POSITION INFORMATION

Position                                           : Program Officer

Unit Name                                      : Environmental Governance

Location                                          : Jakarta

Job Type & duration of Contract: Full-time staff, initial contract for a year with potential extension

Closing Date                                   :  December 12, 2025

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The Asia Foundation (TAF) is implementing the SETAPAK Program: Improving Forest and Land Governance and Civil Society Engagement to Prevent Deforestation and Land Degradation in Indonesia. SETAPAK builds on the achievements of its three preceding phases by continuing to strengthen forest and land governance through active civil society engagement.

The objective of SETAPAK is to enhance sustainable forest and land governance, rehabilitate selected forest and land areas, reduce deforestation and land degradation, protect biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of local communities. These goals will be pursued through four primary outputs: (1) improved access to forest management for communities and vulnerable groups; (2) reformed green financing for environmental protection agendas; (3) reformed law enforcement in the forest and land-use sectors; and (4) restoration or rehabilitation of selected natural assets.

To achieve these outputs, SETAPAK applies both supply-side interventions, which enhance government processes and performance, and demand-side interventions, which strengthen stakeholder participation, oversight, and access to justice in the land and forest sectors. The program will issue sub-grants to national and subnational CSOs to implement these activities.

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Based in Jakarta, the Program Officer will play a key role in delivering the objectives and outputs of the SETAPAK Program. S/he will provide direct management and implementation support for three to four key components of the program, including: improving community access to forest and land management, supporting policy and regulatory reforms (including green financing and rule of law initiatives), and strengthening the capacity of local CSOs to engage in forest and land governance and environmental justice.

The Program Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day management of partner-led activities under these components, working closely with other Program Officers, Program Assistants, and the Director of the Environmental Governance Unit. S/he will contribute to program development and conceptualization, oversee implementation and partner coordination, and prepare high-quality reports. The Program Officer will also support the design and application of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) tools in close collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ensuring that SETAPAK’s supply-side and demand-side interventions effectively contribute to improved forest and land governance, reduced deforestation and land degradation, and enhanced community livelihoods.

RELATIONSHIP

INTERNAL

• Maintain regular contact and effective communication with all Environmental Governance Unit team members and TAF’s Jakarta office staff.
• Maintain and strengthen internal coordination and information sharing across the SETAPAK Program.
• Provide support to the Environmental Governance Program Director and Deputy Program Director as required.
• Engage with other program and thematic staff in TAF offices in the US and Asia, as requested by the Program Director or Deputy Program Director.

EXTERNAL

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local and international NGOs working on environmental governance, forest and land governance, and nature-based solutions in Indonesia, ensuring coordination and amplifying the visibility of SETAPAK and the Foundation’s work.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors and funding agencies supporting SETAPAK and related initiatives.
• Build and sustain working relationships with government agencies at national and subnational levels, and support positive public relations, particularly with senior government officials.
• Represent The Asia Foundation at conferences, workshops, public events, and donor coordination meetings as required, including public speaking and contributing to publications that showcase SETAPAK’s lessons, results, and innovations.

JOB FUNCTIONS

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATION

• Contribute to the day-to-day management of The Asia Foundation’s Environmental Governance portfolio, with a primary focus on the SETAPAK Program. This includes liaising with partners, providing technical input, developing themes for new activities, monitoring implementation, reviewing training and publication materials, and, together with the Director, representing the program to donors.
• Work with existing and prospective partners (grantees) to develop program activities; assess project feasibility; monitor and facilitate implementation; secure timely and high-quality reports; critically assess outcomes; review incoming proposals; manage the proposal-tracking system; and support local organizations to refine proposals and program designs.
• Prepare proposal review forms, letters of agreement, and budgets, and manage the full grant cycle from proposal development and issuance of Letters of Grant (LG) through monitoring, reporting, and donor communication.
• Design and implement work plans for SETAPAK and related Environmental Governance activities, and contribute to the development and application of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) measures.
• Provide technical assistance to local partners to develop work plans, results frameworks, and MEL tools.
• Where relevant, contribute to the design and implementation of research components, including identifying research topics, designing key studies, providing technical support and training to research partners, overseeing research activities, and supporting analysis, writing, and dissemination.
• Use research findings and learning to inform and improve program implementation at both national and local levels.
• Prepare donor reports jointly with other members of the Environmental Governance Unit.
• Coordinate with other units within The Asia Foundation to support cross-learning, joint initiatives, and internal networking.
• Provide annual and semi-annual program highlights and other relevant information on Foundation programs as required.
• Assist the Director in managing financial aspects of funding sources, including budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and internal grant administration.

GENERAL

• As a key member of the program team, participate actively in regular team meetings and contribute to program planning, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.
• Support the dissemination of program activities, lessons learned, and research results to partners, stakeholders, and the wider public where appropriate.
• Assist the Program Director and Deputy Program Director in monitoring significant social, political, economic, and environmental developments in Indonesia that may affect SETAPAK and related programs.
• Understand and comply with donor and Foundation requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

Advanced degree in forestry, geography, natural resources management, environmental studies, environmental policy, or related fields.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of eight years’ experience designing and implementing forestry, environment, climate, conservation, or nature-based solutions (NbS) projects, preferably related to forest and land governance in Indonesia.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: forest rehabilitation and restoration; mangrove and peatland conservation; landscape management; social forestry; carbon projects or ecosystem services.
• Solid track record working with Indonesian civil society organizations (CSOs), Indigenous Peoples, and local communities (IPLC).
• Proven experience in project management and engaged grantmaking, including managing sub-grants, coordinating diverse stakeholders, and overseeing field implementation and monitoring.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Thinking and Working Politically (TWP) or political economy analysis (PEA) in forestry, natural resource management, or environmental governance initiatives.
• Strong understanding of environmental governance challenges and opportunities in Indonesia at both local and national levels, particularly those related to deforestation and land degradation
• Familiarity with environmental policies, regulations, and standards at international and national levels, including safeguards such as FPIC and gender and social inclusion.
• Experience in designing and delivering training and capacity-building programs for CSOs, government counterparts, and IPLC.
• Experience working with Indonesian government agencies at national and subnational levels.
• Experience collaborating with international and/or government-funded programs and donors.
• Basic skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing are an advantage

OTHER:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Bahasa Indonesia.
• Strong analytical, writing, and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with NGOs, government counterparts, donors, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Confident public speakers, able to present program work in meetings, workshops, and public forums.
• Willingness to travel frequently, including to remote regions across Indonesia.

WORK BASE

• The position will be based in Jakarta.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit their application and CV through the electronic form provided at https://forms.office.com/r/3HrQ2cnhqL by December 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM Jakarta time. Please ensure that all required fields are completed accurately.

Important: The Asia Foundation does not require any payment or request sensitive personal information during the recruitment process. Please ensure that the form you complete is accessed from a credible source, such as The Asia Foundation’s official website or Devjobsindo.org. Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from The Asia Foundation. If you encounter any issues or have questions, please contact us at id.hr@asiafoundation.org.

THE ASIA FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGES QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING WOMEN, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, TO APPLY. IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE, CLIMATE ACTIONS, AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED ABOVE,

ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.