Technical Officer on Forest Governance (Open to internal and external applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

 

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality. UNDP maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

As the leading United Nations organization addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change, UNDP works with a broad network of partners in over 170 countries to deliver integrated and sustainable solutions for people and the planet. Indonesia has made significant progress in advancing its climate commitments, as reflected in its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2.0) and the national Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target. These commitments include ambitious emission reduction goals, relying heavily on reduced deforestation, strengthened forest governance, and enhanced restoration efforts. The Government of Indonesia has further strengthened its policy framework through Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025 on Carbon Economic Value, which provides a foundation for carbon trading, results-based finance, and other climate-related economic instruments.

Despite this progress, translating national commitments into effective implementation at the subnational level remains a critical challenge. This includes gaps in institutional capacity, coordination across levels of government, operationalization of REDD+ strategies, and readiness for carbon market participation. In addition, accelerating the recognition and sustainable management of Masyarakat Hukum Adat (MHA) or indigenous forest areas is essential to ensure that climate actions are inclusive, equitable, and grounded in local knowledge systems.

Strengthening the role of subnational actors is therefore key to achieving Indonesia’s climate targets. This

requires enhanced technical capacity in areas such as:

• implementation of REDD+ programmes at national and sub-national level
• integration and tracking of NDC targets within regional planning frameworks
• development and operationalization of carbon market mechanisms
• facilitation and support for social forestry and indigenous forest (Masyarakat Hukum Adat-MHA) recognition and management

In this context, the Technical Officer will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of REDD+ programme, advancing NDC implementation at the subnational level, and strengthening readiness for carbon market engagement. The role will also contribute to accelerating the recognition and sustainable management of indigenous forest areas (MHA), while ensuring alignment with national policies, safeguards frameworks, and inclusive approaches.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Officer (Forestry) will report directly to the National Project The incumbent will work in close coordination with relevant government counterparts, including technical units within the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry, as well as subnational agencies (e.g., DLHK, Bappeda).

The Technical Officer will be responsible for providing technical and coordination support to the implementation of REDD+ programmes, NDC operationalization at the subnational level, and carbon market readiness initiatives, including those related to social forestry and indigenous forest (MHA) management. This includes supporting planning, data collection, monitoring and reporting, and contributing to the development of technical inputs and knowledge products.

The incumbent will collaborate closely with UNDP programme and operations teams to ensure effective delivery of activities, timely reporting, and compliance with UNDP rules and procedures. The role will also involve engagement with the government, development partners, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to strengthen multi-stakeholder coordination and support implementation at national and subnational levels.

The Technical Officer will contribute to ensuring that all project activities are aligned with national policies and priorities, as well as UNDP standards, including safeguards and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion principles, to promote inclusive and high-integrity climate action.

 

Support Implementation of REDD+ Programme

• Support alignment of REDD+ interventions with FOLU Net Sink 2030 and national development plans (REDD+ Stranas, RPJMN, RPJMD, RAD-GRK);
• Facilitate coordination among stakeholders to strengthen REDD+ approaches, including integration with social forestry initiatives;
• Support implementation of safeguards, including FPIC and GESI considerations, in REDD+ activities.

Support NDC Operationalization and MRV Systems

• Assist in integrating NDC targets into subnational planning and sectoral strategies, particularly in forestry and land-use sectors;
• Support the development and strengthening of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems at subnational level;
• Facilitate data collection, validation, and reporting aligned with national systems (e.g., SRN);
• Provide technical inputs for tracking emission reductions from forestry, peatland, and land-use interventions.

Strengthen Carbon Market Readiness and Implementation

• Support the development and operationalization of carbon market mechanisms in line with national policies on Economic Value of Carbon (NEK) such as Perpres 110/2026;
• Provide technical inputs on carbon project development, including baseline setting, monitoring, and reporting;
• Facilitate engagement with stakeholders (government, private sector, communities) to promote high-integrity carbon market participation, including blue carbon and nature-based solutions;
• Support the identification and development of potential carbon projects within social forestry and jurisdictional REDD+ frameworks.

Support Social Forestry and Indigenous (MHA) Forest Initiatives

• Provide technical support to accelerate recognition and sustainable management of indigenous forest areas (MHA);
• Support integration of social forestry schemes into climate mitigation and carbon market opportunities;
• Promote inclusive approaches ensuring participation of women, youth, and indigenous communities in forest governance.

 Strengthen Governance, Coordination, and Policy Alignment

• Support coordination between national and subnational stakeholders to improve governance and policy coherence;
• Provide inputs to policy development and implementation related to:

1. REDD+
2. NDC
3. carbon markets
4. social forestry

• Support multi-stakeholder platforms and dialogue to strengthen collaboration and decision-making processes.

Support Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Develop and disseminate knowledge products (guidelines, briefs, lessons learned) related to REDD+, NDC, and carbon markets;
• Support the organization of related trainings, workshops, and learning events for government and community stakeholders;
• Contribute to documentation and sharing of best practices and innovations, including community-based approaches.

Support Reporting and Programme Monitoring

• Provide inputs to project reports (quarterly, semi-annual, annual) in line with UNDP and financial partners requirements;
• Monitor progress of activities and report on challenges, risks, and mitigation measures;
• Support data collection and reporting on project indicators, including environmental and social safeguards.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that :

• Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
• Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental
• Standards of UNDP”;
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender is respected within all implementations including data production;
• Differentiated needs of women and men areconsidered;
• Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
• Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as required to support the effective implementation of the programme, ensuring alignment with the objectives of the United Nations Development Programme Country Programme Document (CPD) Indonesia, particularly in advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive development.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

 

Competencies

Core competencies

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

 Cross-Functional & Technical Competences 

Business Management           

• Digital Awareness and Literacy - Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
• Working with Evidence and Data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making
• Monitoring & Evaluation - Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programs, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programs and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Results Based Management - Ability to manage programs and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

2030 Agenda – People            

• Nature - Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Access and benefit sharing of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans
• Gender - Gender Mainstreaming

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness             

• Innovation - Technology and Innovation

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Forestry-related disciplines biology, environment; Sustainable Development, Social Science, or another related field Or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of progressive experience in project management and forest governance.

Desired skills 

• Experience working using latest Indonesia’s policies and national priorities on climate change.
• Experience in current development on innovative policy making and able to communicate effectively with government.
• Professional experience in environmental issues, particularly REDD+ implementation, NDC, Carbon Market, Masyarakat Hutan Adat (MHA) and related fields.
• Experience working in the Forestry Sector and Carbon Markets Experience in coordination activities, supporting or organizing workshops, multi-stakeholder platforms
• Excellent skill in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages,
• Experience work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Demonstrated experience in project implementation, monitoring and evaluation including coordination with government institutions, cross-ministerial bodies (such as Ministry of Forestry, and key stakeholders)
• Experience working with UNDP or other UN agencies and/or international organizations and/or major donor agencies 
• Solid experience in data collection and analysis especially in environmental issues

Required Languages

• Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia (both writing and speaking) is required

 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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