About the Program:

The Data Lab exists to inspire and fuel data innovation, product development, and technical infrastructure for World Resources Institute (WRI) and our community. We work with our partners to use advances in data and technology to improve lives, protect nature, and ensure just transitions. The Data Lab is composed of WRI’s core Engineering, Product, and Data teams and supports a wide network of quantitative researchers, data scientists and policy analysts embedded across the organization.

The Data Lab’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team has two main objectives:

1. Track the internal successes and value-add of the Data Lab to WRI.
2. Build capacity (through research and guidance) for monitoring and evaluating the real-world impact of data projects at WRI and beyond.

Data Lab’s work is divided into 5 workstreams (Strategy, Data Science, Engineering, Product Innovation, and Enterprise Products). While each workstream lead is responsible for tracking the output and delivery of their objectives, the MEL team is focused on assessing the quality, relevance, and impact of that work.

This position is remote-eligible and only for consideration within the United States where WRI is state registered.

What you will do:

In this position, you will provide qualitative research and analysis support to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for WRI’s Data Lab, ensuring that the initiatives it supports are responding to strategic priorities and effecting real-world impact. Specifically, your research will contribute to the understanding of the social, political, policy, and cultural contexts and implications of two Data Lab clients, feeding into actionable recommendations for their theories of change, baseline surveys, and indicators. The Data Lab’s ‘clients’ are typically internal start-up or experimental projects being scoped within WRI’s programs, centers and country offices who are looking to refine their products and fundraise.

Note: The Data Lab’s project clients are to be decided by the end of September 2023. Thematic areas may include energy access, urban resilience, forests, etc.

Internship Learning Outcomes:

As an intern, you will gain experience in the following areas:

• “Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning” as a field within international development, including tools like Theories of Change, Results Frameworks, and DevResults software.
• Applying approaches like rapid social analysis, political economy analysis, and stakeholder mapping.
• Strategy design of data-for-good interventions in the climate space.
• Equity and gender considerations in data and technology interventions. This involves analyzing the ways in which data is collected, analyzed, interpreted, and distributed.
• Turning contextual research into actionable project management guidance.
• Communication and collaboration with a range of experts, from technology, climate, management, and international development, as well as staff from different countries.

What you will need:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in public policy, international development, sociology, anthropology, or other related social sciences.
• Familiarity with desk research and applying approaches like political economy analysis and stakeholder mapping.
• An interest in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and innovation.
• No prior experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning required.
• Comfortable interning remotely.

Compensation

The pay for this internship opportunity is $20 for undergrads and $22 for graduates.

Length of Contract:

This is a part-time (20 hours per week), three-month internship with a flexible start and end date.

Location:

• 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:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by September 3, 2023. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

About Us: Founded in 1982, 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 seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, and 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, racial, and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence, Respect.