South Africa has many of the ingredients required for successful economic development yet over the past few years our growth rates have been weak. An important indicator is the low rate of investment in the economy - both domestic and international investment. This Development Dialogue discussed South Africa's investment climate, considering the progress that has been made in recent years and to unpacking some of the challenges and opportunities. 

Agenda

Welcome and opening remarks - Rashmee Ragaven (the dtic) 

Danae Govender (TIPS) - Presentation on FDI tracker and investment data

Dr Alistair Ruiters (The Presidential envoy) - Role of the Presidency in driving investment

Eustace Mashimbye (Proudly SA) - Growing investment in SA

Dr Neva Makgetla (TIPS) - Outcomes of the investment climate research

Dr Anthony Costa (BUSA rep with B20) - A private sector perspective

Discussion

Speakers 

Danae Govender is an economist at TIPS, in the Inclusive Industrialisation and Trade Promotion workstream. His work revolves around the metals value-chain, South Africa’s exports, inward foreign direct investment, regional integration, and the electrical equipment manufacturing subsector.

Dr Alistair Ruiters is the President’s special advisor on investment promotion. He was previously DG of the DTIC from 2001 to 2005.

Eustace Mashimbye serves on the boards of The Business Place and the South African Savings Institute, where he previously chaired the Audit and Risk Committee. He spent a decade as CFO at Proudly South African, also serving as Acting COO and CEO, before being appointed permanent CEO in December 2016.

Dr Neva Makgetla is a Senior Economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government.

Dr Anthony Costa is currently the BUSA representative to the B20, seconded by Nedbank. He was previously seconded to the Presidency to support the presidential investment drive.

PRESENTATIONS 

Danae Govender (TIPS) - Insights from the FDI Tracker 2024-Q1 to 2025-Q3

Eustace Mashimbye (Proudly SA) - Make local your business

Dr Neva Makgetla (TIPS) - Outcomes of investment climate research

South Africa’s quarterly exports and imports, in constant (2025) rand and current United States dollars, over the 10-year time period spanning the third quarter of 2015 to the third quarter of 2025 are higher at the end of the timeframe than at the beginning. In the third quarter of 2025, exports and imports increased on a quarterly and yearly basis. Exports remain higher than imports, which means South Africa has maintained its tenth consecutive positive trade balance.

South Africa continued to maintain a relatively strong trade balance in the third quarter of 2025, in constant 2025 Rand, for the tenth consecutive quarter. The trade surplus increased to R44 billion in the third quarter of 2025, from R36 billion in the third quarter of 2024. However, there is a quarter-on-quarter decrease of just over a fifth between the second and third quarters of 2025. Year-on-year exports show higher growth compared to imports. Exports grew by R11 billion to R540 billion in the year to the third quarter of 2025 compared to R7 billion growth to R497 billion for imports in the same period. 

However, the value of the Top 5 export products decreased by almost R6 billion in the year to the third quarter of 2025, with bituminous coal and diesel-powered goods vehicles exports being the key contributors to the decline. In contrast, the value of the Top 5 import products increased by almost R6 billion. Crude imports decreased by R7 billion. However, there was a R7 billion increase in imports of components for goods vehicles, as well as an almost R5 billion increase in diesel imports, both of which countered the decrease in crude imports between the third quarters of 2024 and 2025.

The impact of climate change and the decisions taken to reduce emissions will have an impact on workers and communities in multiple value-chains. Five key value chains that will be impacted are Coal, Petroleum based Transport, Tourism, Metals and Agriculture. TIPS, with funding from the UK-PACT programme, has undertaken Sector Jobs Resilience Plans in five value chains. These studies build on vulnerability assessments in each of these value chains.

This research was presented at a Learning Event on 17 February 2026

Introduction and Welcome: Dr Saul Levin (TIPS)

SESSION ONE

• Danae Govender (TIPS) - Findings from SJRP: Metals
• Kate Rivett-Carnac (Independent Consultant) - Findings from SJRP: Tourism
• Dr Michael Hector (TIPS) - Findings from SJRP: Agriculture
• Tanya van Meelis (COSATU) - Discussant

SESSION TWO

• Muhammed Patel (TIPS) - Findings from SJRP: Coal
• Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS) - Findings from SJRP: Petroleun-Based Transport 
• Dr Neva Makgetla (TIPS) - Discussant

Media

TIPS undertakes Sector Jobs Resilience Plans, highlights vulnerability assessments in key value chains - Sabrina Jardin, Engineering News. 17 February 2026 

