Researcher Campaigner - SE Asia

Earthsight is looking for a researcher/campaigner to join our Southeast Asia and Africa team, delivering impactful research, analyses and advocacy on forest-risk commodity supply chains.

Earthsight is a London-based non-profit organisation dedicated to researching and investigating environmental and social crime and injustice. We use cutting-edge investigative methods to uncover and expose wrongdoing. Since emerging as a fully‑fledged organisation in 2016, our reports have garnered headlines, won awards and triggered major changes by governments and corporations.

We seek to create positive change by influencing government policy, exposing green washing and raising awareness among key constituencies about the impacts of global supply chains on the world’s forests and forest communities.

Most global deforestation is driven by industrial production of a handful of major commodities, including beef, soy, palm oil and wood. A large proportion of this production is to meet demand in major international markets. Earthsight plays a key role in highlighting the complicity of corporations in the EU, UK and US in the destruction of ecosystems and human rights violations overseas.

As part of global coalitions, we have succeeded in getting laws developed or passed in all these jurisdictions which aim to eliminate environmental or human rights abuses from these supply chains.

As part of a small team, you will monitor developments in Southeast Asia and Africa relating to commodity‑driven deforestation, including wood, palm oil, cocoa and rubber. You will help to deliver in-depth investigations which expose large companies for sourcing products linked to horrific abuses, and trigger government action in response.

You will lead Earthsight’s monitoring of the global timber industry, and will share your findings and insights with the rest of the team, particularly in relation to the sector’s certification and traceability schemes and technologies.

The position is offered as a full‑time permanent contract. The successful candidate would preferably be based in the UK and able to come into our office in London on a regular basis. Earthsight is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring careers in the charity sector are open to all. We value difference and believe it enhances our capabilities. We therefore particularly encourage applications from people from a range of different backgrounds.

• Monitor relevant media, NGO, think‑tank, government and academic reports on supply chains of palm oil, rubber, cocoa, pulp, paper and wood from Southeast Asia and Africa, particularly Indonesia, West Africa and the Congo Basin, to the EU, UK and US
• Monitor and analyse developments within the global timber industry and trade, particularly in relation to certification and traceability systems and technologies
• Build and maintain a strong understanding of relevant trade links for palm oil, rubber, cocoa, pulp, paper and wood from key countries in Southeast Asia and Africa to consumer countries/regions of particular interest (e.g. EU, UK, US), through analysis of third‑party reports and raw trade data and shipment records
• Keep abreast of wider policy and industry developments in key countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, including case studies of deforestation or rights abuses related to the commodities of concern; general deforestation trends; and developments in government policy related to the impact of commodities on forests
• Carry out desk‑based research into chosen case studies, drawing on shipment data, company reports and websites, satellite imagery, corporate records and trading websites; and through remote meetings with relevant actors, including researchers and activists in the countries concerned
• Assist in planning and carrying out field research on selected cases if needed. Occasional travel to moderately risky environments may be required
• Provide detailed reports of research findings for internal review
• Assist with turning research findings into published reports, analyses, policy messages and recommendations, films and other external outputs. Tasks may include fact‑checking;…