Junior Researcher / Researcher : Climate Finance

Institute For Economic Justice; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 200,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute For Economic Justice seeks a Junior Researcher / Researcher in Climate Finance to support progressive climate finance proposals for socio-economic rights. The role involves capacity building, stakeholder management, and advocacy work in climate finance, focusing on just transition frameworks in South Africa.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a relevant field required.
• Strong analytical and communication skills essential.
• Ability to engage with stakeholders and media.

Responsibilities

• Support Senior Programme Officer in developing climate finance toolkit.
• Plan and facilitate workshops related to climate finance.
• Assist with stakeholder management and programmatic administration.

Skills

Analytical skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Master's degree in economics, sociology, development studies, or political economy

Job description

JOB PURPOSEThe Junior Researcher / Researcher : Climate Finance will support the Senior Programme Officer : Climate Finance and Resource Mobilisation in working towards the adoption of progressive, developmental climate finance proposals that advance a just transition in the context of the global financial system and bilateral and multilateral climate financing regimes.

The role also includes supporting other aspects of the project, such as : The adoption by government(s) of the IEJ's proposed alternative financing framework for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP);The incorporation of developmental and worker-centric climate financing policies into climate finance policy in South Africa;The strengthening of the advancement of a just transition among labour, civil society, and progressive researchers in Global South countries (with particular attention to Africa);The workshopping of the rights-based climate finance toolkit with partners and stakeholders; andFuture research and advocacy work around climate finance for a just transition.ABOUT THE RESOURCING FOR RIGHTS REALISATION PROJECTThe Resourcing for Rights Realisation project seeks the adoption by African governments of policies that re-integrate our countries, both jointly and separately, into the global financial system on just terms so that we can mobilise the maximum available domestic and international resources in an equitable, transparent, and growth-enhancing manner to realise socioeconomic rights.

The project focuses on three areas of work : 1. tax justice, and the taxation of financial assets, incomes, and trading in particular; 2. debt justice, and the prioritisation of developmental forms of international debt financing and a fair debt architecture; 3. climate finance, with specific reference to South Africa's trend-setting JETP and similar agreements in the Global South.ABOUT YOUThe role requires someone with the following personal attributes : Political and social awareness or consciousness.Interested in and passionate about the missions of IEJ.Accountable and responsible.A hard worker who pays attention to detail.Ability to make sound decisions.Empathy and a high level of emotional intelligence.Flexibility and the ability to work under pressure.Interpersonal and communication skills.MAIN RESPONSIBILITIESCapacity building and advocacySupporting the senior programme officer in updating the climate finance toolkit training material and media pack.Supporting the senior programme officer in planning and facilitating workshops on the climate finance toolkit.Contributing to the development of the climate finance toolkit training material development as a playbook and online training tool, including the operation of an online resource portal.Supporting the senior programme officer in finalising the alternative financing framework outputs and the development of a capacity-building workshop for stakeholders, partners, and parliament, in consultation with partners.Workshop planning and facilitationSupporting the senior programme officer in planning and facilitating workshops on the alternative financing framework, including in the follow-up from the workshops.Supporting the senior programme officer in activities related to advocacy around the alternative financing framework and climate finance toolkit.Coordinating organisational webinars alongside internal and external training workshops.Programmatic administrationAssisting the administrative assistants with event planning and contacting speakers, tracking speakers' responses and updating the database to ensure that the right people are contracted and invited.Assisting with other administrative tasks as determined by the senior programme officer.

For example, maintaining stakeholder engagement, preparing presentations and outputs for related events and meetings, as well as related programme and organisational tasks.Stakeholder managementIdentifying relevant stakeholders for JETP and climate financemunicating with stakeholders.Monitoring stakeholder relations.Facilitating workshops and webinars, as well as other event types in relation to JETP, alternative financing frameworks and the climate finance toolkit.Ad hoc logistical and research supportAssisting with logistical tasks as determined by the senior programme officer.Supporting the senior programme officer with future research projects.SKILLS AND EXPERIENCERequired skills and experience include : Master's degree in economics, sociology, development studies, or political economy.Strong analytical, verbal and written communication skills.Ability to engage with media and external stakeholders.Keen sense of political economy issues and political / stakeholder dynamics.Excellent organisation and planning skills.Strong presentation skills.Strategic thinker.CONTRACTThe contract will be a full-time 3-year contract beginning as soon as possible.SALARY (TCTC)The IEJ's new Remuneration Policy sets the Junior Researcher salary range at R - R and the Researcher salary range at R – R .

The IEJ is currently in a phased three-year process of moving from existing (lower) ranges to the new ranges stipulated in the Remuneration Policy.

Along with other staff members, the Junior Researcher / Researcher's salary would be increased annually until it sat within the new stipulated (inflation-adjusted) range.LOCATIONThe position is based in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Based on the candidates, the IEJ might also consider a remote appointment.

The IEJ currently operates on a hybrid work model where all staff are expected to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This may change in future.JOB DESCRIPTIONAPPLY HERE