Resources

This research builds on research conducted in 2020: This comprises a main report: National Employment Vulnerability Assessment: Analysis of potential climate-change related impacts and vulnerable groups; the SJRP Toolbox: Summary for policy makers; and proposals for five value chains that seem particularly likely to be affected: coal, metals, petroleum-based transport, agriculture and tourism. Available here: Sector Jobs Resilience Plans  

Deputy Executive Director

The TIPS Deputy Executive Director, in collaboration with the Executive Director and management team, is responsible for effective oversight over the operational, research and capacity building programmes at TIPS. This role combines operations management, research and research management, and external engagements. 

Further information on TIPS can be accessed on this website.

Background

For the past 30 years TIPS has been involved in research, dialogue, training and policy engagement on inclusive and sustainable industrial development in South Africa. Over the past decade the organisation has seen significant growth working across a range of sectors, processes and policy issues. TIPS is looking for a Deputy Executive Director to support and strengthen organisational management and growth. TIPS has become an important voice in evidence based and policy research, heterodox economic training, dialogue, and building networks. The aim of this position is to work closely with the Executive Director and management team to effectively manage the institution while also undertaking research, research management and external engagements with stakeholders.

The Deputy Executive Director will report to the Executive Director at TIPS.

Candidate Requirements

• A master’s qualification in economics, over 10 years of working experience in either research, policy development or both.
• A deep understanding of industrial policy and the South African industrial landscape.
• Interest in and support for industrial policy and heterodox economic thinking.
• A proven track record and management experience in programme and project design, planning, management and implementation - ensuring delivery against quality, time and budget.
• Experience in the management and coordination of teams comprising diverse skills and responsibilities.
• The communication skills and interpersonal abilities required to work with colleagues, lecturers, team members.
• Strong capacity for building collaboration with government officials and other stakeholders or partners.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities. This will require proactive problem-solving capabilities, self-motivation, a strong work ethic and a willingness to be accountable for individual and team performance management.
• Familiarity with hybrid working arrangements.

Scope of Work

TIPS Management and HR
• Contribute to the leadership and management of the organisation, including management guidance to staff.
• Assist with the strategic engagement with the TIPS board as well as contribute to the preparation of board reports, and attend board meetings.
• Support internal training and capacity building at TIPS.
• Undertake organisational improvement projects as needed.
• Support quality assurance for TIPS’s research and training, including participation in the research methodology committee and internal brown bags and similar discussions.
• Ensure project close out meetings take place and learnings are filtered back into the organisation.
• Work with the Executive Director and Head of Finance, HR and Admin, to oversee job descriptions for new employees, review performance agreements and conduct performance appraisals.

Research and Research / Project Management
• Manage TIPS research or projects as required
• Undertake research and draft research reports as required

Finance and Audit
• On an ongoing basis, review expenditure against budget for projects and track project expenditure to improve budgeting.
• Consider and propose solutions to strengthening financial systems at TIPS.
• Where required prepare or review funder or donor reports.
• Support the preparation and presentation of the TIPS Risk Register, as well as implementation of action items from the TIPS Risk Register.
• Attend the TIPS Audit Committee

Dissemination and Communication
• Present TIPS research in a variety of (mostly non-academic) forums
• Engage with government officials and other stakeholders
• Work with the Executive Director to oversee and review external communications by the organisation, including media posts, op-eds and press releases.
• Engage with the media from time to time.

Who we are

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is an independent, non-profit, economic research institution based in Pretoria. It was established in 1996 to support economic policy development, with an emphasis on industrial policy, in South Africa and the region. Its areas of focus are trade and inclusive industrial policy, and sustainable development. TIPS’s main objectives are to undertake in-depth economic analyses, especially at the industrial level; to provide quality research as the basis for improving industrial policy as well as broader economic development strategies; and to support an increasingly dynamic and evidence-based discourse on industrial policy and inclusive growth with academics, other researchers and stakeholders. TIPS offers high-quality quantitative and qualitative research, project management, dialogue facilitation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. TIPS undertakes commissioned research, as well as policy papers and think pieces around industrial policy and economic development.

Application Details

Closing date for applications: 20 February 2026

To apply, please send a short CV, a cover letter highlighting your interest for the position and how you match the requirements via e-mail to jobs@tips.org.za. Note that we will only consider applications with all of these components. Correspondence will be limited to short-listed applicants only.

Programme Manager: LEAP Project

Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is looking for an experienced Programme Manager to support the Leapfrogging to Zero Emission Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa (LEAP) project. The successful candidate will support the project's preparatory phase and will be responsible for leading the in-country implementation. This role requires skills in consortium coordination and grant management to ensure collaboration with partners and the delivery of project outcomes.

About the Project

The Leapfrogging to Zero Emission Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa (LEAP) project is a regional initiative aimed at accelerating the deployment of EVs and developing local value chains within the EV industry across Senegal, South Africa, and Kenya. As a key consortium partner, TIPS is responsible for leading the South Africa component. This component is designed to drive South Africa’s transition toward an inclusive, decarbonised transport economy by through targeted policy support, capacity building, developing strategic frameworks to strengthen the enabling environment for the domestic EV ecosystem, and facilitating strategic investment in the sector.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic project leadership and coordination
• Provide overall leadership for the day-to-day implementation of the South Africa project component, ensuring alignment with the overall project goals and donor requirements.
• Serve as the primary focal point for consortium partners, facilitating effective communication, collaboration, and synergy between all entities.
• Organise and lead regular consortium steering committee meetings, technical workshops, and partner dialogues.
Strategic project leadership and coordination

Grant operations and financial oversight

• Coordinate and oversee grant management operations, including contracting, fund disbursement, budget monitoring, and reporting.

Planning and team support

• Support the recruitment and management of the project team
• Develop implementation plans for work package activities, defining clear timelines, roles, and deliverable outputs.
• Align the South Africa work packages with related initiatives within the consortium and partner organisations.

Qualifications, Exerience and Competencies Required

• A relevant postgraduate qualification; preferably with a strong background in economics climate policy, energy transition or sustainable development.
• A Project Management qualification and at least 5 years of working experience in project management or closely related work.
• Proven ability to design, lead, and implement donor-funded projects, successfully managing multi-skilled teams and resources to deliver against objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Possess communication and interpersonal skills to build collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, donor representatives, consortium partners, and leaders from government, business and labour.
• Knowledge of the South African EV ecosystem and transport policy landscape will be an added advantage.

Application Details

Closing date for applications: 16 February 2026

To apply, please send a short CV, a cover letter highlighting your interest for the position and how you match the requirements via e-mail to jobs@tips.org.za. Note that we will only consider applications with all of these components. Correspondence will be limited to short-listed applicants only.

This study seeks to understand what has caused and continues to cause South Africa’s R&D efforts to not yield intended outcomes in innovation, industrial development, employment, and economic growth. The study employs a case study approach using some of the R&D-led projects in South Africa since 1994. The study recognises that South Africa does not lack policies to ensure R&D outcomes such as innovation, industrial development, employment, and economic growth. As such, the starting point is a policy analysis of the science, technology, innovation, and industrial landscape under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

TIPS industry studies provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers, and to strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry as a basis for a more strategic response.

This study assesses the degree of sustainability in the South African electrical equipment manufacturing subsector.

We are bombarded daily with messages about technological disruption, including the advances in AI and automation that lie ahead for workplaces, workers and infrastructure. It is often hard to decipher the implications for our work, key industries, and society. At the same time, indicators of South Africa’s innovation performance and longer-term technological capabilities show a concerning downward trend. But we don’t need the statistics to tell us what we can see when we visit companies or workplaces. In almost every sector, a handful of companies are thriving by being innovative. In contrast, a large group of companies appear to lag technology and innovation trends. In many sector strategies and industry action plans, technology is treated generically. The result is that those who can, innovate; and those who can’t, fall further behind.

This course will focus on the factors that shape our industries' ability to learn about new technology and the ecosystem that supports innovators. It will help participants to discern the noise from the signal and equip them to help industries or other stakeholders better observe, anticipate and strategically respond to technological change opportunities.

Course Faciltator: Dr Shawn Cunningham, project leader of the Technological Change and Innovation System Observatory implemented by TIPS.

Date: 17 & 18 February 2026

Venue: TIPS Office: 234 Lange Street Nieuw Muckleneuk Pretoria

Cost: R7000 (Including VAT) per delegate

For more information contact Rozale Sewduth at Rozale@tips.org.za 

For more information on the TIPS Technological Change and Innovation System Observatory visit: https://www.tips.org.za/projects/technological-change-and-innovation-system-observatory

For more information on the training workshop download the brochure.