The Opportunity:
Earth Insight is seeking a Senior Policy & Coordination Lead – Congo Basin (Contractor) to advance integrated policy, coordination, and engagement efforts across the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most critical regions for climate stability, biodiversity, and Indigenous stewardship.
At a decisive moment for the region, with escalating extractive pressures and a narrowing window to act, this role will help translate cutting-edge science and spatial analysis into coordinated policy, advocacy, and diplomatic engagement. The position sits at the intersection of science, geospatial intelligence, policy, and international cooperation, helping align diverse actors around a shared vision of maintaining ecological integrity, safeguarding high-value ecosystems, and strengthening the leadership and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IP & LC).
The contractor will play a central role in coordination, socialization, and coalition-building, supporting dialogue across governments, civil society, Indigenous organizations, research institutions, and other relevant actors, while connecting regional priorities to key global processes (including CBD and UNFCCC pathways).
The contractor will work closely with the Deputy Director, and collaborate with other members of the Earth Insight team.
Location: Remote, based in the Congo Basin region
Required languages: French and English
Contractor Compensation: Competitive rate
Status: This is an independent contractor role and not an employee position. The selected contractor will not be considered an employee of Earth Insight or SEE and will be responsible for their own taxes, benefits, and insurance.
Core Responsibilities and Scope
- Coordination & Coalition Building
- Support coordination of a multi-stakeholder network advancing shared priorities across the Congo Basin (governments, IP & LC, civil society, scientific community, donors), including helping to advance the implementation of IUCN Resolution 140, a science-based framework to prevent irreversible ecological damage in the Congo Basin.
- Convene and manage webinars, consultations, and partner calls to socialize key insights and co-develop strategic priorities.
- Policy Intelligence & Strategic Alignment
- Identify and track key policy windows, allies, and champions at regional and international levels.
- Track policy, extractive sector developments, and political dynamics across Congo Basin countries.
- Translate spatial and scientific insights (e.g., intactness, ecosystem integrity, overlap with industrial pressures, tipping point risks) into clear, policy-relevant narratives and options.
- Support alignment with key global and regional frameworks (e.g., biodiversity targets, climate and forest finance, fossil fuel free zones, land tenure and rights initiatives),
- Strategic Outputs & Communications
- Develop concise policy briefs, talking points, presentations, and rapid-response materials.
- Support delivery of communications and engagement products (webinars, briefings, sign-on campaigns, op-eds).
- Help translate technical outputs (including geospatial analysis) into accessible, decision-relevant content for partners and policymakers.
- Engagement Support
- Support engagement with regional networks, institutions, and partners across the Congo Basin.
- Contribute to outreach and positioning in key international processes (e.g., CBD, UNFCCC, COP, TFFF, and related processes).
- Facilitate coordination between research, policy, and communications teams, as well as with external partners and allies.
Required Qualifications
- 5–10 years of experience in policy, advocacy, or environmental governance in the Central Africa / Congo Basin.
- Fluency in both French and English (written and spoken) is required.
- Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in political science, public policy, international relations, journalism, or related field.
- Strong understanding of extractive sector dynamics, forest governance, and regional political processes.
- Demonstrated experience in facilitating coordination, convening stakeholders, and managing multi-actor processes.
- Ability to translate complex science and spatial data into clear, strategic outputs.
- Experience working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities and supporting rights-based approaches.
- Strong facilitation and communication skills (including webinars and high-level engagement spaces).
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a diverse, inclusive, and globally-minded team.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build trust-based relationships, engage with sensitivity and humility, and work constructively across cultures and sectors with a high level of emotional intelligence.
Desired Profile
- Strategic thinker able to connect science, policy, finance, and advocacy.
- Experience engaging in regional or international processes (e.g., African Union, Central African Forest Commission, Economic Community of Central African States, African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, as well as global processes such as CBD, UNFCCC, etc.).
- Comfortable working across teams and with diverse global partners in a fast-moving environment.
How to apply
Please fill out this form, applications are due by June 6th, 2026.
About Earth Insight
Earth Insight builds tools and momentum to prevent fossil fuel, mining, and industrial expansion from threatening vital ecosystems and Indigenous and local communities. Through the development of web-based mapping tools and innovative analytics founded on open-data and open-access data and code, we aim to provide communities and the environmental movement with tools to increase political and financial pressure and stop new fossil fuel and other destructive extractive industry developments, while charting alternative development pathways that respect biodiversity, human rights, and a stable climate. Earth Insight is a fiscally sponsored project Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), based in the United States, and its board and staff supports Earth Insight's structure and staff, financial activities and reporting, and other administrative functions.