Intern, Research, Sustainable Finance Center, University of Chicago

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.   

Finance Center Overview 

Finance is indispensable to addressing WRI’s Six Global Challenges.  WRI’s Finance Center, one of 3 Centers at WRI, focuses on deploying analysis and policy entrepreneurship to influence the financial system in ways that shift capital flows toward more environmentally-sustainable investments and away from unsustainable ones.  The Center’s work is organized around five key themes: 

• Enabling NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) implementation; 
• Promoting sustainable private-sector finance; 
• Strengthening public financial institutions; 
• Promoting resilience and adaptation finance; and 
• Encouraging the United States and China to be sustainable finance champions. 

Internship Summary 

Since 2011, Multilateral Development Banks have provided nearly $200 billion in finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation (so-called “climate finance”).  However, while climate finance is important, it makes up less than a quarter of all finance provided by the MDBs.  It is critical that all finance is aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, which calls on Parties to respond to climate change by  “making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development (2.1c). ”   

In order to operationalize the Paris Agreement’s 2.1c, the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have identified six building blocks for alignment:  mitigation, adaptation, reporting, policy support, reporting, and internal operations. National and bilateral development banks (NDBs) that are members of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC) have similarly outlined their intent to align their portfolios to support the agreement. The Finance Center engages in a variety of work focused on ensuring that MDBs implement their commitments to Paris alignment thoroughly, using rigorous tools and strategies, and encouraging increased climate action among NDBs.   

The intern will support the Finance Center’s work related to MDBs, NDBs, and Paris alignment.  He/she will conduct desk research, collect data, and contribute to publications in support of this work, contribute to communications products on this work, and assist in outreach and planning for Finance Center events. In this role, the intern will liaise with representative of the MDBs, our NGO partners, and other stakeholders.  Additionally, the intern will have the opportunity to be integrated into the broader the Sustainable Finance Center team and learn about the wider portfolio of work on sustainable finance at WRI.  

Learning Outcomes 

The intern will gain experience in the following areas:  

The candidate will deepen her/his knowledge of development finance institutions and climate change, including frameworks, mandates, and processes of Paris alignment at the MDBs and NDBs; the architecture of climate finance; and the impact of stakeholder engagement on development finance institutions.  

Responsibilities include:  

Research and Analysis (70%)   

• Reviewing and synthesizing publicly available documents, peer-reviewed articles, and white papers;  
• Collecting quantitative data (e.g. financial flows and commitments of development finance institutions) and performing basic analyses in Excel;  
• Drafting sections of WRI publications. 

Communications and Outreach (30%)  

• Assisting in creating PowerPoint presentations showcasing research findings;  
• Contributing to the development of communication materials for the Finance Center;  
• Supporting convenings and engagement with partners, donors, and other relevant stakeholders.  

Internship Qualifications 

• University Sponsored: You must be a student currently enrolled in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago returning for Fall 2021. 
• Excellent research and writing skills, including strong ability to present complex information in a clear, concise, and cogent manner.  
• Familiarity and/or experience with climate finance, international climate policy, and development finance institutions, preferred.  
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.  
• Ability to problem solve and think creatively.  
• Detail oriented, well organized, and efficient.  

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 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.