Emergent is a global non-profit that mobilizes public and private finance to conserve and restore the world’s forests to combat the climate crisis. We act as a catalyst between forest governments and participants of the LEAF Coalition—a groundbreaking public-private partnership committed to halting tropical deforestation by 2030. By uniting private sector buyers, donor governments, forest governments, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), and civil society, LEAF aims to raise and deploy the finance needed to tackle deforestation by making tropical forests worth more alive than dead.

Emergent purchases high-integrity carbon credits from national and subnational jurisdictions generated through their REDD+ programs and verified under the ART TREES standard. These credits are sold to LEAF Coalition participants – donor governments and corporate buyers – who are committed to achieving ambitious climate and nature goals.

The Role

We are looking for a consultant to support our Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) workstream for approximately 6-months (starting ASAP and running through November 2025).

The Consultant will help to develop and execute strategies to ensure the meaningful and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in jurisdictional programs supported by the LEAF Coalition, critical to successful conservation of trees around the globe. They’ll prepare materials to educate and engage IPLC groups around the globe, with particular emphasis on central and south America.

The Consultant will report to the Executive Vice President, Global Origination. This is a remote opportunity with some travel anticipated (10-20%), access to an international airport is required and a home-base in the Americas or Europe is preferred. Professional fluency in English and Spanish is required; French or Portuguese is an asset.

Key Activities

• Engage IPLC representative organizations to share and exchange information, engage in dialogue, and solicit feedback across relevant jurisdictions.
• Track and support outreach to IPLCs conducted by the LEAF Coalition partners.
• Support account managers of the Origination Team track progress on stakeholder engagement work conducted by forest governments in line with the TREES standard for Jurisdictional REDD+ programs across eligible LEAF jurisdictions.
• Map IPLC organizations across participating jurisdictions.
• Organize, facilitate, and moderate IPLC workshops, webinars, and panels in close coordination with relevant partners and networks, both in-person and virtually.
• In an interim capacity, manage the relevant LEAF Stakeholder Engagement Group: schedule and facilitate biweekly meetings, synthesize discussion materials, follow up on action items, communicate key findings and concerns to the broader LEAF Coalition, and serve as the focal point for the group.
• In an interim capacity, manage the IPLC Advisory Panel: convene biweekly meetings, present key issues, collect advisor inputs, facilitate feedback loops to the LEAF Coalition and Emergent, and support related activities.
• Design and manage feedback mechanisms to elevate IPLC issues within LEAF, and present issues to the Core Advisory Group (CAG) (LEAF’s main decision-making body) and/or other relevant groups.
• Partner with the Communications and Marketing team to prepare written informational materials for and pertaining to IPLC groups/participants.
• Represent Emergent and the LEAF Coalition at international conferences, major climate events, and in-country missions.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter detailing why you are a strong fit for this consultant opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are encouraged.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If your application is unsuccessful, we will not retain your personal data.

Equal Opportunities

Emergent provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, local or other applicable laws.