Landscape Restoration Intern - World Resources Institute - Washington, DC

This internship will provide an excellent opportunity to apply research, analytical, communication, and professional skills. The intern will gain strong insights on landscape restoration of degraded lands in Latin America with special focus in Brazil by working directly with experts of national and regional offices, and will receive ongoing guidance from the reporting supervisor. This work is expected to inform public decision-makers to land use plans and strategies. This study will also provide information to private impact investors to identify potential cost and benefits of restoration practices in Brazil.

Initiative 20×20 is a country-led effort to bring 20 million hectares of degraded lands in Latin America and the Caribbean into the process of restoration by 2020. The Initiative, launched formally at COP 20 in Lima, is supporting the Bonn Challenge, a global commitment to restore 150 million hectares of land around the world by 2020, and the New York Declaration on Forests that seeks to restore 350 million hectares by 2030. Initiative 20×20 currently has 11 countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru) and three federal States in Brazil (Espirito Santo, Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso).

This regional restoration movement is part of the Global Restoration Initiative that works to combine existing principles and techniques of development, conservation, and natural resource management. Restoring lost forests and degraded lands is essential for human livelihoods and well-being, long-term food security, climate stability, and biodiversity conservation. In order to counteract land degradation and to improve livelihoods, we need to restore degraded forests and increase the productivity of existing agricultural land at the same time.

Responsibilities

The intern will gain experience in the following areas:
Assisting the 20×20 team with several work streams.

Helping conduct research to support the development of economic analyses of Restoration Opportunity Assessment Methodology being applied in Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo by WRI Brasil

Exploring initial collaboration with Mato Grosso State.

Helping perform a financial analysis of restoration of degraded landscapes by identifying different restoration strategies, including agroforestry, silvopastures and reforestation and investigating the cost and benefits associated to them.

Other Areas:
Writing case studies

Conducting research

Conducting literature reviews

Reviewing publications

Assisting in the development of funding proposals

Reviewing funding proposals

Assisting in organizing and analyzing data

Writing

Contributing to blogs

Editing/proofreading

Developing outreach materials

Supporting online communications

Assisting with media research

Providing general administrative support

Working with other WRI teams to implement . . .

Conducting a detailed scoping to develop strategies for . . .

Supporting project development

Qualifications

Degree: Currently enrolled in the Harvard Kennedy School MPA/ID degree only

Experience in developing economic assessments and financial analysis in natural resources

Excellent research skills

Excellent writing skills

Strong oral communications skills

Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team

Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner

Experience in working with international organizations or financial institutions preferred

Familiarity with MS Office suite

Ability to work calmly and enthusiastically under high pressure

Ability to think creatively

Flexible

Extremely well organized and efficient

Highly responsible, self-motivated

Extremely well organized and efficient

Proficiency in Portuguese and Spanish highly preferred

Experience with GIS is highly preferred

WRI does not sponsor interns for visas of any kind. Must have U.S. work authorization to work in the U.S. and must have the ability to gain work authorization in India in order to apply for this position.

This position is contingent to the student receiving full funding from Harvard University that covers all expenses.

Final candidate will be required to take a writing test

Finalists will need to submit 2 writing samples

Duration: 3 Months (June 2016 – August 2016)

Location: Washington, DC and Sao Paulo, Brazil

Qualified applicants should apply online at www.wri.org/careers . All applications must be submitted online through this career portal in order to be formally considered.

The World Resources Institute ( http://www.wri.org/wri ) 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.

About WRI

Established in 1982, WRI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization respected globally by policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and corporate leaders.

WRI’s reputation is grounded in its excellent analysis, non-partisan approach, and high-impact results. We measure our success based on how our work helps to create real-world change on the ground—and approach we call “Managing for Results.”

WRI’s work is united by and driven by our values: Innovation, Integrity, Urgency, Independence, and Respect.

WRI fosters a culture of innovative ideas, working collaboratively, and thinking independently. WRI employees are driven by the organization’s mission and have the satisfaction of helping to create a more prosperous and healthy planet.

Learn more about our organization at www.wri.org .

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