Consultant as GIS Research Assistant (Jakarta based)

Job Description

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 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 ecosystem 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 South East Asia region.

Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solution ( SCeNe ) Coalition

WRI Indonesia has joined with 7 other NGOs to form the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solution (SCeNe) Coalition in recognition of the scale of action required, the time-bound opportunity for impact and the risks to people and nature if we do not act collaboratively to speed up and scale up design and implementation of high-integrity and high-quality NbS. The extensive experience of these environmental NGOs in the development and execution of NbS offers a powerful, shared platform to inform and influence this rapidly growing sector. In the first three years, the Coalition will focus on three inter-connected workstreams that together will scale NbS in the region: i) define the opportunities of where ‘triple benefit’ NbS investment should be made; ii) showcase high-integrity projects to inspire others; and iii) support national and local organizations to access carbon finance and secure funds for conservation.

The SCeNe Coalition is aimed to develop Triple Benefit Tools and Website for Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solution (SCeNe) Coalition. Triple Benefit Tool will help to identify high impact future NbS opportunities, ensuring a targeted pipeline of NbS supply that focus on geographies with the highest conservation, social development and carbon potential.This tool will also help to validate triple benefit quality, giving the projects additional scientific credibility; to ensure finance is flowing transparently; and to increase ecosystem participation.

West Sumatra Jurisdiction Climate Finance

WRI Indonesia has been in collaboration with West Sumatra government in focusing on the empowerment on IP&LCs (Indigenous People and Local Communities) under social forestry extension. The collaboration is also bringing the idea to promote the IP&LCs’ social forestry embedded into climate finance. To work on development of the analysis document, preparing implementation national and sub-national initiative, and another possibility of climate finance. WRI Indonesia will provide strategic and technical support for the implementation of West Sumatra Government in terms of analysis document development, integration with the national and sub-national initiative of climate finance. In addition to creating a climate finance analysis in West Sumatra, we will look at the extent to which the integrated with Result-based Payment Scheme, the FOLU Net Sink 2030 initiative and other climate finance possibilities.

Job Highlight

The GIS Research Asisstant will support essential spatial analysis and data collection to drive Nature-based Solutions in Southeast Asia. Key responsibilities include integrating spatial data to enhance Nature-based Solution (NbS) Tool for the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solution (SCeNe) Coalition and broader research on Natural Resource Management with focus on improvement of restoration pathway. Additionally, this position will support the enhancement of research methodologies for assessing degraded land and carbon stock mapping with Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI).

The position will report directly to the Geospatial Data Analyst and collaborate closely with Senior Manager for Nature-based Solution. This position will be based in Jakarta with office-flex working arrangements and travel requirement as assigned. 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 (80%)

• Actively contribute to Nature-based Solution project development and financing, particularly identifying potential restoration areas;
• Support Line Manager in the establishment of methodologies related to scalable spatial data for triple benefit of Nature-based Solutions in Southeast Asia;
• Provide technical analysis, GIS and spatial data management, remote sensing and data standard contributing to decision making in natural resource management.
• Support the development of map creation, conduct spatial analysis, and provide insights to help with tasks like resource planning, conservation, and environmental impact assessment.
• Acquire, analyze, and interpret spatial information and assess its effectiveness in Nature-based Solutions project implementation.

Project Management and Reporting (20%)

• Support Senior Manager for Nature-based Solution and other team members to support NbS initiatives within proposed priority areas by ensuring that spatial analysis and geospatial data integration are effectively aligned with the overall NbS portfolio.
• Contribute to blogpost & briefs writing topics related to Nature-based Solution project development and financing as assigned by Line Manager.
• Support the Line Manager and other team members to ensure that spatial analysis is effectively incorporated into project deliverables.

What You Will Need

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resource management, geography, geodesy, forestry, or any other related field;
• Minimum 2 (two) years of experience in spatial analysis for natural resource management, or a related field, preferably within the context of nature-based solutions or biodiversity conservation.
• Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS Pro/QGIS, and Google Earth Engine)
• Ability and experience in spatial data analysis with programming languages, notably using Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Python are main advantages.
• Experience to undertake baselines, field-based data collection and monitoring methods in Nature-based Solutions project implementation.
• Demonstrated experience with analyzing data and writing up conclusions
• Ability to manage professional relationships to effectively communicate with people at all levels and from various backgrounds;
• Highly organized and systematic with strong time management skills and ability to juggle competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia and English in both verbal and written communication.
• Ability and willingness to travel if assigned.
• Legally able to work in Indonesia;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in coursework of forestry, land use management, and sustainable development;
• Experience in landscape management and conservation and the application of Nature-based solutions for landscape management
• Knowledge of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services
• Awareness and understanding of dynamic baselining applied in nature-based carbon projects (e.g. the Verified Carbon Standard's approach in Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation carbon accounting methodology)
• Familiarity with working system and culture within local government, NGO, and Civil Society Organization (CSO).

Duration

This position is expected to start immediately for an initial contract up to 31 December 2025, with possibility of extension subject to individual performance evaluation, project needs, and budget availability.

Deliverables

1. Spatial data products stored and managed using cloud platform;
2. Knowledge product (e.g., blogpost, technical document), research manuscript for scientific and/or WRI peer-reviewed publications (e.g., issue brief, working paper) delivered in a timely and satisfactory manner;
3. Technical and comparative analysis of data processing to measure triple benefit of NbS projects are submitted in a timely and satisfactory manner

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 ), 5 September 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 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: 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.