Consultant as Wood ID Technologies Protocol Expert

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 safeguard the remaining forest and peatland, WRI Indonesia champions the use of technology solutions such as our cutting-edge Global Forest Watch platform to strengthen forest monitoring through publicly-accessible and actionable forest data and insights. We also focuses on supporting the combat against illegal logging and other forest-related crimes through research and policy advocacy that aims to improve accountability of land use and forest-related data, and strengthen the use of existing legal framework to enforce laws on forest protection.

Different policies have been put in place to avoid further deforestation and illegal logging, among others, moratorium on primary forest, social forestry scheme, and regulation of Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System. Despite many policies have been in place, illegal logging and deforestation still happens because current law enforcement still targets small actors and not the intellectual actor who gain the most profit from illegal timber trading.

Based on WRI research in 2021, timber laundering, when illegally harvested timbers enter legal timber supply chain and are claimed as legal timber, are primarily done through falsification of timber information, specifically species and origin. With the help of wood identification (ID) technologies, such as Wood Anatomy, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), Stable Isotope Analysis, DNA Analysis, and others, information of species and origin can be extracted from sample of allegedly illegal timber. According to the same study, wood ID technologies results vary in level of certainty, hence each technology may be best applied for different uses of timber traceability and law enforcement.

Based on Indonesian law system, the act of law violation done by perpetrators should be proven guilty at court. The use of science-based evidence, such as wood ID technologies result, cannot become stand-alone evidence at court to prove the crime. The evidence should produce high accuracy result to verify the accusation and should be accompanied with expert testimony and standardized protocol/guideline as an admissible evidence. In ensuring timber traceability requirements, a quick scientific test is preferred for detecting the entrance of illegal timber. Understanding various applications of wood ID technologies in different circumstances of legal necessities is required to strengthen law enforcement and prevent illegal timber trade.

Job Highlight

Under the new NORAD Project on “Avoiding illegal deforestation through application of wood identification (ID) technologies in strengthening law enforcement in Indonesia”, Forest Legality Initiatives (FLI) team at WRI Indonesia needs to hire a Wood ID Technologies Protocol Expert to support project implementation. He/she will be based in Jakarta, with possibility to travel to relevant areas for data collection and conducting interviews/FGD. He/she will help develop wood identification forensic protocol/guideline to apply wood ID technologies in law enforcement. This expert will work on: 1) the mechanism to develop protocol to comply with Indonesia National Standard (SNI), and 2) the draft of genetic/DNA wood identification protocol. In doing so, the expert should work closely with FLI team at WRI Indonesia and IPB team, which are two entities implementing the project in Indonesia.

He/she should report to Forest Legality Initiative Project Lead and work closely with Forest Legal Analyst at WRI Indonesia as well as coordinate with FLI team at WRI Global.

What You Will Do

Developing wood identification protocol/guideline to apply wood ID technologies as a forensic standard to enforce law upon illegal logging crime:

• Identification of potential protocol/guideline on wood forensic identification, particularly genetic/ DNA technologies, that are practical for law enforcement and timber traceability purpose;
• Drafting the content of protocol/guideline to comply with Indonesia National Standard (SNI);
• Identify the best organizations, institutions, and agencies to work with to develop protocol/guideline;
• Finding the best ways to integrate the protocol/guideline into Indonesia legal system to enforce law against illegal logging crime;
• Working together with IPB University team and wood scientists consortium to develop the protocol/guideline;
• Making a final comprehensive protocol/guideline on wood forensic identification, and working with FLI team in producing research products;
• Engagement with relevant stakeholders and carrying out data collection for protocol/guideline development, which may include conducting interviews and workshop.
• Consultant should work closely with FLI team, especially Forest Legality Analyst, at WRI Indonesia to discuss how the work plan and the strategies will be developed;

What You Will Need

• Legally able to work in Indonesia.
• Master degree in forestry, law, public policy, natural resources management, environmental studies, or a related field is required.
• Good understanding about timber traceability, administration, and legality requirement. Good understanding on Program Nasional Perumusan Standar (PNPS) by National Accreditation Committee (KAN) is perferred.
• A minimum five years working experience in relevant field, with strong research and engagement capacity in the area of timber industries or forestry sector.
• Experience with building and strengthening partnership with relevant stakeholders, such as government officials, law enforcement agencies, universities, and Civil Society Organizations.
• Experience in working with law enforcement agencies (Dirjen Penegakkan Hukum, Dirjen PHPL, Bareskrim Polri, KAN, and others) is a plus.
• Strong inter-personal skills, and able to work with people with different backgrounds.
• High attention to details, well organized, and strong analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently and as a team player.
• Ability to travel when needed.

Deliverables, Timeline. And Terms of Payment

Consultant will be compensated upon completing each deliverables, with terms of payment detail as follow:

Deliverables

Description

Deadline

Payment

A Strategic Workplan to develop genetic timber identification technique

Consultant should submit a workplan (five months timeline) on how to develop the protocol/guideline on wood forensic identification and incorporate into Indonesian legal system to be applied as science-based evidence for illegal logging crime and timber traceability system. The workplan will include: 1) how to gather data and information, 2) who/which institution to contact for interview and data collection, 3) output of each component in the workplan

15 June 2023

30%

A progress report

Consultant should submit a progress report consisting of the results of data collection and the preliminary draft of protocol/ guideline.

15 August 2023

30%

A final draft of protocol/ guideline

Consultant should submit the final draft of protocol/ guideline on genetic timber identification technique as planned in the strategic workplan

27 September 2023

40%

Duration

The duration of the service is 5 months (1 May – 31 September 2022).

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), 23 April 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.