Capacity Building Specialist

The Capacity Building Specialist provides strategic, analytical, and advisory support to the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources and other relevant institutions. The primary focus is the implementation and monitoring of legislative packages, specifically concerning the EU acquis, motor vehicles, and equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (ATEX).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Analytical Support

• Review existing national frameworks relevant to the free movement of goods and transport including laws, by-laws, strategies, and institutional arrangements.
• Identify priority gaps and reform needs, focusing on alignment, implementation readiness, and coordination mechanisms.
• Contribute to the preparation of structured recommendations, including sequencing and practical steps for reform delivery.

Alignment and Approximation Support

• Provide recommendations for improving draft legal, policy, or procedural instruments required to advance approximation.
• Ensure coherence across instruments and alignment with EU requirements in a practical, implementable manner.
• Propose transitional measures and implementation considerations to support feasible roll-out.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

• Identify capacity needs and propose practical approaches for strengthening institutional readiness to implement EU Acquis requirements.
• Design and deliver tailored training sessions and workshops for relevant institutions, covering roles, responsibilities, and implementation considerations.
• Provide capacity building to address recommendations and harmonisation with the legislative framework and EU standards (specifically 'old approach' EU product acquis and ATEX).
• Improve institutional understanding of implementation requirements, roles, and monitoring needs.

Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Support coordination among institutions and stakeholders through technical meetings, consultations, and structured feedback processes.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, and action points to drive follow-up and implementation.
• Consolidate stakeholder feedback and facilitate agreement on next steps.

Expected Outputs

• Actionable recommendations and technical inputs to strengthen the legislative framework.
• Regular progress updates and concise reports on assignment implementation.
• Minutes and meeting summaries capturing key discussions and decisions.
• Detailed documentation including implementation plans, analytical notes, and briefing notes.
• Briefing packages for capacity-building activities including concept notes and presentation materials.
• A final assignment report summarising activities, findings, and recommendations for next steps.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in law, EU law, international law, mechanical engineering, or another relevant discipline.
• Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working in the area of free movement of goods and/or transport is required.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in EU alignment and approximation related to harmonised product legislation, including experience with product safety, conformity assessment, or market access frameworks.

Competencies

• Strategic Perspective: Thinks long term and anticipates the impact of future decisions.
• Integrity and Inclusion: Treats all individuals with respect and upholds ethical norms.
• Leading Self and Others: Acts as a positive role model and collaborates effectively.
• Partnering: Puts the end beneficiary first and maintains strong external relationships.
• Results Orientation: Efficiently establishes courses of action to accomplish goals with quality.
• Agility: Open to change and flexible in fast-paced environments.
• Solution Focused: Evaluates data to reach logical, pragmatic decisions.
• Effective Communication: Expresses ideas clearly and actively listens to others.