Program Overview
Indonesia envisions that in 2045 the country will be able to transform its economy from a natural resource-dependent economy to a modern, competitive manufacturing- and service-based economy with high value-added to secure prosperity and social justice for all Indonesians. This transformation will capitalize on the country's maritime strengths by incorporating better ocean resource management to leverage the blue economy development for increasing environmental. sustainability as well as building competitive, innovative, and sustainable maritime sectors.
While oceans and the marine environment are vital for Indonesia's nature and prosperity, their true contribution is often overlooked in the climate change narrative. Currently, WRI Indonesiaโs Ocean and Climate program is conducting several research activities in ocean-climate (including blue carbon ecosystem management and sustainable aquaculture), plastic pollution, and ocean accounting, and has identified at least two devastating consequences if the status quo remains. First, the ongoing degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems will lead to a further decline in ecosystem function and loss of biodiversity. Second, Indigenous People and Local Communities living in coastal areas will face an escalating degree of poverty, increase their vulnerability and limiting their capacity to adapt and mitigate climate change effects.
WRI Indonesia Climate program positions the oceans and the maritime ecosystem as a potential sector for enhancing national climate commitment while achieving development goals. In parallel, WRI Indonesia Ocean program has developed a strategy focusing on improving access to sustainable livelihood for indigenous people and local communities, measures to sustainably maintain and optimize the ecosystem services of marine ecosystems, and betterment of sustainable governance for marine and coastal ecosystems through inclusive and participative approach. Thus, both approaches will contribute to better governance for marine and coastal management by building policymakers' capacity to develop evidence-based policies through inclusive framework and active participation from Indigenous People and Coastal Communities.
Job Highlight
The Regulatory and Legal Analyst will support WRI Indonesia in conducting in-depth regulatory and legal analysis across national, sub-national, and international frameworks relevant to blue carbon ecosystem i.e. mangrove ecosystems management, aquaculture, plastic pollution, and payment for ecosystem services (PES). The responsibility involves assessment in the alignment between national mandate and international guidance, and identifying legal gaps or opportunity to inform future regulatory or policy making.
Reporting directly to Plastic Waste and Ocean Manager and working closely with Climate team, this position will be based in Jakarta with office-flex working arrangement and might require travel. 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.
Regulatory Analysis on the management of blue carbon ecosystem in Indonesia
Objectives:
- To understand the regulatory gap of regulations of mangrove and seagrass in Indonesia in achieving biodiversity and climate target (NDC)
- To provide recommendation on the regulatory readiness and gaps for Indonesia to include blue carbon ecosystem (mangroves and seagrass) into its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC)
Regulatory Analysis on the utilisation of the Ocean Account Tool as basis for Payment for Ecosystem Services, for blue carbon ecosystem.
Objectives:
To understand the gaps and potential from the legal point of view for Ocean Account to be utilised as tool for the payment ecosystem services, particularly for mangrove and seagrass ecosystems
Knowledge products for inputs to the Incoming Presidential Regulations on the Circular Economy based Waste Management, and Revision for Minister for the Environment no 75/2019 on Waste Reduction by Producers.
Objectives:
- To provide substantial input, from the environmental law perspective to the consultation on the Presidential Regulation on Circular Economy based Waste Management
- To provide recommendation for the revision of the Minister for Environment Regulation No 75/2019 for strengthening the implementation of waste reduction by producers, as basis for the EPR for packaging in Indonesia.
What You Will Do
Research/Analysis and Report Writing (80%)
- Conduct comprehensive legal and policy analysis related to blue carbon ecosystem management, ocean accounting, and plastic waste regulation in Indonesia, literature review/desk study and interviews with the relevant stakeholders.
- Map relevant existing and emerging laws, including sectoral regulations, regional bylaws, and international commitments (e.g., climate targets, biodiversity conventions, marine protection).
- Identify regulatory gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities for alignment between national, sub-national, and international legal frameworks.
- Analyze the potential legal basis for implementing Ocean Accounts as a tool for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), especially related to mangrove and seagrass ecosystems.
