Ethnographic Research as a Tool for More Inclusive Just Transition Policies

The report argues that immersive ethnographic methods are more effective than one-off consultations for capturing the lived experiences of marginalized groups in South Africa's coal regions. Based on fieldwork in Mpumalanga, it identifies critical gaps in current policy-making, including the exclusion of women and informal workers and the decline of community services after coal plant closures. To address these, the report recommends institutionalizing co-production, creating dedicated engagement funds, and training officials in participatory research to ensure a more inclusive just energy transition.

• Ethnographic research, characterized by long-term engagement and co-production, is more effective than standard one-off consultations because it bridges trust gaps and captures the lived experiences of marginalized voices often missed by top-down policy design.
• Fieldwork in Mpumalanga communities, including Komati, Phola, and Emalahleni, revealed significant policy failures, specifically the exclusion of informal workers and women, as well as a decrease in community services following the closure of coal plants.
• The report proposes three primary policy interventions to improve the just transition: institutionalizing co-production, establishing dedicated funding for inclusive engagement, and providing participatory research training for community leaders and government officials.

APA

Rampedi,, T. L. V. (2025). Ethnographic Research as a Tool for More Inclusive Just Transition Policies. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/ethnographic-research-just-transition-south-africa

Chicago

Rampedi,, Tracy Ledger,Bathandwa Vazi,Mahlatse. Ethnographic Research as a Tool for More Inclusive Just Transition Policies. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/ethnographic-research-just-transition-south-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rampedi, |first1=Tracy Ledger,Bathandwa Vazi,Mahlatse |title=Ethnographic Research as a Tool for More Inclusive Just Transition Policies |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=14 November 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/ethnographic-research-just-transition-south-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rampedi2025ethnographic, author = {Rampedi,, Tracy Ledger,Bathandwa Vazi,Mahlatse}, title = {{Ethnographic Research as a Tool for More Inclusive Just Transition Policies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/ethnographic-research-just-transition-south-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }