Consultant as District Coordinator for Smallholder Empowerment Program

Program Overview

WRI Indonesia is an independent research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. At WRI Indonesia, we aim to bring innovations in research and business approaches in order to create the enabling conditions for Indonesia to achieve robust economic growth while respecting environmental and social values. We seek to contribute to the accomplishment of ambitious sustainable development goals through working with leaders in public and private sectors, as well as collaborating with civil society organizations, in turning big ideas into action.

Within our Agriculture, Forest and Land Use (AFOLU) Program, we envision critical ecosystems such as forests and peatland across Indonesia to be governed fairly and sustainably. We believe sustainable land use management is key for Indonesia to meet its climate goal, in line with keeping the global climate target below the 1.5 degree Celcius warming treshold, while providing sustainable livelihoods to forest-dependent communities and conserve biodiversity in the landscape. We intend to achieve this through safeguarding the remaining forest and peatland from deforestation, degradation, and fragmentation; maintaining forests and peatland quality through sound stewardship; and restoring degraded ecosystem to improve its productivity, conservation value, and ecosystem services.

To effectively eliminate deforestation from key commodities production and provide robust stewardship for the remaining forest and peatland, we work together with various level of government, private sector, and civil society to mainstream the ethical supply chain principles, and support forest-dependent communities to secure their land rights. We aim to achieve this through research, policy advocacy, and creation of a community of practice to mainstream sustainable land use management.

Smallholder Empowerment Program

WRI Indonesia believes that empowering oil palm smallholders is key to producing sustainable palm oil in Indonesia. Empowered smallholders have the ability to control and manage their oil palm business properly and sustainably. With this capability, smallholders' welfare and the environment's quality are expected to improve. Therefore, increasing the inclusiveness of smallholders in sustainability and empowerment programs is indispensable to a better and greener palm oil supply chain in the country.

Collaborating with Unilever, WRI Indonesia aims to improve the sustainable palm oil supply chain and the welfare of smallholders in Riau Province. This is done through a series of capacity-building and empowerment. In 2023, we aim to increase the knowledge and skills of at least 4,000 smallholders to implement oil palm Best Management Practices (BMP) in order to improve their productivity.

Job Highlight

The District Coordinator is responsible to coordinate and supervise Group Facilitators in implementing smallholder empowerment at the assigned districts, and gain support from the stakeholders at the district level, particularly Government Offices, Private Sectors, NGOs, and other relevant parties; This position will be based in Pekanbaru with working area that covers five districts in Riau Province: Siak, Kampar, Rokan Hulu, Pelalawan, and Rokan Hilir region.This position will report to Riau and West Sumatera Senior Program Lead while working collaboratively with the other AFOLU Program teams to support the implementation of WRI Indonesia AFOLU strategy.

What You Will Do

Engagement (50%)

• Support Riau & West Sumatera Senior Program Lead, AFOLU Team, and Project Coordinator in completing work plan, output, and program reporting.
• Manage partnerships at the district level, particularly with government agencies, private sectors, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to develop collaborative approaches for the implementation of the smallholder empowerment program.
• Mapping of supply chain actors within the scope of selected mills.
• Identify and engage potential smallholders that eligible for the smallholder empowerment program within the assigned districts.

Program Management (50%)

• Prepare and submit TOR and activity budget in accordance with the program work plan.
• Work together with Agronomists and other trainers in developing capacity-building plans, preparing necessary training materials and support, and executing capacity-building activities.
• Supervise all program activities related to capacity-building for independent smallholders.
• Supervise group facilitators to prepare and organize regular meetings with smallholder groups member in relation to compliance with RSPO standards.
• Develop a database of smallholder groups and their members at the district level.

What You Will Need

• Legally able to work in Indonesia
• Minimum bachelor’s degree in rural development, agriculture, or otherwise a technical qualification in the smallholder development subject area
• Practical experience working in the palm oil sector preferably with smallholder producers and familiarity with issues related to palm oil production.
• 5+ years of progressive professional work experience related to palm oil sustainability standards, auditing, smallholder certification, agribusiness, rural community, sustainable commodities certification, plantation business permit, environment, and farmers GAP improvement-related activities.
• Previous experience working with local communities in Riau.
• Comprehensive understanding of environmental and social sustainability issues affecting the agricultural commodities
• Comprehensive understanding on Geographic Information System (GIS) will be an advantage.
• Experience in building a network of relationships and partnerships with village communities, government/authorities, civil society, and other stakeholders engaged in environmental issues
• Ability to work independently and with confidence to take initiative and make decisions.
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, especially with local farmers.
• Strong leadership and project management skills
• Ability and willingness to travel and spend substantial amounts of time in the field as assigned.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and a logical thinker with an ability to multi-task and work well under pressure
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of smallholder development experience.
• Business proficiency on verbal and written communications skill in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
• Good coordination ability and team working spirit.
• Proficient with the usage of Microsoft Office applications, such as MS. Words, MS. Excel, MS and Power Point.
• Good organizational skills, with strong experience in organizing and facilitating meetings and writing reports.

Deliverables and Timeline

1. Gain support from stakeholders at the district level, particularly Government Offices, Private Sectors, NGOs, and other relevant parties.
2. Identify and engage potential smallholders to be part of the program
3. Supervise Group Facilitators in conducting participatory planning at the farmer group level:

• Develop project activity plan and target with smallholder group committees
• Ensure participation of all smallholders in the project

1. Supervise Group Facilitators in consolidating smallholders at the sub-group level:

• Disseminate smallholder commitment form
• Introduce the RSPO Certification System
• Distribute training module materials

1. Coordinate with trainers and Group Facilitators to organize capacity building activities on:

• Module 1: Best Management Practices (BMP)
• Module 2: RSPO Principles & Criteria
• Module 3:  Environmental Impact Management

Duration

Initial contract up to 31 May 2023 with possibility of extension subject to performance evaluation, project needs, and budget availability.

Terms of Payment

Daily rate-based Consultant with a maximum of 80 (eighty) working days for the whole contract period or 20 (twenty) working days per month in average

Contract Arrangement

Individual consultancy contract (Part-time, limited term)

What we offer:

• Consultant rate that is commensurate with experience and skills
• Travel insurance for both domestic and international for any travel duty as assigned by WRI Indonesia
• Access to the WRI global network
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work

Must have authorization to work in Indonesia to be eligible for this position.

Final candidates might be required to take a writing test and to produce two writing samples when needed.

How to apply: In order to be formally considered, please submit an updated resume and cover letter through WRI career portal.

Application close: 1700 (DKI Jakarta local time), 21 February 2023 We will close the advert earlier when the best candidates are identified at earlier dates.

This is a locally engaged position; Indonesian nationals are encouraged to apply.

About Us

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

WRI Indonesia is national entity (Yayasan) associated with the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global environmental research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. WRI work with various stakeholders in the natural resources sector to support policy and management that are both profitable and sustainable. WRI work with leaders in more than 50 countries for more than 30 years, with offices in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States.

Launched in early 2014, WRI Indonesia builds on WRI’s 10-year history in the country, and strengthens our impact on the ground. In the short-to-medium term, WRI Indonesia aims to expand its presence and portfolio to include projects in the climate, energy, as well as city and transportation programs.