The purpose of this paper is to consider how the multiple projects, programmes, measures, initiatives and investments that have been proposed to support a just transition for affected workers and communities in South Africa can be used to inform i) thinking about appropriate context specific codification and tagging; and ii) estimating just transition financial flows. This suggested evidence-based approach supports a learning by doing theory of change and would support bottom-up, on-the -ground evidence to be added to top-down theoretical and analytical approaches to tagging and measurement.
The paper is an initial contribution to what will inevitably be a long-term, iterative ongoing project. The urgency to take preliminary steps is driven by the need to collect evidence to: shape the ongoing research agenda related to just transition finance mobilisation and deployment; assist policymakers to make better and more informed decisions on possible legislative and regulatory interventions, subsidies and incentives to support a just transition; and, most importantly, the identification of just transition financing gaps and opportunities.