In this episode of the TIPS Podcast Series, recorded at the 2025 TIPS Forum, host Dr. Michael Hector sits down with former Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Rob Davies to unpack the opportunities and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for South Africa and the continent.

From trade rules to climate policy, and from industrial strategy to continental cooperation, this episode offers a candid, in-depth look at how Africa can leverage integration for sustainable, shared growth.

Visit www.tips.org.za for more research from Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies.

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Eastern Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the first part of the full selection of interviews from the Eastern Cape. You can find the second part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17574014

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Eastern Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the second part of the full selection of interviews from the Eastern Cape. You can find the first part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17574023

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Western Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the first part of the full selection of interviews from the Western Cape. You can find the second part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17536984-just-transition-to-a-decarbonised-economy-for-south-africa-just-sa-western-cape-edition-prt-2

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Western Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the second part of the full selection of interviews from the Western Cape. You can find the first part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17536969-just-transition-to-a-decarbonised-economy-for-south-africa-just-sa-western-cape-edition-prt-1

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

In this episode of TIPS Talk, we sit down with Cheryl Phillips, Senior Manager of Economic Development and Tourism at Drakenstein Municipality, to explore how local government can lead in making the transition to a greener, more inclusive economy.

Hosted by Elize Hattingh, the conversation highlights how Drakenstein—one of the Western Cape’s most dynamic municipalities—is integrating Just Transition priorities into its planning, partnerships, and service delivery.

Cheryl offers valuable insights into how municipalities can balance economic growth, environmental responsibility, and social equity—grounded in local context.

Learn more at www.tips.org.za

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Ntombifuthi Tshabalala speaks with participants from the Free State cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast Series, we explore the role of young people in South Africa’s just transition and what the green economy could offer in terms of jobs, skills, and long-term opportunity.

Host Lesego Moshikaro-Amani speaks with Dr. Sinazo Ntsonge, a sustainable development economist at TIPS and former consultant to the Presidency, about how the country can meaningfully include youth in the shift toward a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Together, they unpack:

The reforms needed in education and training systems
How to make green jobs viable, aspirational careers
The evolving role of TVET colleges in a greener skills landscape
The importance of advocacy, partnerships, and funding
Why youth must be seen as co-creators, not just recipients, of the transition

Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, or youth advocate, this episode offers fresh insight into building a future that puts young people at the center of economic transformation.

Visit www.tips.org.za for more from Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies.

In this episode hosted by Siyamthanda Nyulu, four dynamic South African women entrepreneurs discuss the challenges and opportunities of running small businesses in the green economy. The panel features Sibongile Sithole of MLPC Projects, Nomthandazo Mpande of Phoki Holdings, Susan Kone of PWK Waste Management, and Phumudzo Muthanyi of MicGalaw. Each woman brings a unique perspective from sectors like solar energy, disability-inclusive consulting, waste recycling, and sustainable fashion. The conversation highlights key barriers such as limited access to finance, technology, and markets, especially for township-based and rural enterprises. The participants also emphasize how these challenges are compounded for entrepreneurs with disabilities and women operating in underserved communities.

Despite the obstacles, each guest shares how their work is actively addressing environmental and social issues. From solar energy installations and recycling cooperatives to youth clean-up campaigns and upcycled fashion products, their businesses are rooted in local impact and climate action. They call for more inclusive support from government and private stakeholders—especially in the form of financial backing, market access, incubation, and training tailored to their contexts. Encouragingly, some have received early-stage support from private foundations and enterprise development programs, but all agree that a more robust and sustained effort from the public sector is essential to grow and sustain their work, create jobs, and build a more circular, equitable economy.

In this episode, recorded at the 2024 TIPS Forum, TIPS Senior Economist Lesego Moshikaro-Amani sits down with Elize Hattingh, a sustainability specialist, and Amélia Machava, a researcher and teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University.

Lesego Moshikaro-Amani joined TIPS in July 2019. Lesego earned a Master’s degree in Economics specialising in Development Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Prior to joining TIPS, Lesego worked as a Crisis Response Fund (CRF) researcher and data analyst at CIVICUS and as a graduate research assistant at the Land Restitution Evaluation Study (LRES), launched by SALDRU.  Her expertise lies in industrial policy, battery energy storage value chains and the emerging sector of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa, including a strong emphasis on skill development within the NEV industry. Other areas of focus include skills development for industry and promoting employment in the development of SMMEs.

Elize Hattingh is a sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience promoting sustainable development, particularly in Africa. She holds a Master's Degree in Sustainable Development and Management from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership in partnership with the Sustainability Institute. She has actively participated in numerous initiatives to decarbonise the economy and supported marginalised groups such as youth, women, and black-owned enterprises. She founded Green Talent, a sustainability career consultancy, and has been involved in various roles, including business coaching and developing green economy entrepreneurial development curricula. She works with Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) as a Sustainable Researcher focusing on sustainable growth and the green economy. Her previous roles include developing a Green Economy Literacy Program for the Youth Bridge Trust and business coaching for Future Females Business School.

Machava is a teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique, where she is a PhD student in Development and Society.  She has a Master's degree in Rural Sociology and Development Management from the same university. Her research focuses on perceptions of Nacala Special Economic Zone’s contribution to local socio-economic development. Her other research interests focus on development policies, particularly the Special Economic Zones policy and industrialisation in the Southern African Development Community.