WWF Overview

For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in more than 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – more than one million supporters in the United States and five million globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.

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.

BRIDGE – Building Relationships, Inclusivity, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence

WWF’s diversity-focused internship program, BRIDGE, aims to recruit professionals early in their careers who bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental and conservation sector and are well positioned to develop into the next generation of leaders. Our mission is to increase exposure of students from underrepresented populations to conservation and environmental careers, provide professional development opportunities, reduce the barriers to attracting a diverse pool of internship candidates, and develop a pipeline for future WWF hires from underrepresented populations.

Position Summary

World Wildlife Fund was accredited by the Global Environment Facility as a GEF Agency in 2013. The WWF GEF Agency builds on a global network of WWF offices, and over the past 10 years has worked with governments, CSOs, and local communities to develop a portfolio of over 30 GEF projects.

WWF GEF Agency is developing a number of project concepts for climate adaptation funding (LDCF and SCCF) and is also conducting climate risk screenings on environment project concepts. The intern will support WWF GEF Agency project managers and associated teams (in WWF country offices) to develop climate rationale for adaptation projects and climate risk screens for other project concepts and will engage in project development. Additionally, with a growing portfolio in both size and complexity, the WWF GEF Team is also seeking assistance from the intern to provide project support, including knowledge management, technical document input or review, document filing and administrative support. The intern will work with a team of nine people who work full time with the WWF GEF Agency, both based in the DC office and remote locations.

• Conduct climate change impact desktop research and analyze results in order to support and inform the development of international project concepts, with special focus on climate adaptation for vulnerable communities. This could include project climate risk analyses based on the agency’s climate risk tool, to inform environment projects, and climate projections and development of a project’s adaptation rationale for climate adaptation projects;
• Engage in project development for specific projects;
• Knowledge generation and management, including review of the GEF database for projects on specific topics, research best practices, including climate adaptation;
• Support the team in migrating certain content from the M-Drive to projects’ shared folders;
• Assist teammates with the design and creation of PowerPoint Presentations, network communications and internal documents;
• Support project teams in the development of project documents;
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s program in climate change and adaptation, natural resources management, international development, social or environmental sciences, and conservation policy. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 17, 2024).
• Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a team in a high paced, dynamic environment
• Attention to detail and organizational and time management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience (or interest in) working cross-culturally
• Experience reading and synthesizing, research and analyzing
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interest in or experience on international development project and/or climate change issues
  • Second language of French or Spanish
  • Experience with multimedia design and training software

Learning Outcomes

• Experience conducting climate risk screening of environmental projects
  • Experience developing climate rationale for climate adaptation projects
  • Understanding of the Global Environment Facility and how to develop large, complex international projects
  • Deeper understanding of climate impacts in real projects
  • Project management skills
  • Experience working in an INGO

WWF interns will be provided a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes:

• Development discussions with their manager;
• Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program;
• Speed mentoring with different WWF teams;
• Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff;
• Session on resume and interviewing best practices.

Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s CEO, the senior management team, Employee Resource Groups, and representatives from other departments.

Location:

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

Compensation:

Paid – $17 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 17, 2024 to August 23, 2024

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page, Requisition #BR-2434

In your cover letter, please describe your relevant skills and experience for this position and include a discussion of 1) how you have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and 2) what you hope to gain from the internship.

If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.

*Please note that interns must have U.S. work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa.

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.