The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is a critical initiative for South Africa as the country works to shift from a coal-dependent energy system to one based on renewable resources. However, the success of this transition depends heavily on ensuring that the process is transparent, inclusive, and equitable. The newly launched Grant Register Report, commissioned by the Fair Finance Coalition Southern Africa (FFCSA) and the Life After Coal Campaign (LAC), is designed to help meet these objectives. The report is a review of the Grant Mapping Register published by the Project Management Unit in the Presidency, which refers to all allocations of grant funds in terms of South Africa’s JET implementation and investment plans. 

The report, together with an aligned webpage, aims to increase transparency around the JET process, ensuring that the people most impacted—especially those on the ground—are informed and included. By shedding light on where the money is coming from and where it’s being allocated, this analysis hopes to centre principles of equity, transparency, and inclusion in the JETP.

A key focus of the report and webpage is to provide communities with the tools to track how the incoming funds, as well as the projects they support, are being managed. As these funds are meant to support a just energy transition, ensuring that those most affected by these projects are aware of the financial flows is essential for accountability and trust.

To further simplify and clarify the process, the FFCSA website has reorganised the information available on the JET Grant Mapping Register.. This reorganised content makes it easier for the public to navigate the data, understand where the money is coming from, and track where it’s going.

The register was first published in November 2023 and updated in July 2024, listing grants provided between November 2021 and 2030. By presenting the data more clearly, the FFCSA aims to help citizens and civil society organisations (CSOs) engage with the financial details of the JETP.

In compiling the report, the FFCSA and LAC worked in consultation with the International Partners Group (IPG) and the Project Management Unit (PMU) to ensure accuracy and a comprehensive understanding of how funds are distributed. The report maps out a chronology of financial flows, tracking which projects have received funding, where the funds come from, and which projects have been completed.

One of the key focuses of the report is the funding of Green Hydrogen projects, outlining where the money has been allocated, who provided it, and which entities received it. However, challenges remain due to incomplete information, particularly when it comes to non-IPG members. This limits the ability to make direct comparisons between the Grant Register and the JET Implementation Plan.

Gaps in Governance and Reporting

A key concern highlighted in the report is the lack of standardised, detailed information on implementing entities, financial intermediaries, and the governance of JETP projects. For example, while IDC and DBSA (two financial intermediaries) have their own oversight processes, they have not made key elements—such as the JET results monitoring system—public yet. As Leanne Govindsamy of the Centre for Environmental Rights, a member of FFCSA pointed out during the launch event, there is an urgent need for this system to be operational and transparent:

“We don’t just need a JET results monitoring system; we also need a review of where we are right now,” she said.

The absence of a clear monitoring system makes it difficult to track the full lifecycle of a project, from funding to implementation and limits civil society’s ability to hold relevant stakeholders accountable. Moreover, Govindsamy stressed the need for a review system to track the outcomes of the 73 completed projects listed, many of which involved pre-feasibility studies and significant research.

To ensure that the JETP achieves its goals of a just and equitable energy transition, the report outlines three critical recommendations for improving the transparency and governance of JET funding:

• Clarity: JET documents must be clear and consistent, making them accessible to all stakeholders.
• Transparency: Reporting entities must take responsibility for making comprehensive and integrated information publicly available.
• Accountability: Stakeholders and authorities must meet reporting standards outlined in the JET Investment and Implementation Plans and communicate transparently to build trust and encourage constructive collaboration with CSOs.

The report underscores the importance of standardising information and improving collaboration between governments, implementing entities, and civil society. Only with clear, transparent, and accountable processes can the JETP truly be just and inclusive.

For more information on the JETP Grant Register and to access the full report, visit the FFCSA website.