World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a Inclusive Conservation Intern.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has a long history of working on community-based conservation and in other ways that are inclusive of diverse stakeholders to achieve our conservation agenda. Since the rollout of our Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) in on-the-ground work between 2019 and the present, WWF has turned its attention to how to not just do no harm but to better do good – e.g., achieve our vision of people living in harmony with nature and our aspirations around the realization of human rights – throughout all of our work and partnerships.

Our vision for diversity, equity and inclusion at WWF is an organization as diverse as the world we protect; where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combines to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible — bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.

Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.

Inclusive Conservation (IC). WWF is launching a new cross-cutting strategy on IC. A quantitative and qualitative baseline – to be completed in September 2023 – will provide a solid foundation of information for strategic next steps to systematically support implementation of IC approaches and monitoring for learning and adaptive program across WWF-US and WWF-US managed and supported offices.

Environmental Justice (EJ). Part and parcel of IC, WWF-US is new to the EJ space. WWF-US is hosting an internal dialogue series about EJ to ensure that staff have a shared understanding of the concept and its relevance to WWF-US’ domestic work. The key vehicle through which this is happening is a quarterly EJ speaker series.

This masters-level intern will help the Director of Inclusive Conservation – Learning Impact and Partnerships to build out next steps based on a qualitative and quantitative IC baseline across 13 WWF offices completed between March and September 2023. The specific projects that the intern will undertake will be co-developed with them based on their interests, skills, and time available. Either project 1 or 2 and at least one other IC project would be required, with illustrative projects including:

1) IC TOOLKIT. Lead a review of identified and additional practitioner tools and guidance related to IC. Collaboratively draft a typology of key approaches along the conservation project cycle and recommend key tools to include in – and gaps that need to be filled – to develop an Inclusive Conservation Toolkit.

2) IC MEL. Systematize and analyze IC indicators, monitoring tools and social learning approaches identified by WWF staff. Systematize and identify opportunities for cross-learning based on baseline survey data. Make recommendations about next steps toward a more robust and consistent approach to social monitoring and learning, including collaboratively developing an “inclusive conservation marker” for monitoring, learning and programmatic quality improvement.

3) FURTHER IC ANALYSES. Pending the identification of an intern with the desired qualifications (e.g., R skills), lead additional quantitative analyses of the IC survey results to inform strategic communications and decision-making.

4) IC PARTNERSHIP RESEARCH. Lead exploratory research to identify gaps in partnerships that would assist WWF-US in realizing our IC strategy and aspirations. Make recommendations about potential domestic (national, DC Maryland/Virginia, Northern Great Plains, Arctic) and international partners related to topics such as human and labor rights organizations and environmental justice, e.g., religious organizations, Indigenous Peoples association, or other community-based organizations.

5) EJ / DECOLONIZATION EVENT PREPARATION. Lead research to lay the groundwork for an environmental justice (EJ) speaker series webinar on decolonization of conservation funding, research, and action.

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated qualitative analysis and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Enrollment in a Master’s degree program with a completed Bachelors’ degree. Relevant areas of study include anthropology, political economy, sociology, human rights, international development, environmental studies, conservation biology, or a similar interdisciplinary, sustainability or social science field.
• Evidence of a commitment to continuous learning and meaningful action around issues related to equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Identifies and aligns with the core values of the WWF organization: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration
  • Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
  • Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
  • Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
  • Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

Desired* qualifications:

• Knowledge of and/or experience with biodiversity conservation and/or participatory methods.
• Study of and/or experience with program or project management, especially monitoring and evaluation.
• Quantitative analysis skills (using R) and data visualization experience.

These qualifications are nice-to-have but by no means required or expected. No candidate will be turned away or should decide against applying because they lack the desired qualifications.

Compensation: Paid, $21 per hour.

*Please note that WWF does not provide VISA sponsorship to interns

US Remote – WWF employs interns in all states with the exception of: Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #IN-24007
• Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.