Thifhelimbilu Godfrey Muneri

Summary of duties:

· Task team technical member for G20 Environment, Climate and Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) in preparation for G20 Summit that South Africa is hosting in 2025.

· Represent the Department at International Task Team on Communication of Statistics for SDGs (TTCOM); my role is to provide data analysis and technical advice to improve Countries SDGs reporting and performance – The TTCOM falls under UNECE Steering Working Group on Statistics for SDGs; Member from 2023 to date, TTCOM meet every Fortnight.

· Technical ESG Working Group member for Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) which is examining the impact of ESG standards & ratings on small and growing businesses (SGBs) in developing economies: ANDE is global organization supports entrepreneurs & small businesses in developing countries.

· Lead Advocacy effectiveness of the sector on sustainable development through the identification, design and production of high impact information products working with internal Units (Climate Change, Biodiversity, Waste Management, Ocean & Coast). Below as some of the Research topic conducted:

Ø Climate Change Crisis- South African Context, Policies, Strategies, implementation,

Ø Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) South Africa’s Planning, implementation & reporting Processes,

Ø South Africa Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in relation to Paris Agreement targets,

Ø Green Building – analyzing data, policy and implementation initiatives,

Ø Just Energy Transition Investment Plan – focus on Renewable Energy, Sustainable transport (Electric Vehicles and Green Hydrogen): Analyzing international trends, South Africa Policy landscape, programs and emerging projects- role of both Public and Private sectors as Country move towards Net-Zero by 2050,

Ø Analyses data on changes in the prevalence and geographical distribution of food- and water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases linked to climate change in collaboration, Department of Health,

Ø Research on smart agriculture and sustainable consumption & production,

· Technical team member for the development of South Africa Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Country Report 2025; STATSSA is a Lead Department on SDGs Country Report; my role includes:

- Represent Environmental Sector at Working Groups set-up to coordinate the development of the Country Report,

- Identifying data sources for data collection reporting for Country SDGs Report,

- Coordinate internal SDGs reporting to Country report,

- Validation SDGs indicators ( including domesticating indicators vs UN SDGs indicators),

- Provide content & context on policy alignment and other programs that have implications to SDGs reporting processes.

· Peer review the South African State of the Environment Report (outlook report) provide inputs on the development of sustainability indicators, project 2024/25,

· Technical team member for the development of South Africa SDGs Country report- 2021 to 2023.

· Technical advisor for the development of the National Circular Economy Action Plan Project 2024/25,

· Technical member for Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy 2024/25

· Driving sustainability agenda through analysing existing, reviews sustainability strategies and the plans.

· Carbon Accounting (footprint) quality assurance.

· Monitor the latest trends and developments in sustainability related strategies & policies.

· Ensure policy mainstreaming/ alignment to enhance sustainability advocacy,

· Set research agenda within the sector through promotion of Science Policy Interface and use of Evidence Base Approach for policy makers.

· Policy analysis & Research, policy briefs on sustainability/emerging best practices.

· Provide technical inputs on environmental and social impact assessments on projects/ programmes.

· Provide policy briefs & technical support for Bilateral & Multilateral engagements such as BRICS Working Groups and UN Conferences-High-Level Political Forum (HLPF); SDGs forums.

· Building & Manage strategic partnerships-including MOUs, with strategic Organizations such as Academia, research organization such CSIR and HSRC, NGOs and private sectors.

· Manage MOU between DFFE, DSI & CSIR.

· Provide technical support on the development of Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs),

· Member of varies Working Groups to strengthen Intergovernmental Relations (Working Group 3, Local Government Forum etc.).

· Lead resource mobilization of donor funding to implement Sustainable Development initiatives.

· Provides content inputs on Briefing notes to the Executive Management and Minister, Parliament questions on issues relating to Sustainable Development, SDGs and Green Economy.

· Stakeholder engagements – with communities, NGOs & all levels sphere of government on Sustainability,

· Support Directorate: Transfrontier Conservation Areas to develop Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area Integrated Development Plan.

Summary of my responsibilities:

- Lead Partnership/relationship establishment and MOU management with strategic Organizations.

- Established partnership with international organizations such as ILO and UNEP to partner on sustainable development initiatives at country level.

- Facilitated & coordinated Development of Policies & Strategies (South Africa Green Economy Modelling (SAGEM) Report, Green Transport Strategy, Sustainable Development Strategy & Action Plan, SADC Green Economy Strategy etc.).

- Member of South Africa Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) working group.

- Policies reviews: policies on energy sector, climate change, transport sector, water, sustainable cities, waste management at all spheres of government horizontal and vertical working with Private sectors,

- Partner with Groundwork (NGO) to promote sustainability practices through the Global Green and Healthy Hospital Initiative (GGHH) and Sustainable Health in Procurement Project (SHiPP) – 2018-2019.

- Provide policy alignment/ mainstreaming of Sustainable Development in line with NDP, International Agreements or International Sustainable Development Frameworks.

- Managed appointed service providers and consultants.

- Lead & Facilitated and coordinated South Africa Sustainability Transition Dialogues in Partnership with European Union in relation to SD, SDGs & NDP vision 2030 from 2016 to 2018.

- Provide content technical support on sustainable development discussions during Multilateral and Bilateral engagements e.g BRICS Working Groups and UN Conferences-High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).

- Provide inputs bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

- Represented the Country at regional and International platform and provided required technical inputs during discussions on Sustainable development and green economy.

