FORESTS CONSULTANT / LOBBYIST

Request for proposals

Length of project: January – August 2025, 2 days a week

Rate: £280 per day

Preferred Location: UK

Background

Global Witness’s Forests campaign is at the forefront of exposing the critical links between UK finance, trade, and climate-critical deforestation. We use the evidence base created by our innovative investigations to drive real change in the UK that protects local communities on the frontlines of global forest loss.

Over the past five years, we’ve revealed how UK financial institutions fund global forest destruction, and how delayed UK government action bringing forward its supply chain regulation, has fuelled widespread deforestation.

We’re looking for a consultant with experience of UK parliamentary work to help us achieve stronger regulations that end the UK’s contribution to forest loss for good, protecting the world’s forests for future generations.

We are looking for an experienced consultant able to work two days per week until August 2025, i.e. up to 60 days this year.

Objectives

The main deliverables are:

• Spot and seize opportunities to amplify Global Witness’s investigation findings and advocate for UK legal and policy changes.
• Progress our campaign to ensure the swift entry into force of a strong law preventing the trade of deforestation-linked products (i.e. Schedule 17 of the Environment Act of 2021)
• Secure new financial regulation that prevents the financing of forest destruction and human rights abuses.[1]
• Proactively work with parliamentarians, civil servants and civil society partners to achieve our objective, building strong relationships that last for Global Witness.
• Represent Global Witness on the Steering Committee of the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Global Deforestation and contribute to running the group.
• Represent the Forest campaign externally, engaging and influencing decision makers, working alongside our Forest team to build relationships across civil society, the media and industry.
• Identify new opportunities for impact in the UK whilst supporting the Forest strategy.

The balance of work between policy, advocacy, project management and communications will be reflected in the final agreed workplan and deliverables.

Skills and experience required

We will consider proposals from all individuals who have the necessary skills, expertise and practical experience to support the objectives as above.

In particular, we are seeking a consultant with experience as a campaigner, lobbyist, government affairs specialist, communications strategist, or related role, with a track record of successful campaign/advocacy wins.

Further details of deliverables and experience required are in the attached terms of reference.

[1] UK turns over a new leaf as government finally acts on deforestation jobs-near-me.org Global Witness