Biodiversity Project Mentor

We're looking for a Biodiversity Project Officer who can volunteer in a hybrid role both remotely (online) for 6 months and in-country for 6 months.

• This assignment seeks to mentor the local team to draft the project design documents, communicate with certification agencies, establish biodiversity monitoring sites, and monitor plant growth.
• The volunteer will regularly travel to project sites and communicate with traditional customary leaders, village leaders, and farmers to facilitate the development of customary regulation and develop biodiversity management plans. The volunteer will also liaise closely with government officials and other stakeholders and engage closely with Indonesia's research organisation to advise and support the program.
• To be considered for this role, you’ll need a degree in anthropology or social science, an understanding of indigenous populations in managing their biodiversity and other natural resources.

About the Partner Organisation 

Yayasan Besi Pae, based in Kupang is as an expansion of services from LSM Besi Pae that was established in 2011. The organisation has implemented a number of activities in Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS) and in 2017 signed an MOU with the local government to help improve health and livelihoods in TTS. The Yayasan managed a DAP fund in 2017 and 2019. Between 2016 to 2018, Besi Pae has worked with TNP2K via DFAT-funded Mahkota to provide electricity to the poor. The Yayasan has partnering with Springfields Group to implement a DFAT Australian Development Accelerator (ADA) grant. Yayasan Besi Pae has been supported by five volunteers and three of them are Australian Volunteers. The NGO is currently implementing a climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation project with support from UNDP in eight villages on the South Coast of TTS. The biodiversity component of the project is protecting critically endangered biodiversity through strengthening the existing traditional right to managing their resources and being compensated through biodiversity credits to implement conservation programs. 

About the Australian Volunteers Program  

The Australian Volunteers Program is an Australian government-funded initiative. We support partner organisations across the Pacific, Asia, and Africa to achieve locally led change.

Volunteers are supported throughout their volunteer journey, and we actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to volunteer and aim to make the program as accessible and inclusive as possible. Find out more.