Restoration Finance Policy Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization that works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature, and stabilize the climate. Established with a mission to influence policy and catalyze change across various systems such as food, land, water, energy, and cities, WRI employs over 2,000 staff members who operate in more than a dozen focus countries and collaborate with partners in over 50 nations. WRI is dedicated to advancing gender, racial, and social equity in its mission and applies this principle to its organizational and programmatic practices. The organization is committed to attracting diverse, intellectually driven candidates who are passionate about sustainability and development, providing numerous internship opportunities throughout the year across all its programs.

Job Overview:
The Restoration Finance Policy Intern will support the Global Restoration Initiative's Invest and Enable pillars, which focus on piloting innovative blended finance models and creating the necessary political, economic, and social conditions for impactful, lasting restoration. This internship offers a unique opportunity to learn about the rapidly evolving land restoration sector, which is recognized as one of the most cost-effective yet under-financed nature-based solutions. Interns will gain familiarity with various funding mechanisms for restoration and conduct research on public policies and incentives that promote high-quality, locally led restoration efforts. The role will involve collaboration with experts in geospatial science, finance, and international policy, contributing to scaling restoration initiatives at local, national, and global levels. The internship will be tailored to the intern's learning interests and the team's needs, with potential contributions to investor engagement, data analysis, or policy analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will engage in a variety of tasks that support the Global Restoration Initiative, including conducting research on restoration projects, policies, and financing mechanisms. Responsibilities will include performing data analysis, literature reviews, and drafting communications materials. The intern will assist in organizing research materials and coordinating stakeholder events, contributing to the development of a fundable concept for WRI's role in the European restoration economy. The intern will also support policy research and analysis related to nature restoration, contributing to the drafting of issue briefs and other policy documents. Additionally, the intern will gain experience in proposal development through contributions to partnership and funding proposals, and will have opportunities to learn about land restoration, building partnerships, restoration finance, and policy analysis.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be undergraduate or graduate students or recent graduates with a focus on resource economics, development finance, environmental sciences, social sciences, public policy, environmental studies, data science, or related fields. Applicants should demonstrate comfort in communicating insights derived from data analysis, possess experience with both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and be familiar with data tools such as Excel or R. A background in research, including experience with literature reviews and drafting, is essential. The ability to work independently and as part of a team, along with strong organizational skills in a fast-paced environment, is required. Experience with economic and policy research in the European context is a plus, as is an understanding of ecosystem restoration, land use, forestry, conservation, or agriculture.

Educational Background:
The position requires candidates to be pursuing or have completed a degree in fields related to resource economics, development finance, environmental sciences, social sciences, public policy, environmental studies, data science, or other relevant disciplines. A strong academic background in these areas will be beneficial for the role.

Experience:
Interns should have some level of experience in research, particularly in contributing to fundamental research processes such as literature reviews, outlining, drafting, and proofreading. Experience in a professional or academic setting that involves data analysis and policy research is preferred, especially in relation to environmental or restoration topics.

Languages:
Verbal and written proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. While working proficiency in additional languages such as French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, or German is desired, it is not a requirement for applicants.

Additional Notes:
This internship is a full-time, 3-month position with a flexible start and end date. The compensation for this internship is $20/hour for undergraduate students, $22/hour for graduate students, and $24/hour for PhD students. The internship is hybrid, requiring the intern to work in the Washington DC office at least 8 days per month. Existing work authorization in the United States is required, as WRI is unable to sponsor visa work sponsorship for this position. Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter by the deadline of October 2, 2026, through the WRI Careers portal to be considered for the role.