Consultant as Nature-based Solutions Economic Analyst

Program Overview

Within our Food-Land-Water (FLW) 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 threshold, 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 ecosystems to improve its productivity, conservation value, and ecosystem services.

To achieve Indonesia’s climate goal while at the same time improving the livelihood of the communities and protecting biodiversity, we work together with partners to mainstream nature-based solutions (NbS) as an approach to address global climate challenge. We aim to achieve this through research, policy advocacy, and creation of a community of practice to develop new financing model for forest conservation, advocate regulatory framework that are conducive for NbS approach, and development of multi-stakeholder platform to amplify and accelerate NbS approach in Indonesia and Southeast Asia region.

West Sumatra REDD+ Architecture Development

WRI Indonesia has been in collaborating with West Sumatra government to support the development of Provincial REDD+ Architecture, including Subnational Action Plans, the Safeguards Framework, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, and the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System. This collaboration aimed to strengthen the province’s institutional and technical readiness to access climate finance, particularly from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which is channeled through the Ministry of Environmental.

Community-Led Forest Economies (CLFE)

WRI Indonesia is currently working on a project Community-Led Forest Economies (CLFE), aims to foster sustainable forest economist driven by thriving communities. The concept proposes an Indonesian strategy focusing on three key objectives: 1) demonstrating and scaling viable models for locally led sustainable forest economics; 2) defining and analyzing the bio-economic sector; and 3) championing community-led forest economies through national and global advocacy and resource mobilization. Indonesia as home to the world’s third-largest rainforest and a large population of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs), presents both opportunities and challenges for CLFE. Social forestry is one of the key elements of Indonesia’s forestry policy that granting the IP&LCs legal access to manage forest sustainably.

Job Highlight

Reporting to the NbS Research Lead, The NbS Economic Analyst will provide support for economic research, modeling, and policy analysis. This role includes coordinating the economic research activities and engaging with relevant stakeholders at provincial levels. The Analyst will contribute to the development of high-quality research outputs that are designed to inform targeted audiences, support the project management, as well as provide regular reports as requested by the anchor and outcomes manager.

Furthermore, this position will collaborate closely with NbS Economic Consultant, NbS Financing Research Analyst, the West Sumatra Regional Team, NbS team, and other relevant key personnel within the program, focused on aligning research activities with the strategic direction of the NbS program.

In support of WRI's DEI commitment, you are responsible for actively participating in these collaborative efforts by integrating equity into your work, our workplace, and the organizational culture.

What You Will Do

Knowledge and Research (50%)

• Support in providing robust and unbiased economic analysis, and/or modelling to the research for the CLFE project, particularly in developing the West Sumatra strategy and reports, to inform policymakers and public audience;
• Provide expert insights and assistance on economic analysis for ensuring research quality for CLFE project;
• Support the development of outreach materials, training modules and plan, as well as implementation of general outreach and capacity building as necessary;
• Collaborate with the NbS and West Sumatra regional teams to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in accomplishing the project objective;
• Co-develop a REDD+ Architecture to support the Government of West Sumatra’s readiness for the other climate finance, while ensuring alignment with national and sub-national initiatives;
• Disseminate research progress and findings including delivering public presentations.

Project Management and Engagement (50%)

• Collaborate with program teams to plan and implement research activities aligned with CLFE strategies;
• Organize coordination, interview and focus group discussions with the Government of West Sumatra, financial institutions, private sectors, NGOs, CSOs, IP&LCs, and other key stakeholders regarding the CLFE project and jurisdictional climate finance mechanism in West Sumatra REDD+ Architecture development;
• Facilitate participatory economic data collection, workshops, and co-design of intervention strategies;
• Engage with provincial and district authorities, IP&LC representatives, private sector actors, and NGOs to build consensus on economic models and investment priorities;
• Organize administrative paperwork as part of delivering workplan activities (i.e. Concept Notes/TORs, work authorizations);
• Maintain good working relationships with key partners and line agencies as well as with relevant initiatives/projects and organize necessary engagement and outreach with them, including through organizing necessary outreach activities (meetings, workshops, conferences, dissemination activities) as well as participating in outreach activities from other stakeholders.

WRI is committed to ensuring gender equity across our program portfolios. As such, you may be expected to support attention to gender where appropriate.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Environmental Economics, Natural Resource Economics, Development Economics, Engineering with economics, or other related field;
• Minimum 3 (three) years of research experience in economic analysis, research implementation, policy research, or other relevant fields
• Familiarity with Indonesia’s Social Forestry policy, ecosystem services, and green economy frameworks is preferred;
• Working experience on issues related to the NbS, social forestry, and green economy is preferred;
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills (e.g. cost-benefit analysis, ecosystem valuation, supply chain modeling);
• Capacities in making use of spatial and non-spatial data, command of statistical and/or econometric tools;
• Demonstrate experience with participatory approaches, policy advocacy, and multi-stakeholders facilitation;
• Proficient oral and written communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia and English;
• Analytical capacity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, working with people from a variety of backgrounds;
• Highly organized and systematic with time management skills and ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines required; and
• Ability and willingness to travel when needed.
• Legally able to work in Indonesia;

Duration

This position is expected to start immediately for an initial contract up to 30 November 2025 with possibility of extension subject to individual performance evaluation, project needs, and budget availability.

Deliverables

The Consultant will submit monthly timesheets and reports on the description of activities carried out on a monthly basis that include the result and/or progress of the following works:

1. Knowledge and Research

• Drafting of economic feasibility reports on selected CLFE;
• Identify barriers and enablers that contribute to West Sumatra Strategy for CLFE, and market-based interventions;
• Submit report on data collection, interview, and focus group discussion with stakeholders for CLFE project as assigned;
• Ensure the quality of data and information CLFE and a REDD+ Architecture from other relevant key partners by submitting gap analysis documents;
• Conduct draft for online posting, including website and social media contents by submitting draft documents;
• Represent WRI Indonesia in public event, seminar, and workshops as assigned.

1. Project Management and Engagement

• Engage with key stakeholders, including relevant government agencies, private sector, financial institution, indigenous people and local communities (IPLC), NGOs, and CSOs in West Sumatra;
• Coordinate project initiatives on the agreed distribution and report it regularly;
• Minutes of Meetings (MoMs) from all meetings and/or workshops held;
• Conduct meetings and other coordination efforts in ensuring good working relationships with existing partners, agencies, other relevant stakeholders. If necessary, the consultant also requires to do follow up action(s) as a result of the minutes of meeting and report the progress on consultant’s monthly report;
• In coordination with the team to co-develop project narrative for relevant parties, WRI Indonesia, as assigned.

Terms of Payment

Daily rate-based consultant with a maximum of 18 (eighteen) working days per month.

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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), 2 July 2025. 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 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: Impact, Integrity, Independence, Partnership, and Care 

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, gender diverse communities, 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.