Consultant as Smallholder Group Facilitator

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 Agriculture, Forest and Land Use (AFOLU) 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 treshold, 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 effectively eliminate deforestation from key commodities production and provide robust stewardship for the remaining forest and peatland, we work together with various level of government, private sector, and civil society to mainstream the ethical supply chain principles, and support forest-dependent communities to secure their land rights. We aim to achieve this through research, policy advocacy, and creation of a community of practice to mainstream sustainable land use management.

Smallholder Empowerment Program

WRI Indonesia believes that empowering oil palm smallholders is key to producing sustainable palm oil in Indonesia. Empowered smallholders have the ability to control and manage their oil palm business properly and sustainably. With this capability, smallholders' welfare and the environment's quality are expected to improve. Therefore, increasing the inclusiveness of smallholders in sustainability and empowerment programs is indispensable to a better and greener palm oil supply chain in the country.

Collaborating with Unilever, WRI Indonesia aims to improve the sustainable palm oil supply chain and the welfare of smallholders in Riau Province. This is done through a series of capacity-building and empowerment. In 2023, we aim to increase the knowledge and skills of at least 4,000 smallholders to implement oil palm Best Management Practices (BMP) in order to improve their productivity.

Job Highlight

The Group Facilitator is responsible for organizing independent smallholders at the farmer group level and facilitating them to obtain RSPO certificates and achieve the sustainability target goal. There will be 1 (one) Group Facilitator for each of these following districts: Rokan Hulu, Siak, Kampar, Pelalawan, and Rokan Hilir in Riau Province. This position will work under the supervision of a District Coordinator, Riau and West Sumatera Senior Program Lead while working collaboratively with the other AFOLU Program teams to support the implementation of the WRI Indonesia AFOLU strategy.

What You Will Do

Coordination and Project Implementation (100 %)

• Identify, verify, and potential smallholders to join the smallholder empowerment program
• Organize independent smallholders at the farmer group level to achieve the RSPO certification and other targeted sustainability goals.
• Build good relationships with stakeholders at the village level.
• Facilitate the establishment of a smallholder organization (Gapoktan/Cooperatives/Associations) as needed.
• Facilitate the establishment of an Internal Control System (ICS) team and ensure its functions after the farmer institutions are formed.
• Assist in collecting and compiling all documents, both individual farmers (legality or land certificates, biodata, etc.) or farmer groups Gapoktan/Cooperatives/Associations according to RSPO standards.
• Facilitate discussions with farmer groups/Gapoktan/Cooperatives/Associations in the context of achieving RSPO certification and socializing the benefits of RSPO certification.
• Organize program activities, develop reports on post-activities and evaluation results, and monitor the program implementation together with the District Coordinator.
• Prepare monthly activity plan and budget.
• Report the progress of smallholder group facilitation to the District Coordinator on a regular basis (weekly or monthly).

What You Will Need

• Legally able to work in Indonesia
• Minimum D3 in agriculture, economics, or social sciences
• 3+ years of progressive professional work experience related to sustainability standards, auditing, and certification in the context of natural resource management.
• Practical experience working in the palm oil sector, preferably with smallholder producers, and familiarity with issues related to palm oil production.
• Have working experience with local communities in Riau in the context of smallholder farmers.
• Comprehensive understanding of environmental and social sustainability issues affecting the agricultural commodities sector
• Ability to work independently and with confidence to take initiative and make decisions.
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, especially with local farmers.
• Ability and willingness to travel and spend substantial amounts of time in the field as assigned.
• self-motivated, and detail-oriented with an ability to multi-task, and work well under pressure
• Business proficiency in verbal and written communication
• Have experience in assisting independent smallholder oil palm organizations with RSPO certification, business development, and women's empowerment
• Understand the RSPO Principles and Criteria for Independent Smallholders and its application for smallholders.
• Passionate to work on farmers empowerment.
• Have experience and ability to carry out project activities and deliver it in a timely and satisfactory manner.

Deliverables

No.

Deliverable

Timeline

1

Consolidation of stakeholders at the village level

February 2023

2

Participatory planning at the farmer group level

•          Develop a program activity plan and target for smallholder group committees

•          Ensure the participation of all smallholders in the program

February – May 2023

3

Consolidation of smallholders at the sub-group level

• Disseminate smallholder commitment form
• Introduce the RSPO Certification System
• Distribute training module materials

March - April 2023

4

Prepare smallholder capacity-building activities:

Module 1: Best Management Practices (BMP)

Module 2: RSPO Principles & Criteria

Module 3:  Environmental Impact Management

February - May 2023

Duration

The work will span four months from 1 February to 31 May 2023

Terms of Payment

Daily rate-based Consultant with a maximum of 80 (eighty) working days for the whole contract period or 20 (twenty) working days per month in 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), 14 February 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, the LGBTQ+ community, 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.