RFPs: Partnering for Impact in Pursuit of the Green and Just Energy Transition (South Africa)

Donor: European Commission (EC)

Deadline: Aug 27, 2026

Countries/ Regions: South Africa

Focus Areas: Entrepreneurship, Civil Society Development, Community Development, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Energy

Application Language: English

Grant size: More than $1 million

Link: EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Description:

The Paris Agreement, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, sets global goals requiring countries to cut emissions and pursue sustainable development. To support these goals beyond its borders, the European Union (EU) adopted initiatives such as the Global Gateway4 launched in 2021 as a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors, while strengthening health, education and research systems across the world. The focus of the strategy is on smart investments in quality infrastructure, respecting the highest social and environmental standards, in line with the EU’s interests and values: rule of law, human rights and international norms and standards.
Similarly, in 2022 South Africa produced its Just Energy Transition Investment Plan 2023–2027 (JET IP), setting out the scale of need and the investments required to achieve the decarbonisation commitments in SA’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which outlines the rate at which South Africa plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and represents South Africa’s fair contribution to the goals of the Paris Agreement. This was soon followed by Cabinet approval of the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan in November 2023, an actionable roadmap to ensure South Africa is able to meet its decarbonisation commitments in a manner that delivers just outcomes for those affected by the energy transition, while contributing towards inclusive economic growth, energy security, and employment at a pace, scale and cost that is consistent with the country’s socio-economic development path, needs and affordability.
On 9 October 2025, the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, together with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, unveiled a Team Europe investment package worth nearly €12 billion5 to support South Africa to become a global leader in just energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, digital connectivity and pharmaceutical value chain.
Building on the longstanding partnership between the European Union and the Civil Society Organisations (CSO), the Global Gateway anticipates partnership with CSO to ensure a 360°, value-based and inclusive approach to investments. The involvement of CSOs will ensure the Global Gateway delivers on its goals in line with the 6 core principles guiding investments: democratic values and high standards; good governance and transparency; equal partnerships; green and clean; security focus; and catalysing the private sector investment.
The Partnering for Impact programme, conceptualized in 2022, aim to create a deepened partnership between SA and EU institutions and individuals through three specific objectives:

• SO1: Inclusive and gender-responsive policy and capacity development is fostered
• SO2: Partnering with South Africa in the region and globally is promoted
• SO3: EU-SA People-to-People Cooperation is intensified

This call for proposals aims to operationalise both SO1 and SO2.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME AND PRIORITY ISSUES

In line with the specific outputs of the Partnership for Impact initiative, the overall objective of this call for proposals is to support Civil Society Organization and communities, including labour unions and local authorities, to engage in the green transition, with particular focus on mobilizing and monitoring resources for sustainable local economic development that promotes the just energy transition while promoting inclusion, transparency and accountability.
The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals are:

1. To strengthen the technical and organizational capacity of CSOs (including community-based organisations and labour unions) to formulate evidence-based inputs towards implementation-focused interventions in local, district, provincial and national energy planning processes for a just, inclusive and climate‑friendly energy transition in South Africa.
2. To strengthen the capacity of communities (civil society organizations and local authorities) to mobilize and monitor resources for sustainable local economic investment for a just and equitable energy, connectivity and infrastructure transitions in South Africa.
3. To strengthen skilling and job transitioning initiatives that focus on the green economy sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, green hydrogen and other priority value chains identified in the Global Gateway and the JET-IP.

Priority will be given to

• Actions which share knowledge and improve comprehension of the impact and benefits of the Global Gateway Investment Package and the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan for improved policy and project development and implementation at local government level.
• Actions which support local communities and/or local authorities to plan and/or expand their renewable energy plans for generation, transmission, distribution and storage.
• Actions which promote economic diversification, transformation, and alternative livelihoods for affected communities and SMMEs directly affected by the transition.
• Actions which promote youth and women employability and entrepreneurship skills in line with the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan.
• Actions which support the facilitation of inclusive multi‑stakeholder planning processes at municipal or district level, bringing together CSOs, municipalities, local businesses (including informal and micro‑enterprises), financial actors, traditional/community leaders, women’s and youth groups to jointly identify and prioritize just, equitable and inclusive renewable energy, connectivity and infrastructure investments.
• Actions which take place in the priority provinces (Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal). Actions taking place in the municipalities outlined in section 2.1.3 Location will be considered an advantage.