Intern, Project Development, Natural Infrastructure Initiative, Yale University

WRI Overview 

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being. We are working to address critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade in order to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. 

Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, or other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually-driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs.  

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.   

Natural Infrastructure Initiative Overview 

The WRI Natural Infrastructure Initiative (NII) empowers governments, businesses, utilities, and communities to enhance water security by investing in “natural infrastructure,” like forests and wetlands, to provide essential services like clean and abundant water supply, aquifer recharge and flood control. The Initiative increases investment in nature-based solutions (NBS) to address water security, disaster and operations risk reduction, watershed health, and climate and community resiliency. By engaging watershed stakeholders, water sector managers, policy makers, community organizations, and investors, we pioneer pathways to integrate green and gray infrastructure systems to achieve lower-cost, more resilient, and higher quality service provision and healthier communities. We advise on NBS strategies across multiple scales, from individual infrastructure facilities to entire cities and watersheds. 

Internship Summary 

This internship will support Natural Infrastructure work on two current efforts, the Joint Benefits Authority and the Framework for Nature-based Solutions to Advance Urban Water Resilience. 

WRI is partnering with Encourage Capital (a private equity firm) and the San Francisco Public Utility Commission to develop and pilot  the Joint Benefits Authority tool, a new mechanism that capitalizes on the shared benefits of integrated infrastructure by quantifying the range of benefits that cross city agency mandates. The goal is to build resilient public infrastructure that strengthens communities, particularly those in underserved and environmental justice areas, by capturing co-benefits inherent in integrated solutions. 

WRI is testing a rapid planning process and developing a guidance document to help cities think through how to select and design NBS solutions to address the multiple water and heat risks while making the best use of the limited resources. This approach will help cities systematically (1) assess their heat and water risks and map their natural, human and built assets, (2) assess and select the NBS types most suitable for their geographic and built context and most effective to mitigate their risks and address their needs, and (3) identify preliminary costing and financing assessment based on resources available and potential funding opportunities to explore. This process will be tested in multiple cities in Africa with the guidance document will allow replication in cities across the globe. 

The intern will work closely with WRI experts to support the development of these projects to advance natural infrastructure and water resilience for cities. The intern will contribute research, data analysis, writing and presentation development to further the JBA and Urban NBS Framework projects, along with the larger NII program goals for developing knowledge materials, investment strategies and collaboration for resilient natural infrastructure solutions for cities.  

The application deadline for this position is Friday, March 12, 2021. 

Learning Outcomes  

• Build knowledge in urban water management, green infrastructure, and integrated resilient infrastructure solutions.  
• Learn suite of innovative governance and finance tools for urban resilience. 
• Develop skills in research, writing, and project management. 

The intern will gain experience in the following areas:  

• Supporting cities in pursuing joint benefit infrastructure projects with multiple partners that address climate impacts by scaling nature-based solutions. Research to support decision-making on project development and preparation of briefs and other materials to share knowledge. 
• Learning about the value of nature-based solutions, the multi-benefits that different technologies provide, feasibility characteristics, and associated costs. Supporting the development of a framework to help cities identify and pursue nature-based solutions for water resilience. 
• Developing communications and engagement skills, and applying them to support project planning, including coauthoring a blog or blog series and development of outreach materials. 

Internship Qualifications 

• University Sponsored: You must be a graduate student currently enrolled in the Yale School of Environment returning for Fall of 2021. 
• Comfortable interning remotely, self-motivated and responsible  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently with minimal supervision as well as part of a team 
• Strong organizational, analytical and strategic skills, as well as creative, flexible thinking 
• Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Microsoft Office proficiency 

General Internship Requirements 

• Applicants must have personal health insurance coverage.  
• U.S. work authorization is required for this opportunity. WRI does not sponsor interns for visas. 

Compensation  

• University Sponsored: Students will receive compensation from their university program.   

Duration and Location  

• This is a full-time summer internship with start date options of May 17, June 1, or June 16, 2021 based on the student’s availability and need for the project.   
• This is a remote-based internship with the option to work out of the Washington D.C. office once it reopens.    
• WRI will provide a laptop for the duration of your internship. 

How to Apply 

Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. The application deadline for this position is Friday, March 12, 2021. 

The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org) is an environmental and development research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people’s lives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is WRI’s policy to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, protected veteran status, or disability. WRI’s global agenda requires a staff that is diverse – with respect to race, gender, cultural, and international background. Diverse perspectives and experience enhance the way WRI selects and approaches issues, as well as the creativity and applicability of WRI’s policy research and analysis. WRI, therefore, encourages applications from U.S. minorities, persons from other countries (especially developing nations), and from women of all backgrounds.