- Managed MOU between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Flanders Government- Promoting Green Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in South Africa.

- Provide management, reporting for use of donor funding to internal process and donor funders.

- Management of both Financial and Technical Support from the International donors & grants (UN agencies and European Commission).

- Provides content inputs; briefing notes to the Executive Management, Minister, Parliamentary questions on issues relating to Sustainable Development, SDGs and Green Economy.

- Set research agenda through Science Policy Interface and use of Evidence Base Approach for policy makers working closely with research institutions and Academia.

- Engage academic institution, business/ private sectors (e.g BUSA & NBI), NGO's, UNION, and other government agencies to build common understanding & co-creation of knowledge on Sustainability.

- Monitoring and reporting of sector implementation of Sustainable Development strategy and SDGs.

- Member of different Working Groups to strengthen Intergovernmental Relations.

- Member of Intergovernmental Advisory Committee that task to develop South Africa Social-Economic Policy in partnership with South Africa Department of Trade & Industry and ILO from 2019-2021.

- Member for Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) forum chaired by South Africa focal point representative – to review GRI reports from JSE listed companies quarterly.

Summary of my responsibilities:

- Core member of the team that established South Africa Green Fund in 2011, (Green Fund allocated $ 80 million as a financial catalyst to stimulate green investment in the context of Sustainable Development. The initiative covered research support, skills development and capital development projects.

- Development of green finance strategy.

- Green Fund focused on; energy, transport, water, waste, biodiversity and built environment sectors.

- Projects Manager of the funded projects/ managed the appointed project implementers.

- Managed MOA between the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)-DBSA appointed as implementation agency of the fund.

- Lead engagements with different donor funding such as: European Union, UNDP, UNEP, GEF, ILO and KWF (German Development Bank) to leverage Green Fund Program.

- Member of South Africa Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) working group.

- Provide management, reporting for use of donor funding to internal process and donor funders.

- Designed sustainability dimension for the funded projects.

- Conduct projects due diligent and feasibility studies; project analysis and selection.

- Conduct financial analysis, technical analysis, economy analysis, modelling, social impact analysis, environmental impact analysis for green fund projects.

- Provide technical inputs for project development, appraisals and monitoring & evaluation.

- Monitoring, evaluation and reporting the implementation of the green fund program.

- Prepare comprehensive project documentation for consideration by Advisory Committee of the green fund.

- Secretariat of the Green Fund Management Committee- Coordinate meetings, draft agenda & minutes

- Stakeholder Engagements with (internal and external stakeholders) and Partnership establishment.

- Member of varies Working Groups to strengthen Intergovernmental Relations.

Special Project: FIFA 2010 World Cup hosted in South Africa: Sustainability Adviser

- Member of South Africa Local Organizing sub-committee on Environment- Managed the development of Sustainability Frameworks and provided advisory on sustainability initiatives for the event.

- Provide advisory services to LOC and host cities working with both internal and external stakeholders,

- Provide briefs to Executive Government officials, planning, coordinating of meetings, workshops and site visits

- Sustainability initiatives ( Carbon accounting/footprint, packaging, food-waste, logistics, recycling, water, energy etc.).

- Developed Greening Framework and Strategy for the World Cup to ensure Carbon Neutral Event.

- Managed Carbon Offset Projects during the event and as well as Legacy Programs.

- Guide on sustainability initiatives (packaging, transportation

- Trained, Coached and managed more than 700 Sustainability Volunteers during the FIFA 2010 event, (working with communities, NGOs, academics and private sectors).

- Managed partnerships with GEF, UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, and KFW (Development Bank) on donor funded projects for carbon offsets-renewable energy, water efficiency, waste and sustainability transport,

- Project management of medium to large size projects (prior, during & legacy projects).

- Managed appointed service providers and consultants.

- Provided progress report on all FIFA 2010 projects within the sector.

- Provided technical inputs on the even environmental sustainability close-up report.

Summary of my responsibilities

• Developed local government planning tools in line with Government priority areas to influence local government planning processes, including Integrated Development Plans (IDPs)
• Analyzed local government plans such as LED strategies, IDPs environmental plans for policy alignments
• Drive stakeholder engagements initiatives with Private sector and NGO's on sustainability interventions
• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the departmental programs to support municipalities
• Project Management for the development of sustainability strategic plans
• Advising municipalities on developing sustainability projects
• Provide Secretariat for Local Government Task Team and Working Groups
• Participated at provincial & local government environmental awareness initiative.

Summary of my responsibilities:

- Identify, develop project proposal and business plans for the community projects, (sustainability projects)

- Chaired the Environmental forums within the municipality & participate at Municipal Council.

- Stakeholder Engagements (internal and external stakeholders).

- Conduct skill audit for the community projects beneficiaries.

- Guide municipalities on legislative frameworks & regulation that have implication to mandate of the municipalities.

- Project Manager for EPWP projects funded by the department within the municipality including waste management, working for water projects and natural resource protection projects.

- Worked with communities to identify community driven projects and mobilize funding.

Summary of my duties:

· Coordinate Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme /Urban Renewal Programme between the National Departments, Provincial & Local Government working with Implementing Agency.

· Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ISRDP & URP by the stakeholders,

· Consolidate progress reports from the departments and Nodal municipalities,

· Assist in arranging stakeholder workshops and meetings i.e. Inter-Development Task team (IDTT),

Assist in preparations of quarterly progress report for Cabinet Lekgotla.