The Land and Resource Rights Initiative in WRI’s Center for Equity aims to enable people-centered transformations of human systems (food, land, water, cities, energy) through securing the land tenure of women, men, indigenous peoples and local communities towards protecting nature and climate.

Land and resource tenure sets the parameters on how land and resources are used, managed and governed and this has a direct bearing on how well can deal with the global climate crisis and on how we can ensure human wellbeing. Often, Indigenous People or local defenders trying to protect their communities’ right to land face threats from governmental, and private sector actors including defamation, physical attacks, judicial harassment, and killings.

Yet, actions on tenure are largely absent from climate and nature strategies and plans. Your work as an intern with the Land and Resource Rights Initiative will support tools, analysis, and actions to help secure land tenure globally.

What you will do:

In this role, you will support research and analysis for the Landmark platform, and/or assist with legal, policy and secondary literature desk research that supports the agenda of recognizing, promoting and protecting the rights of land connected peoples, including defenders, and support raising the visibility of WRI’s Land and Resource initiative internally and externally.

Your internship supervisor will be Elisa Scalise, Director, Land and Resource Rights Initiative.

Responsibility area #1 (50% time)
Assisting with demand generation and demonstrative research using the Landmark platform; support for upcoming Landmark 2.0 launch events in Colombia and NY; review and categorization of data; and other research and support as required.

Responsibility area #2 (50% time)
Assisting with legal, policy, secondary literature desk research on background and context and for

• potential co authors for analysis that links biodiversity and deforestation data to lands that are held by afro-descendant communities in Latin America; and assisting with research for a study of consensus among land rights practitioners about progress made on land rights actions towards sustainable development and climate.
• root causes or drivers of violence against environmental and land defenders including key policy gaps and implementation challenges to help the Equity Center develop a problem statement and theory of change for future institutional work.

What you will need:

• Familiarity with GIS and analysis of geo-spatial data.
• Experience with legal, policy, economic, and/or social science research and analysis.
• Experience drafting memorandums, literature reviews, or other documents summarizing literature.
• Familiarity with conducting key-informant interviews and drafting notes and findings.
• Experience interacting with partners or external stakeholders in a professional capacity.
• Currently pursuing a degree in social science, law, geography or related field (graduate program preferred).
• Interns at WRI Europe must be registered in a study program with a Dutch college or university for the full duration of the internship.
• Competency in Spanish or Portuguese will be helpful

Conditions of the internship:

• This is a 4 to 6-month internship with a start date of September 16 2024.
• This internship will be based at the WRI Europe office in the Hague with some flexibility to work from home.
• This internship offers a reimbursement of 700 euros per month based on full-time working hours (32 hours per week).

How to apply:
Please submit a resume and cover by 21 July 2024. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. You are encouraged to link to any relevant blogs, projects or other pieces of work that demonstrate your suitability for the internship.

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.

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.

Our culture:
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. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team carefully reviews all applications.