Program Overview

Launched in early 2014, WRI Indonesia builds on WRI’s global 20-year history in the country and the official establishment of the WRI Indonesia office has strengthened our impact on the ground in recent years. Our current work primarily focuses on agriculture, forest, land use, climate, energy, cities, and the ocean. Within WRI Indonesia, these portfolios are subsumed into two deputies based on terrestrial and non-terrestrial based consisting of 1) AFOLU which covers Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use; and 2) CECO which comprises of Climate, Energy, Cities and the Ocean.

Climate program within WRI focuses on four main areas: stepping up national climate action, advancing international climate action, tracking progress toward climate goals, and supporting equity and development goals in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Our research evaluates the technical, economic and social benefits of climate action, as well as the costs of inaction. We work with national governments to design ambitious near-term climate plans that align with long-term temperature goals, and help integrate these into economic, sectoral and development plans. We help international policymakers advance climate solutions through negotiations and accords such as the Paris Agreement. We support businesses, civil society, local governments and other non-state actors as they pursue their own emissions-reduction and adaptation goals. We build tools to track global progress on fighting the climate crisis, inform good decision-making and ensure accountability for existing commitments. And we work with thought leaders around the world to accelerate adaptation efforts that will help vulnerable communities build resilience against climate impacts.

The ASEAN-China cooperation mechanism has played an important role in promoting closer political and economic ties between ASEAN member states and China, and has become one of the major fora for regional cooperation. China has retained its position as ASEAN’s largest trading partnx`er since 2009. Trade between ASEAN and China has more than doubled since 2010, from USD 235.5 billion to USD 516.9 billion in 2020 (18% of ASEAN’s total trade). The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement that entered into force in January 2022 also include China and six ASEAN member states, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Considering both China and most of the ASEAN countries have committed to carbon neutrality goals, there are immediate and huge opportunities to leverage these trading partners to accelerate their low-carbon transition by decarbonizing the embedded carbon in their trade flows.

Building on the above, WRI Indonesia in collaboration with WRI Global team and WRI China have set an ambitious target to leverage the strong ASEAN-China cooperation by cutting carbon embedded in their trade flows compared to 2020 levels through ASEAN-China Sustainable Project. The project will have two main components: i) providing ASEAN-China trade related carbon flow data to relevant policymakers in both jurisdictions and attract attention from other stakeholders to jointly take action to cut the said trade-embedded carbon; ii) Encouraging China and ASEAN member states to start developing sustainable trade mechanism to cut embedded carbon and reduce deforestation in the selected trade products.

What You Will Do

Research and Scientific Works (70%)

• Identify ASEAN-China trade commodities with carbon embedded in their trade flows.
• Conduct research and analysis of ASEAN-China trade supply chain and its GHG emissions.
• Conduct data collection on ASEAN-China trade for forest and non-forest sector within a certain period of time (time series) and deep dive trade data collection between China and 2 ASEAN member countries.
• Identify methodologies to calculate trade embedded carbon between China and ASEAN member countries.
• Conduct a light study of EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
• Develop report/ policy brief / policy recommendations related with carbon embedded in trade flows between ASEAN and China.
• Contribute to the development of policy briefs and research paper on ASEAN-China Sustainable Trade or regional economic integration issues.

Engagement (20%)

• Engage and actively coordinate with relevant Ministries of targeted ASEAN countries, ASEAN Secretariat, People Republic of China embassy in Jakarta, and Chamber of Commerce.
• Actively participate in strategic meetings and discussion forum with external partners including donor, ASEAN Secretariat.

General Support (10 %)

• Provide support in organizing meeting, discussion as well as summarizing of meeting result, and other activities to support project result delivery.

What You Will Need

• Legally able to work in Indonesia.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, economic, international trade, or related subjects.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience with strong research activities.
• Excellent writing skills in both Bahasa Indonesia and English.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to understand local, national and international issues.
• Comfortable communicating with different audiences, including colleagues, government officials, academics, and donors. Have a good communication skill both orally and in writing, with Indonesia and English fluency.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment and cross-sectoral themes.
• Having a fluency in Mandarin is a plus.
• Ability to travel to other cities or provinces in Indonesia.

Deliverables

1. Bi-weekly update that can be used by management team to manage risks and address bottleneck/delays that may occur
2. Workplan on data collection, including research plan, strategies, and approaches
3. Brief report on identifications of trade commodities with carbon embedded in their trade flows
4. Consolidated database of ASEAN-China trade for non-forest sector, focusing on around two ASEAN countries within certain period of time
5. Brief note on EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
6. Policy briefs or research paper on ASEAN-China Sustainable Trade or regional economic integration issues
7. Analysis on carbon embedded in trade flows between ASEAN-China and recommendations to cut trade-embedded carbon in the region

Duration

August 2023 – February 2024

Terms of Payment

Daily-rate based consultant with maximum of 108 (one hundred and eight) working days for the whole contract period or 18 (eighteen) 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),13 August 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, 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.