Research Specialist

Job Description

The purpose of the Research Specialist is to provide high quality applied research support that is directly aligned Bank’s strategy. The role advances the Bank's catalytic DFI positioning by generating evidence-based insights that inform investment decisions, deepen sector intelligence, and support capital mobilisation across the infrastructure value chain.

The Research Specialist further contributes to thought leadership on DFI financing tools, infrastructure, economics, climate and sustainable development, reinforcing DBSA’s reputation as a leading knowledge institution in development finance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Agenda Design, Execution and Dissemination

• Provide inputs into and execute the annual research agenda as approved by IDKC Board. in alignment with the DBSA's Corporate Strategy, responding to strategic priorities across all sectors in the DBSA, including energy transition, municipal finance, regional
• integration, and climate resilience.
• Translate strategic research priorities into concrete research projects supporting the Bank's Insights, Execution and Enablement (IEE) function and senior leadership decision-making (CEO, Exco, and Board).
• Deliver short-turnaround research briefs, background papers, and Board Enrichment platform inputs that provide timely evidence Bank's investment pipeline, sector strategies, and policy positions.
• Lead the peer review and editing of research outputs to ensure credibility, intellectual rigour, and alignment with DBSA quality standards.
• Facilitate the dissemination of research outputs through Knowledge Sessions, publications, and other institutional platforms to build internal and external awareness.

2. Applied Research, Econometric Analysis

• Apply econometric principles and a solid understanding of infrastructure development within the Bank’s operational sectors to support operations.
• Strengthen research outputs by aligning with Insights, Execution & Enablement (IEE) and automation priorities.
• Drive thought leadership by staying abreast of domestic, regional, and international research agendas.
• Conduct applied econometric and quantitative research to inform operational decision-making across the Bank’s core sectors, including energy (renewables, just transition, and transmission infrastructure), transport and logistics, water and sanitation, ICT and social infrastructure, spanning South Africa, the SADC region, and the Rest of Africa (ROA).
• Produce research and intelligence on finance instruments, including climate related financing such as green/sustainable bonds to support DBSA's climate finance mobilisation objectives and alignment with the South Africa Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP).
• Apply advanced data analytics, geospatial analysis, and econometric modelling tools (R, Stata, SPSS, Eviews or equivalent) to large, multi-source datasets including administrative, financial, and spatial data.
• Generate sector-specific intelligence on energy transition scenarios, infrastructure investment models, and regional economic integration to strengthen the Bank's strategic positioning and thought leadership.
• Monitor and integrate emerging global research methodologies, DFI best practices, and innovation in infrastructure economics into the Bank's research approaches.

3. Stakeholder Engagement, Knowledge Leadership and Policy Influence

• Develop and maintain relationships with sector specialists, as well as, among others, operational units, and strategic divisions (including IDD, Project Preparation, and Climate Finance) to ensure research relevance and uptake across the infrastructure value chain.
• Initiate, develop, and manage research partnerships with other DFIs, multilateral development banks (MDBs), think tanks, academia, and government agencies — from conceptualisation through to publication and launch.
• Engage regulators, government departments, the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council (PICC), and industry bodies to align research with national policy priorities (such as NDP Vision 2030, National Infrastructure Plan 2050, Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan).
• Contribute to DBSA's thought leadership outputs including sector reports, working papers, policy briefs, and opeds that advance evidence-based public discourse on infrastructure development, development finance and social and development impact.

4. Institutional Capacity Building, Knowledge Management and Research Integration

• Design and deliver research training programmes that build institutional analytical and policy analysis capacity across DBSA business units.
• Champion the integration of sustainability principles, and just transition frameworks into the Bank's research methodologies.
• Drive knowledge-sharing initiatives including seminars, internal knowledge sessions, and cross-functional learning platforms to build a culture of evidence-based decision-making aligned to DBSA’s strategic priorities.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Delivery of a high-quality annual research agenda that is approved, on time, and aligned to DBSA's Corporate Strategic priorities.

• Produce and publish at least 2 high-quality research articles in different accredited journals.

• Production and timely dissemination of research outputs (reports, policy briefs, sector analyses, Board papers)

• Successful completion of short-turnaround research projects and input into the Board Enrichment themes as requested by the Chief Economist.

• Quality and rigour of applied econometric and quantitative analyses supporting operational decision-making across the sectors of the DBSA, including energy transition, municipal finance, regional integration, and climate finance.

• Depth and impact of external partnerships and networks with DFIs, MDBs, think tanks, universities, and government research entities.

• Demonstrated contribution to DBSA's positioning as a thought leader in infrastructure development finance — including publications, conference presentations, and contributions to national/continental policy discourse.

• Effectiveness of knowledge dissemination through Knowledge Sessions, training programmes, and cross-functional capacity building initiatives.

• Integration of ESG Sustainability, just transition, and climate finance considerations into research outputs and

institutional frameworks.

INTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

• Executives

• All business units and other relevant divisions

• DBSA Investment Committees and others

EXTERNAL LIAISON RELATIONSHIP (*The list is not exhaustive)

• Third Parties/Service providers

• DFIs, Knowledge partners, Think tanks, local/international organisations

• Research houses and data providers

• Government Stakeholders

Expertise & Technical Competencies

Minimum Qualification

• A postgraduate qualification (Master’s degree) in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or closely related field.

Minimum Experience

• A Minimum of 8 years’ experience in applied research in economics, infrastructure, development finance, or related fields.
• Proven experience designing and executing research agendas, including short-turnaround projects aligned to institutional priorities.
• Strong proficiency in econometric and quantitative methodologies, with hands-on experience in tools such as R, Stata, SPSS, or EViews.
• Advanced capability in analysing and managing large, complex, multi-source datasets (administrative, financial, geospatial, and survey data).
• Sound knowledge of infrastructure development and financing across key sectors (energy, transport, logistics, water and sanitation, ICT).
• Strong policy analysis skills, with the ability to translate research into actionable recommendations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Proven track record in producing high-quality research outpu