Terms of Reference
Position : Aceh Sustainable Landscape Coordinator
Job Grade : Band 4 - Class Senior Professional Core 2
Program/Unit : Forest
Base : Aceh, preferably in one of the following cities: Tapak Tuan, Subulussalam, or Singkil
Duration of Assignment : One year with extension based on performance and funding availability
Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has a distinguished history of experts exploring and saving wildlife in some of the most remote and wild places remaining on Earth. The Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program (WCS-IP) has significantly grown over the last decades and contributed to supporting the Government of Indonesia (GoI), particularly the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) in conserving Indonesia's biodiversity. WCS-IP is structured under five core thematic programs: Forests, Marine, Wildlife Trade & Policy, One Health, and Rights & Communities. These programs are supported by cross-cutting units namely Science & Technology, Conservation Network & Partnership, and Operations.
One of WCS-IP’s priority landscapes is in Aceh and includes Singkil Wildlife Reserve (SWR). The Reserve is a large intact peatland area in Aceh province and provides critical habitat for the Sumatran orangutan and contains vast quantities of carbon. Expansion of oil palm plantations is rapidly occurring in the surrounding area, and this may expand into SWR. The integrity of the wider landscape is also threatened by poorly planned infrastructure development projects.
In Rawa Singkil Wildlfie Reserve of Aceh Province, WCS-IP is supporting the Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) and Aceh Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BKSDA Aceh), as well as three district governments of Aceh Selatan, Aceh Singkil, and Subulussalam) under the Forest Progam
WCS-IP operates a Sustainable Landscape Initiative that aims to reduce deforestation threats and improve community livelihoods in priority landscapes, including SWR, through partnering with the government, private sector, other civil society organizations, and communities to develop deforestation-free commodity production and supply chains.
To achieve our overall goal of saving wildlife and wild places, WCS-IP is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position (Aceh Sustainable Landscape Coordinator). The position will directly report to (To be Decided: Head of Sustainable Landscape or Aceh Program Manager or Leuser Landscape Manager) and work with other WCS-IP staff.
The Aceh Sustainable Landscape Senior Coordinator is a dynamic and experienced individual to help implement and grow our Sustainable Landscape approach in Aceh, in particular through developing and implementing a landscape partnership and activities in and around SWR that addresses the main drivers of deforestation – agricultural encroachment (primarily) and infrastructure development (secondarily).
Tasks and Responsibilities
The Aceh Sustainable Landscape Coordinator will support WCS-IP’s efforts to reduce the current and future threats to biodiversity and forest integrity that is driven by the unsustainable production of agricultural commodities and, to a lesser extent, provide support towards infrastructure impact mitigation initiatives. The job holder will deliver relevant program interventions including build strategic partnerships that have a measurable impact on reducing these threats in the Leuser Ecosystem, particularly in the SWR, with close coordination and communication with the Leuser Landscape Manager and Aceh Program Manager. More specifically this includes:
Program Strategy Development
- Analyze the intensity of current and future threats to SWR and identify opportunities to address these threats and restore landscape integrity.
- Support strategic commodities engagement with private sector companies, civil society organizations, and government agencies in the landscape.
- Participate in formal and informal consultation meetings with key stakeholders (Pemda, civil society organisations and academic institutions) on the identification of planned and current infrastructure projects and opportunities for WCS intervention in improving planning process, especially related to SEAs, EIAs and HCV.
- Support the Head of Sustainable Landscape in designing interventions in the landscape drawing on stakeholder engagement, threats and opportunities and upon lessons learned from project implementation.
- Represent WCS in relevant meetings, workshops and discussion at the local and national level, as needed.
Project Management
- Working with the Head of SL develop detailed project implementation plans in line with project logical framework and other donor requirements.
- Coordinate field staff to develop detailed work plans in line with the project objectives and implementation plans.
- Oversee field staff in the delivery of agreed project interventions in a timely manner and with high quality standards.
- Prepare project activity and financial reports in accordance with donor requirements and in a timely manner.
- Lead the design and implementation of further research on the oil palm supply chain in the landscape.
- Oversee the application of social and environmental safeguards in project implementation.
- Document lessons learned from the implementation of the project to inform the formulation of program strategy.
Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with the Aceh Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA Aceh), Aceh Forest Management Unit, as well as relevant provincial and district government agencies related to the commodities work.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with private sector and other civil society organization partners in the landscape to secure their support for commodity supply chain interventions at the field-level.
- Establish partnerships and opportunities to link the community-level interventions with the broader local and provincial government development program to address supply chain risk.
- Provide key technical support to the WCS Infrastructure Project Manager to positively influence sub-national infrastructure projects, such as eco-road designs (including critical thinking on an elevated road design over the Trumon corridor in Singkil).
- Provide technical and facilitating support to meetings, training and public outreach activities to present the WCS project to stakeholders.
- Support writing, publishing and presenting high quality research findings and providing data to support communication of project and key impacts and findings through websites, social and print media.
Requirements: Qualifications and Experience
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University Degree either in Forestry, Environmental, and Agricultural Studies
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Minimum 7 years working in forest conservation and development issues, ideally in relation to commodity-driven deforestation and smallholder farmer livelihoods
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Excellent analytical skills and extensive experience in project and team management
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Demonstrable field experience of working with communities, particularly smallholder farmers, and diverse stakeholders, including the private sector.
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Proven understanding of the main drivers of deforestation - palm oil sector, as well as other commodities, and infrastructure development
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Capable to work well under pressure and capable of meeting deadlines on time with high standard
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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to adapt communications and messaging to a range of different audiences
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Excellent networking and engagement skills
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Excellent written and spoken both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
Please send a cover letter and CV in English to idrecruitment@wcs.org stating in the subject line “Aceh Sustainable Landscape Coordinator_(name)” at the latest 10 September 2024. No correspondence as only short-listed candidates will be notified.