Consultant as Community Business Development Specialist

The Community Business Development Specialist will strengthen the implementation of social forestry and customary forest schemes at the province, district, and community level by conducting economic studies, livelihood and business feasibility analysis in technical and operational aspects to provide recommendations for the development of sustainable economic alternatives for IPLC groups in priority locations in the Aceh region. He/she will also support on project management and stakeholder engagement under The Enhancing Community Forest Tenure & Sustainable Livelihoods in Indonesia (NICFI – IPLC), particularly on issues of social forestry and customary forest.

The Community Business Development Specialist will be based in the WRI Indonesia’s Aceh Regional Office in Banda Aceh with frequent field travel and other priority provinces/districts, as well as other places as may be assigned. Reporting to the South Sumatra and Aceh Senior Program Lead of WRI Indonesia. He/she will liaise closely with the regional team and other key personnel of the projects, as well as key stakeholders such as the Provincial Forestry Office, Forest Management Unit, and community partners implementing similar programs, as well as relevant government agencies, local authorities, and civil societies that will contribute in achieving intended targeted impact of WRI portfolios.

What You Will Do:

Research and Technical Works :

• Conduct social economic analysis as well as livelihood assessment in technical and operational aspects to strengthen the implementation of social forestry in priority provinces and districts.
• Conduct livelihood assessment to produce sustainable livelihood options for communities by considering the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the communities.
• Design communities’ livelihood development strategy synergized with government strategic plan on community empowerment and natural resources management.
• Develop business plans for communities to strengthen the implementation of social forestry and customary forest schemes in priority districts and site levels.
• Design and conduct capacity-strengthening programs for communities, civil society organizations, and relevant government agencies to support the implementation of forest management and livelihood development strategy in priority provinces and its districts.
• Work with the other research team in authoring or co-authoring knowledge products and other communication documents (e.g., reports, briefs, data products, tools, and blog).
• Conduct studies on market value chain products of social forestry groups (KPS), social forestry business-based groups (KUPS), and evaluation of social forestry in the priority provinces and its districts.
• In collaboration with the Land Use Governance Specialist and Analyst, IT/IMS Specialist and Assistant, and Community Development and Livelihood team, to identify research/ analysis needs to support the program implementation.

Project Management and Communication:

• Develop workplan, budget, and term of reference (TOR) to implement economic and livelihood research, and other relevant project activities in South Sumatra province and its priority districts.
• Assist the Senior Program Lead in organizing and facilitating periodic reviews, monitoring activities, and ensuring that the project delivers its outputs and outcomes.
• Support the Senior Program Lead and Program Managers to actively communicate and liaise closely with the partners implementing similar programs as well as relevant agencies of the Government, local authorities, and civil society.
• Facilitate workshops, meetings, and trainings for various stakeholders on WRI Indonesia’s research tools and knowledge products.

Stakeholders Engagement:

• Engage with communities, local government, private sector, and other stakeholders to gain meaningful support for community business development.
• Identify key stakeholders at the village, sub-district, and district level related to the community business branding and marketing, livelihood development and other initiatives.
• Engage key stakeholders to gain meaningful support and enabling environment in local level.
• Support and connect other team member and additional external expert to communities and local stakeholders.

General Support:

• Provide technical support for pre-post and implementation of events in Aceh and South Sumatera.
• Contributing to cross-output implementation support in Aceh and South Sumatera.
• Provide other support as requested by WRI Indonesia.

What You Will Need:

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in economy, agribusiness, agronomy, environmental policy/law, natural resource study, sustainable development, development study, or similar is required, forestry, natural resource management, small and medium business management, or a related field required;
• A minimum of 5 (five) years of work experience in community facilitation/empowerment, small and medium business entrepreneurship, livelihood, and market analysis.
• Previous experience designing and facilitating field training and capacity-building training on financial management, marketing strategy, or other related topic for civil society groups, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to track and monitor project implementation progress
• Ability to apply research techniques to identify key decision makers, thought leaders, and influencers
• Experience in building networks of relationships and partnerships with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders engaged in forest management
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Bahasa Indonesia and English
• Strong team player with ability to work across institutional departments/programs.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented and organized thinker with an ability to juggle multiple priorities, handle assignments independently, and work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to travel when needed.
• Legally able to work in Indonesia.

Source:  https://jobs.jobvite.com/wri/job/oHDlufwT