**Program Overview**
- The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores a critical directive: humanity must unite in its efforts to keep global warming below the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold for our survival. This urgency necessitates a transformative approach to our economic frameworks to nurture growth and welfare in harmony with the sustainable stewardship of our natural environment and societal well-being. With these fundamental objectives in mind, WRI Indonesia seeks to address two critical questions: (1) How can economic systems and development at scale align with the protection of natural resources and societal welfare, and (2) how can we effectively mobilize both domestic and international finances to foster a nature-positive and people-centered economy?
These question are particularly relevant for the forest-rich provinces of Tanah Papua—a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. The rich forest ecosystems of Tanah Papua, essential for carbon storage, are of global importance for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts (Nurhasan et al., 2022; Parsch et al., 2022; Murdiyarso, 2015). Yet, these provinces are among the least affluent regions in Indonesia and are confronted with persistent pressures from industrial activities such as plantations, mining, and infrastructure projects, often pursued in the pursuit of economic advancement (Glorya et al., 2022; Austin, 2017; Obidzinski et al., 2012; Rifai-Hasan, 2009; Sloan et al., 2019). Initiatives like the Manokwari Declaration and Papua Vision 2100 exist to protect forest cover, reduce poverty, and support Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). However, the recent administrative reorganization of Papua into 6 provinces has led to the redistribution of administrative functions, which could present challenges to existing sustainability efforts.
The challenges also include major restructuring of the provincial economic landscape and revenue composition stemming from the expansion. As provinces that depend on national government transfer schemes for nearly 90 percent of their financing capacity, the reorganization of Papua into six provinces necessitates a reallocation of fiscal transfer revenues and a reorganization of sectors contributing to economic growth. Hence, it becomes crucial to understand the impacts of the recent provincial expansion and the associated administrative changes, on the economic outlook for Papua's provinces, and their ongoing sustainability efforts. This is particularly critical as the Papuan provinces have been developing alternative financing models, such as endowment funds, following the enactment of Intergovernmental Fiscal Law number 1 in 2022 and Special Autonomy Regulation number 107 in 2021.
Careful optimization of this moment of provincial change can be pivotal to shifting economic systems and financing models towards poverty alleviation, natural resource protection, and sustainable, inclusive economic growth in Tanah Papua, Indonesia. The goal is to understand how such changes can be feasibly implemented, which underpins the objectives of this initiative. Moving forward, all the data and knowledge acquired are expected to contribute to integrating the objectives of nature, climate, and people into strategic development planning, financing, and licensing decisions at both national and sub-national levels.
**Job Highlight**
- Under the supervision of WRI Indonesia's Political Economist, the Public Economics Researcher will be responsible for supporting research and policy advocacy components within two key initiatives: (1) the Endowment Fund for Sustainability and (2) Developing New Provincial Pathways for Sustainability. He/She will support the provision of economic analysis on the public financing capacity and needs to achieve significant advancements for people, climate, and nature in the selected provinces of Papua. This includes developing indicators and policy scenarios for modeling purposes to realize such objectives. As part of a high-functioning research team, the Public Economics Researcher will be instrumental in critically integrating, documenting, and transforming a variety of data, research findings, and expert input into high-quality policy recommendations, knowledge products, and advocacy materials. In close collaboration with WRI Papua Regional team, He/She will be based in Jakarta to liaise with relevant national stakeholders and will travel frequently for research, engagement, and advocacy purposes in the provinces of Papua, Indonesia.
**What You Will Do**
**Research (40%)**
**_ Endowment Fund for Sustainability_**
- Explore the latest fiscal policies and trends to understand how they can help set up provincial endowment funds under special autonomy arrangement.
- Support the calculation of natural resources revenues as potential capital for endowment funds.
- Gather high quality data and information through interviews, desk-research,