WRI Indonesia is looking for Consultant, Content Editor for Peat Land Independent Monitoring Initiatives

Program Overview

According to the Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia emitted approximately 800 million-1,1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) emissions due to huge forests and land fires in 2015. These fires are largely caused by extensive peat soil drainage and excessive peat conversion to other land uses, mainly to palm oil plantations. Peatland in Indonesia is a unique ecosystem with high biodiversity and economic value. Peatland has various functions including hydrological functions or water storage and management, carbon storage function that relate with climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation function. However, peatland is a vulnerable to degradation, subsidence, and fire, particularly when peatland is being drained. For example, Indonesian National Determined Contribution (NDC) document shows that major part of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emission comes from land use and land cover change (LULCC) and peat fires. Massive forest and peat fires in 2015 contribute to country and public loss of approximately IDR 221 trillion.

In response to the devastating forest and land fires of 2015, President Joko Widodo established the Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) through Presidential Regulation No. 1/2016 in order to coordinate and accelerate the recovery of peatlands by restoring 2 million hectares of it by 2020.  This work entails, for example, mapping fire-prone provinces, raising peatland water tables, revegetating degraded peatland, creating alternative livelihoods for local communities, and investigating alternative crops for peatland.

The initiative to establish an independent monitoring platform for peatland restoration stems from shared concerns about government performance and the fulfillment of government pledges or commitments related to the restoration of peatland ecosystems. Restoration activities should also involve civil society and the private sector. It is therefore necessary to have an inclusive and accountable joint platform whereby the public can monitor the performance of the government and where the parties can work together in restoring peatlands.

WRI Indonesia participates in an independent monitoring initiative called Pantau Gambut, an online platform that provides knowledge and learning about peatland to enable a meaningful public participation in peatland restoration. The objective of the platform is to monitor the restoration commitments from both public and private sector in achieving the restoration targets. This platform provides the factual portray of the progress of peatland restoration and protection programs in Indonesia which visualize several key themes such as: forest fire on peat, restoration infrastructures and the implementation of moratorium on peatland opening. In order to achieve better understanding, communication plays critical role in translating field findings in a format that is understood by laymen.


WRI Indonesia aims to elevate the web-based contents on the platform in order to enhance the expected impact by hiring content editor to produce a more digestible content. Working with PG’s team, consultant will distill PG’s research and ideas for non-specialist adjusting PG’s tone of campaign. The consultants also need to ensure the accuracy of all Indonesian/English web-based contents narration by following the Pantau Gambut writing style. Consultant will report directly to Research Analyst for Peatland Restoration Independent Monitoring and work in close coordination with PG Media Research and Campaign Lead.

Job Responsibilities

·       Conceptualize and create a variety of editorial content and enhance the website presence to audience

·       Ensure the accuracy of Indonesian or English narration of Pantau Gambut contents

·       Excellent writing and editing skill, with demonstrated ability to produce articles of specific issues for non-specialist/laymen.

·       Distill complex research and technical information into compelling web copy for non-specialist audiences.

·       Coordinate with journalist, researchers or other assigned actors to enhance the quality of content and report to Research and Campaign lead

·       Coordinate with social media and campaign team to review Google Analytics to assess content performance

·       Work with team to brainstorm new initiative of content for targeted audiences

·       Work with the Design team to develop graphics and other visual content

·       Serve as an advisor for teams looking to produce or improve their digital content


Deliverables

1.     Provide advice on the writing and editorial strategy when necessary

2.     A final (edited and/or revised) content material for Pantau Gambut that adhere to PG’s campaign strategy


Job Qualifications

·       Minimum of 2 years of relevant issues, passion and familiarity with Indonesia’s forest and peatland issues is a must.

·       Bachelor’s degree required

·       Experience writing and editing content for the web

·       Superior writing and editing skills and ability to translate complicated topics and technical information into compelling narratives

·       Strong attention to detail

·       Ability to think about how to tell stories through graphics, charts and other visuals

·       Ability to juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines as well as ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Period of Work

The duration of the service is 8 months from 1 April 2020 to 30 November 2020. A detailed work plan will be discussed with Pantau Gambut team following signing of the engagement contract.


Final candidates might be required to take a writing test and to produce two writing samples when needed.


Consultant rate: Consultant rate is commensurate with experience and skills.


Qualified applicants should apply online through WRI career portal https://jobs.jobvite.com/wri/job/oJIgcfwD in order to be formally considered.

Application close: 1700 (Jakarta Time), 28 February 2020. We will close the advert earlier when best candidates are identified at earlier dates. 


WRI Overview

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 in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. We are passionate. We value our diversity of interests, skills and backgrounds. We have a flexible work environment. And we share a common goal to catalyze change that will improve the lives of people. Our shared ideals are at the core of our approach. They include: integrity, innovation, urgency, independence and respect. 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.


We have been growing rapidly: our staff has doubled in size over the past 5 years and our operating budget is now $100 million. Founded in 1982, WRI has a global staff of 800+ people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions. 


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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.


The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI's policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.