Climate for Growth

Project Overview
The Climate for Growth project is a two-year initiative implemented by Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) from January 2026, funded by ClimateWorks Foundation. The project builds on DWF’s previous Fostering Inclusive Growth through Climate Change Champions (FIGCCC) project (2022–2024), which strengthened democratic participation and collaboration within South Africa’s renewable energy sector in the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The project improved coordination between communities, civil society organisations, local government, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), while increasing civil society participation in climate change planning and socio-economic development processes.
Building on these foundations, Climate for Growth seeks to strengthen inclusive participation, oversight, and accountability within South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) through dialogue, participatory monitoring, and collaborative planning between key stakeholders.

Goal and Objectives
The Climate for Growth project aims to advance climate and energy democracy through strengthened civil society participation, inclusive provincial and local governance, coordinated socio-economic development, and community-based pilot initiatives to advance climate-smart solutions.
Through the implementation of this project, DWF seeks to contribute to a more inclusive and climate-resilient renewable energy transition in South Africa by:
1. Strengthening the capacity of civil society and community-based organisations to participate effectively in climate governance, adaptation planning, and energy transition processes.
2. Supporting municipalities to better integrate climate resilience, renewable energy governance, and community-based priorities into statutory planning and development frameworks.
3. Improving collaboration, accountability, and coordination between municipalities, communities, civil society organisations, and IPPs.
4. Promoting participatory and community-responsive approaches to socio-economic development investments linked to renewable energy projects.
5. Increasing oversight, transparency, and public participation in local climate and energy governance processes.

Geographic Footprint
This project implements activities in the Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape Province, with a focus on the Khâi-Ma, Nama Khoi, and Karoo Hoogland local municipalities.

Target Beneficiaries
The primary beneficiaries are Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), local government officials, municipal planning departments and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).