Program Overview

WRI Indonesia is an independent research organization that works with governments, businesses, multilateral institutions and civil society groups to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive in Indonesia. We organize our work around five crucial issues: Forest and Land Use, Climate, Energy, Cities and Transportation, and the Ocean. As Indonesia has set an ambitious climate target to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2060 or sooner, it should be seen as a positive momentum for advancing climate action, and contribute to the global commitment to keep global temperature increase below 1.5°C. In this light, WRI Indonesia seeks to further support the country in meeting and beating its climate commitments in order to ensure successful transition towards low carbon development path.

Just Transition Framework in Indonesia

Just transition has gained its momentum recently, along with Indonesia’s pledge to achieve the ambitious climate target Net Zero Emissions by 2060 and the Government signal to adopt coal phase out by 2040. The commitment has attracted USD 20 billion funding pledge under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) launched at the G20 summit in November 2022. It is believed that by transitioning to low carbon and clean energy sources, Indonesia will reap benefit in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects and achieve sustainable development in the future. However, transition to low carbon and even further to achieve net zero emissions in Indonesia entails challenges, not only in terms of infrastructure and technology, but also substantial economic and social structure, such as potential job losses, workplace, and workforce employability. While research finds that transitioning to clean energy is predicted to create net gain of jobs over the 2021-2025 period (IRENA, 2023), the rapid progress of transition – in particular on energy and transportation sector – which have not been followed with clear indicators and equitable principles may further exacerbate existing inequalities and increase unjust situation for some of people.

Within the Just Transition project, WRI Indonesia encourages the importance of people-centered transitions and formulate the evidence-based indicators and framework emphasizing socio-economic aspect at the heart of the transition. With this approach, we need to be able to answer these questions: what is the policy gap in ensuring just transition in Indonesia? what are the methodology and indicators to measure and monitor the socio-economic impact of the transition? How different sectoral ministries, agencies and other key players need to adopt and implement those indicators?

The Just Transition project will analyze the social and economic dimensions of a just transition by developing a set of evidence-based indicators to track just transition at the national and subnational-level focusing on energy and transport sectors, coupled with policy recommendations that can ensure positive progress towards the indicators. Through this program, WRI Indonesia will inform our targeted key decision makers in the government, the private sector, and communities to collaboratively ensure a just transition in Indonesia’s low carbon development.

Job Highlight

The Junior Economist will support WRI Indonesia just transition program at national and sub-national level by developing high-quality research/ knowledge products and economic analysis of Indonesia’s transition towards clean energy, sustainable cities and transportation, that are designed to provide needed information to the targeted audiences, and support program management. This person will contribute to the analytical inputs, technical research activities and analysis to advance just transition framework and indicators and should be able to support discrete elements of research projects within the issue with project lead guidance. This position will be based in Jakarta, report directly to the Just Transition Project Lead, Climate Manager, Senior Manager for Research, Development, and Innovation and working closely and collaboratively with the rest of the team within the Climate-Energy-Cities-Ocean deputyship in WRI Indonesia. In conducting He/ she will also need to engage and communicate with WRI Global Office, IOs, national and sub-national government, partners, CSO’s and donors.

What You Will Do

Research (70%)

• Conduct research, especially on economic analysis of just transition, identify and develop socio-economic indicators of just transition consistent with Indonesia’s trajectory to achieve Net Zero Emissions and clean energy transitions.
• Support the Project Lead by developing research plans and products, methodology, and analysis to identify policy gaps of the implementation of just transition at national and sub-national level.
• Contribute and coordinate primary and secondary data collection
• Contribute to writing and publication of research or knowledge products, and support internal review of the research or knowledge products
• Liaise with WRI Indonesia RDI team for any research and knowledge products output of the project
• Able to write brief and support more senior staff on external-facing products with manager guidance
• Coordinate and communicate with corresponding managers and/or lead to make sure just transition-related research products are aligned with projects’ objectives

Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

• Able to communicate research methodology and findings effectively to internal and external audiences with guidance from project lead using compelling presentation skills
• Support Project Lead in managing strategic engagement and communication with government agencies, private sector, and CSOs.
• Coordinate with national and sub-national governments, and other related stakeholders to support the data collection.
• Work together with WRI Indonesia’s Communication teams and partners in delivering public outreach, education, and engagement activities.
• Develop internal and external communications and media such as presentations, blogs, articles, brochures,
  infographics, etc.

Project Management (15%)

• Support Project Lead in managing overall day to day project management and process delivery.
• Assist in facilitating project planning and implementation with internal and external stakeholders, particularly with national and sub-national cities governments, and CSO’s
• 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

• Legally able to work in Indonesia
• Minimum bachelor’s degree in economics, environmental economics, sustainable business and finance from reputable universities.
• 4+ years of professional experience in conducting research on sustainable development, climate change, energy transition or public policy.
• Outstanding and proven skills of writing in English and Bahasa.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as ability to manage professional relationship to effectively communicate with people at all levels and various background, including with national government, sub-national government, donors and CSOs.
• Strong team player with ability to work across institutional departments/programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment, both independently and as part of a global team;
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills, including the ability to encourage collaboration with other programs, international offices, and partners.
• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high quality work products;
• Ability to travel

Performance Standards

• Work plan and knowledge products are expected to be carried out in timely, satisfactory fashion with minor supervision;
• Knowledge products produced show rigorous analytical content.
• Effective teamwork and communication.
• Positively maintained relationship with external and internal stakeholders

Contract Arrangement

Full-time with fixed-term employment agreement for up to October 2024 with 3 (three) months of consultancy contract apply before the fixed-term employment agreement started.

What we offer

• Salary that is commensurate with experience and skills
• Competitive and comprehensive benefit package
• Access to the WRI global network
• Opportunity to join and/or get involved in different working groups
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• A chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization

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: 17.00 (DKI Jakarta localtime), 30 June 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.