Community Development Assistant for Agroforestry - Gayo Highlands

Consultant as Community Development Assistant for Agroforestry (Gayo Highlands) - Food, Land, and Water Program

You will be based in Bener Meriah or Central Aceh, Aceh. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

Program Overview

Human society and the global economy are inextricably linked to forests. People depend on forests for their critical role in stabilizing the climate, while forests provide food, water, energy, and many other ecosystem services vital to human well-being. In Indonesia, community-managed forest areas under Social Forestry (Perhutanan Sosial) schemes present opportunities to empower adjacent and forest-dependent people to improve rural development and natural resource conservation, and to contribute to climate change mitigation. Given the multiple objectives it represents, WRI Indonesia works with governments, businesses, multilateral and financial institutions, civil society groups, and indigenous peoples and local communities to support the acceleration and development of Social Forestry.

Under the Blended Finance Model (BFM) for the Social Forestry Enterprises Project, WRI Indonesia aims to strengthen Social Forestry Business Groups (Kelompok Usaha Perhutanan Sosial / KUPS) through institutional strengthening, capacity-building, land productivity and agroforestry management, sustainable ecotourism development, business incubation, and facilitation of market partnerships. The project is designed to improve the readiness of KUPS and its associated cooperatives (Koperasi) to access blended finance mechanisms that combine BFM's grant funding with commercial and non-commercial financing sources.

In Aceh Tengah District and Bener Meriah District, project targets include diverse KUPS portfolios covering Arabica coffee, honey, palm sugar, organic fertilizer, processed food, silvopasture, silvofisheries, and other agroforestry enterprises. These groups possess promising economic potential but continue to face challenges in institutional governance, productivity, business models, bookkeeping, and access to financing.

Job Highlight

The Community Development Assistant for Agroforestry will support the field team in delivering community development and sustainable livelihood interventions activities for targeted KUPS in Aceh Tengah & Bener Meriah, Aceh to improve institutional capacity, adopt sustainable livelihood practices, and enhance market and financing readiness. The Assistant will report directly to Sumatra Research and Program Development Lead while maintain a close collaboration with the technical team and administration/procurement team in project sites.

This position will be based in either Aceh Tengah or Bener Meriah, with regular travel to target villages and project sites within the 2 districts. In support of WRI's DEI commitment, you are responsible for actively participating in these collaborative efforts by integrating equity into your work, our workplace, and the organizational culture.

What You Will Do

Technical Works and Community Facilitation Support (70%)

• Support the project field team in Aceh Tengah & Bener Meriah in implementing agroforestry and ecotourism development activities in target locations.
• Assist in identification and documentation of partnership opportunities and market engagement activities facilitated by the field team member in charge.
• Support the technical preparation for capacity-building activities related to revitalization and operational strengthening of commodity-based cooperatives as aggregators of supply and shared services (13 KUPS enterprises, involving Arabica coffee, honey, palm sugar, organic fertilizer, processed food, silvopasture, silvofisheries, and other agroforestry enterprises).
• Coordinate logistical requirements for field activities in targeted KUPS in Aceh Tengah & Bener Meriah, working closely with the Administration and Procurement team.
• Assist baseline assessments, tiering processes, monitoring visits, and field data collection activities for targeted KUPS/cooperatives.
• Collect, organize, and maintain project documentation and  field evidence: photos, participant lists, geotagged data/information, MoM, training documentation, and other community’s KUPS progress records and its supporting metadata.

Stakeholder Communication (30%)

• Support the field project team in conducting communication with local governments, CSOs, private sector actors, and other stakeholders to support program implementation.
• Maintain effective communication and relationships with relevant stakeholders to support program alignment.
• Retrieving supporting field evidence quickly for stakeholder engagement and project communication needs.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor's degree in forestry, agriculture, sociology, agribusiness, rural development, environmental studies, economics, or other related fields.  
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in community facilitation, livelihood development, ecotourism programs, social forestry, stakeholder engagement, or rural enterprise development.
• Based in or originating from Aceh Tengah or Bener Meriah region is strongly preferable.
• Strong understanding of community development approaches and rural economic systems in Gayo highlands.
• Experience working with KUPS, village enterprises, cooperatives, or government institutions.
• Experience facilitating trainings, participatory planning, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes.
• Basic understanding of business development, market linkage, and financing readiness for community enterprises.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Words, Excel, PowerPoint)  and common digital communication tools.
• Willingness to travel frequently between villages and sub-districts within Aceh Tengah & Bener Meriah.
• Legally able to work in Indonesia.

Duration

15 October 2026 – 28 February 2027

Deliverables

1. Produced and maintained assessment and monitoring datasets for targeted KUPS and reported in a monthly basis

2. Compiled and submitted supporting documentation from baseline assessment, tiering processes, monitoring visits, and field verification activities

3. Completed and audit-ready documentation packages for community development, agroforestry, ecotourism, and capacity building activities conducted: attendance lists, photos, meeting notes, training documentations, and supporting metadata, etc.

4. Compiled records and documentation of stakeholder engagement activities: contact list, meeting records, follow up action trackers.

5. Monthly timesheet and work progress report submitted in a timely manner

Terms of Payment

Daily-rate-based consultant with a maximum of 90 (ninety) working days for the whole contract period or 20 (twenty) working days per month on average.

How to Apply:

• Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 9 October 2026. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.
• Must have authorization to work in Indonesia to be eligible for this position.
• Final candidates might be required to take a certain test and/or to produce/share writing samples when needed.
• This is a locally engaged position, Indonesian nationals are encouraged to apply.

What we offer:

• Consultant rate that is commensurate with experience and skill.
• Travel insurance for both domestic and international for any travel duty as assigned by WRI Indonesia
• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

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: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership, and Care.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our Human Resources Team carefully reviews all applications.

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