- Provide legal inputs and draft policy recommendations to support national policy development processes (e.g., Presidential Regulations, Ministerial Regulation revisions).
- Prepare high-quality research outputs including written reports, policy briefs, and presentation decks in Bahasa Indonesia and/or English.
- Support the preparation of consultation materials and summary notes for engagement with stakeholders.
- Participate in discussions, meetings, conferences on the relevant topics conducted by WRI Indonesia or other relevant stakeholders.
- Co-authors in WRI Knowledge product, e.g. Policy Brief, Working Paper, etc in several related themes such as blue carbon ecosystems, ocean account regulations, and EPR regulations.
Coordination and Engagement (20%)
- Coordinate regularly with the WRI Indonesia Plastic Waste and Blue Carbon project teams, as well as with relevant consortium partners and local government counterparts.
- Participate in internal coordination meetings, as well as external stakeholder discussions, policy consultations, and expert forums relevant to the assigned topics.
- Maintain documentation and records of engagements and consultations conducted throughout the assignment period.
What You Will Need
Education: Masterโs degree in environmental law, public policy, international environmental law or other related field, with sufficient experience on regulatory or legal research relevant to environmental issues, SDGs, or other relevant fields.
Skill & Experiences:
- Minimum 7 (seven) years of experience in conducting research relevant to environmental law and regulations.
- Strong familiarity with issues in the blue economy, e.g. blue carbon ecosystem management, climate change, just transition, payment for ecosystem serviceAbility to utilize and combine various types of methodologies
- Ability to support discrete elements of research project with limited manager guidance, e.g. systematically reviewing, analyzing, and synthesizing existing literature; collecting, cleaning, organizing, and visualizing data.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences in Bahasa Indonesia and English.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building with a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.
- Demonstrates ability to identify and scale the level complexity/sensitivity of potential problems; and effectively communicate the devised solution to the line manager.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft product(s): word, excel, power point, notes, and similar app of other products and/or brands.
- High integrity, passion for sustainable development and good interpersonal skills.
- Highly organized and systematic with strong time management skills and ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines required.
- Ability to travel to remote areas to do field investigation and stakeholders coordination.
- Legally able to work in Indonesia
Deliverables, Timeline and Terms of Payment
Deliverable-based consultant. The Consultant will receive compensation upon completion of each deliverable with terms of payment as follows:
Deliverables
Payment
- Brief report and deck on Regulatory Analysis on the management of blue carbon ecosystem (mangrove and seagrass) in Indonesia. Incorporating the result of the analysis into the Policy Recommendation for Integrating Blue Carbon Ecosystem Management into the Second NDC Indonesia
30%
- Brief Report and deck on Regulatory Analysis on the utilisation of the Ocean Account Tool as basis for Payment for Ecosystem Services, for blue carbon ecosystems; and incorporating the analysis and recommendation into the policy brief on Ocean Account.
30%
- Draft Knowledge products as reference to the incoming/potential:
- Brief Paper on the Presidential Regulations on the Circular Economy based Waste Management, and.
20%
- Working Paper on the Regulatory transformation for Mandatory EPR for Packaging
20%
Duration
This position is expected to start immediately for contract period up to 30 April 2026
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:
- Working Paper on the Regulatory transformation for Mandatory EPR for Packaging
- Brief Paper on the Presidential Regulations on the Circular Economy based Waste Management, and.
- Draft Knowledge products as reference to the incoming/potential:
- Brief Report and deck on Regulatory Analysis on the utilisation of the Ocean Account Tool as basis for Payment for Ecosystem Services, for blue carbon ecosystems; and incorporating the analysis and recommendation into the policy brief on Ocean Account.
- Brief report and deck on Regulatory Analysis on the management of blue carbon ecosystem (mangrove and seagrass) in Indonesia. Incorporating the result of the analysis into the Policy Recommendation for Integrating Blue Carbon Ecosystem Management into the Second NDC Indonesia