basis for advancing systemic change. Interventions proposed by the IEJ must advance social justice, promote equitable economic development that realises socio-economic rights, and ensure a thriving, democratic, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive economy that places the needs of the majority at the centre.The IEJ is a progressive economics think tank based in Johannesburg South Africa.
The IEJ has recently launched a Climate, Energy and Infrastructure Programme. Within this, we undertake work to support an approach to climate policy that promotes human rights, gender equity and social transformation, while advancing economic policies that ensure environmental sustainability. We see economic justice and climate justice as intersecting imperatives. This is framed by ideas of a Just Transition, Just Recovery and Green New Deal.
The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) seeks to appoint a Researcher in Energy Policy for the Climate, Energy and Infrastructure Programme to be based in Johannesburg.
The IEJ’s climate justice activities intersect with other dimensions of our work, in particular: recovery from COVID-19, macroeconomic policy, finance for development (including reforming state-owned enterprises) and feminist economics. Over the past months, the IEJ has played a leading role in public debate and economic policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa and also played an active role in civil society coalition collaborations, and providing trade union support. The COVID-19 work intersects strongly with the Climate and Economic Justice programme. See https://350africa.org/just-recovery-report/ for an example.
The main objective of this position will encompass advancing a Just Transition towards an environmentally sustainable economy that protects workers and affected communities and ensures decent work, social inclusion, and the reduction of poverty.
This will be achieved amongst others through the following actions which the Energy Policy Researcher will lead supported by the Senior Researcher and Climate, Energy and Infrastructure Programme Lead:
Provide technical and political support to unions engaged in Just Transition planning on the plant level, and in negotiations with Eskom and other stakeholders.
Work with trade unions to consolidate a labour position on the Just Transition – including Eskom restructuring – and develop associated policy proposals and strategic alliances.
The ability to develop progressive policy positions and solutions for Just Energy Transitions and renewable energy industrialisation
Build alliances between labour organisations and other civil society and community organisations to develop a shared agenda.
Build the IEJ’s “Climate, energy and infrastructure” programme into a leading part of the IEJ’s work.
The Energy Policy Researcher will:
Lead in the development and ongoing implementation of the Energy component of the Climate, Energy, Infrastructure programme;
Work according to brief and deliver frequent project updates;
Develop and direct given research assignments;
Create a plan of action, set project goals, and manage to completion;
Conduct detailed research of intended subject matter including making policy recommendations; and
Formulate effective and efficient research processes.
Coordinate activities with stakeholders, in particular trade unions and other civil society.
Qualifications / experience required:
Advanced degree (at least Masters) in economics; development; geography or environmental management; sociology; engineering; or science (Masters required);
Research experience in Energy, including production of policy-relevant outputs; and
Experience in coordination with partners.
The candidates should have the following attributes:
Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills;
Be committed to progressive economic transformation in South Africa;
English language fluency with strong research and writing ability;
Extensive understanding of the national and international context of the research in Energy;
Previous academic or non-academic publications and partners; and
Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite.
The IEJ is committed to gender and racial equity and transformation and will consider this when reviewing applications.
The contract will be a full-time twelve-month contract, beginning as soon as possible. Could be either at Researcher or Senior Researcher level with different salary implications.
The position will be based in Johannesburg. Remuneration will be at market rates and based on work experience.
Applications should be made via this google form: https://forms.gle/wWt78LncnEZR89p69 by 13 April 2021. For further information contact [email protected], no applications will be accepted by email nor replied to.
For more about South African Institute of International Affairs, refer to www.iej.org.za