Program Overview
Cities4Forests
Trees and forests are immensely valuable to cities and their residents. They provide multiple health benefits, sustain water resources, help to combat climate change, and protect global biodiversity. In return, cities can provide immense value to forests. Urban areas, with high concentration of dwelling and supporting economic activities, have shown emerging public policies and procurement practices of cities that have enormous potential to support the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of forests. Many cities already support forests in some way, from parks and urban forests to โgreen infrastructureโ and watershed management programs. Fewer, if any, have efforts to support the faraway forests that are vital for combating climate change.
WRI Indonesia is a member of the Cities4Forests global movement supporting cities to improve resilience through nature-based solutions. The initiative helps the cities from around the world connect with and invest in inner forests (such as city trees and urban parks), nearby forests (such as green corridors and watersheds) and faraway forests (such as tropical and boreal forests). We encourage our cities to better conserve, manage, and restore these forests. And we provide technical assistance to align local policy, shared knowledge, peer-to-peer learning and communication activities in order to help cities take climate action together.
WRI Indonesia is currently developing a knowledge product on Green House Gas (GHG) Inventory for urban trees outside forest, aimed to enhance citiesโ GHG inventories. Additionally, WRI Indonesia has been supporting Jakarta Government on developing evidence-based and showcasing blue and green infrastructure to improve Jakartaโs disaster resilience. It is expected that the Jakarta Government will incorporate the evidence-based and showcase of the blue and green infrastructure into policies/plans.
Job Highlight
The Urban Forestry Research Specialist will play crucial role in supporting Cities4Forests team by conducting robust research, providing in-depth analysis, and fostering engagement in nature-based solutions for urban environment. This include developing Green House Gas Inventory for urban trees and explore the potential of blue and green infrastructure to improve citiesโ disaster resilience. The position holder is responsible for producing high-quality, evidence-based research products that are designed to provide information needed by target audiences and stakeholders. Additionally, the Research Specialist will be expected to contribute to the projectโs management and development.
The Urban Forestry Research Specialist will be based in Jakarta with office-flex working arrangement and travel requirement as needed. Report directly to the Senior Specialist for Urban Development and Mobility, the post holder will be working closely and collaboratively with the rest of the relevant projectโs team within the Climate-Energy-Cities-Ocean program in WRI Indonesia.
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
Research (70%)
- Conduct research analysis to further develop insight on nature-based solutions in tackling urban issues
- Develop GHG inventory for trees outside forest for knowledge product development purposes and contribute to the writing of publication or other research product or knowledge product
- Design a suitable methodology of data collection and support fieldwork planning and implementation as required
- Support the development of cities' urban planning and policies that integrate NbS concept ensuring alignment with sustainability and resiliency objectives
- Contribute the reporting of project findings and recommendations to support informed decision-making for stakeholders
- Support and engaged in other research, data analysis, and literature review of other initiatives within the project of Cities4Forests including open green space development strategies
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication (15%)
- Proactively support Senior Specialist in managing strategic engagement and communication with government agencies, private sector, and CSOs.
- Work together with WRI Indonesiaโs Communication teams and partners in delivering public outreach, education, and engagement activities.
- Develop internal and external communications such as presentations, blogs, articles, brochures,
infographics, etc.Project Management (15%)
- Support project management research delivery.
- Contribute to progress reports writing for funders/donors
- Assist in facilitating project planning and implementation with internal and external stakeholders, particularly with CSOs, cities government agencies, and private sectors.
- Assist in managing project coordination, consultations, capacity building activities, and technical meetings as well as dissemination of project findings and recommendations through various strategic meetings/workshops/trainings.
What You Will Need
- Bachelor's degree in environmental study, urban forestry, natural resources, or other related fields.
- Minimum 5 (five) years of relevant work experience in urban forestry, environmental research, or sustainability-focus roles.
- Intermediate skill of geospatial analysis tools (e.g., GIS, remote sensing, or other mapping and modeling tools)
- Ability to support discrete elements of research projects with limited manager guidance, e.g. systematically reviewing, analyzing and synthesizing existing literature; collecting, cleaning, organizing, and visualizing data.
- Strong analytical research skills with ability to define research questions with manager guidance
- Experience in report and scientific writing with history in publishing international peer-reviewed journal
- Business proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia and English on both verbal and written communications
- Ability to communicate research approach and findings effectively using compelling presentation to technical and non-technical audience (national government, sub-national government, CSOs, and local communities) with limited guidance from manager.
- Strong team player with ability to work across institutional departments/programs.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment and cross-sectoral themes.
- Highly motivated, strong can-do attitude, proactive work style and excellent organizational skills and work ethic.
- Ability and willingness to travel as assigned
- Legally able to work in Indonesia
Duration
1 March 2025 โ 31 December 2025
Deliverables
- Final report and/or policy briefs on nature-based solutions recommendations to tackle urban issues
- Input for development of cities' plan/policies that adopt nature-based solutions
- Knowledge Product (Working Paper) on GHG Inventory for Urban Trees
- Input for other knowledge products on nature-based solutions for cities
Terms of Payment
Daily rate consultant with a maximum of 150 working days for the whole contract period or 15 working days per month on 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), 28 February 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 worldโs greatest environment and international development challenges and improve peopleโs 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:
WRIโs mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earthโs 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, 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.