WRI Restoration Finance & Policy Intern 2026: Full-Time Internship in Washington, DC with Up to $24/Hour

The World Resources Institute (WRI) Restoration Finance & Policy Intern – Global Restoration Initiative offers an opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates interested in resource economics, development finance, environmental sciences, social sciences, public policy, environmental studies, data science, and related fields.

The internship is part of WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative, which works to support people and organizations restoring degraded land and to develop financing and policy approaches that can scale restoration efforts.

Based in Washington, DC, this is a full-time, three-month hybrid internship requiring interns to work from the WRI office at least 8 days per month. The role provides practical exposure to restoration finance, policy analysis, research, data analysis, partnerships, and proposal development.

The stated application deadline is October 2, 2026, although the job listing also displays an application end date of October 3, 2026. Applicants should therefore submit their materials by the earlier stated deadline of October 2, 2026.

WRI Restoration Finance & Policy Intern: Overview

The internship sits within WRI’s Global Restoration Initiative, which informs, enables, and invests in people working to restore degraded land.

The initiative’s flagship investment program for locally led enterprises and community nonprofits, TerraFund, currently finances, trains, and monitors more than 200 growing organizations across:

• Africa
• Latin America
• South Asia

The broader restoration strategy also includes the Restore Local initiative, which supports locally led restoration efforts through a portfolio of more than USD 60 million in projects in selected priority landscapes in Africa, Brazil, and India.

These investments include:

• Grant-funded projects
• Debt investments
• Equity investments
• First-loss investment tranches in blended investment funds

The Restoration team is also working to develop replicable finance structures and partnerships that can bring more public and private capital into restoration projects that produce outcomes for people, nature, and climate.

The intern will contribute to this broader work while gaining practical experience in restoration finance and policy.

About the Global Restoration Initiative

The Global Restoration Initiative focuses on helping restore degraded land while strengthening the systems and investments needed to make restoration more effective and scalable.

The team works across areas including:

• Land restoration
• Finance
• Policy
• Data
• Partnerships
• Investment
• Research
• Community-led restoration

The internship supports two major pillars of the initiative:

Invest

The Invest pillar focuses on piloting innovative blended finance models that can help attract additional capital toward restoration.

Enable

The Enable pillar focuses on creating the political, economic, and social conditions necessary for impactful and lasting restoration.

The intern will have opportunities to support work across both areas.

What Will the Intern Do?

The intern will contribute to research, analysis, project support, and programmatic activities.

The exact activities will depend on the intern’s learning interests and the needs of the Restoration team.

Current areas of work can include:

• Piloting outcome finance models for restoration.
• Engaging potential buyers and government stakeholders.
• Developing national payment-for-ecosystem-services policies.
• Supporting the onboarding of new TerraFund investees.
• Investor engagement.
• Data analysis.
• Policy analysis.
• Research and literature reviews.
• Development of communications materials.
• Support for program activities.

The internship will primarily focus on the team’s portfolio in Africa, while also supporting preliminary research into opportunities in Europe.

The intern will report to the Restoration Policy Analyst and the Restoration Finance Project Manager.

Internship Learning Outcomes

A major component of the position is learning through practical involvement in WRI’s restoration work.

1. Learn About Restoration Projects, Policy, Finance, and Outcomes

The intern will learn about restoration projects and the wider restoration sector through activities such as:

• Data analysis
• Desktop research
• Literature reviews
• Product support
• Communications materials
• Participation in Restoration team activities

This provides exposure to the relationship between restoration projects, financing mechanisms, public policy, and measurable outcomes.

2. Research the European Restoration Economy

The intern will conduct a stock-take of the European Restoration Economy.

The position also involves supporting stakeholder event coordination.

The broader objective is to contribute toward developing a fundable concept of WRI’s contribution to the restoration economy in Europe.

3. Support Policy Research and Analysis

The intern will contribute to policy research related to nature restoration.

Activities may include:

• Drafting briefs
• Conducting desktop reviews
• Synthesizing research
• Copyediting
• Supporting policy development
• Supporting engagement around relevant policy issues

This provides practical exposure to how research can be translated into policy-oriented materials.

4. Contribute to Research Design

The intern will also support research design and methodology.

This can involve:

• Developing approaches for data collection.
• Supporting data analysis methodologies.
• Organizing research materials.
• Managing literature.
• Organizing drafts and references.
• Using WRI file management tools.

Areas of Experience You Can Gain

The internship provides exposure to several professional areas.

Land Restoration

Interns will become familiar with projects and businesses working to restore degraded land.

This can provide an understanding of the practical challenges and opportunities involved in land restoration.

Partnership Building

The intern will participate in calls with programmatic partners and contribute to activities that require communication across teams.

This provides experience working within collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments.

Restoration Finance

Interns will undertake research and analysis related to restoration finance and provide hands-on support to funded projects.

This can include exposure to different funding mechanisms and financing structures for restoration.

Policy Analysis

The position involves researching and synthesizing policy issues related to land restoration and supporting the development of issue briefs and other policy documents.

Proposal Development

Interns can contribute to research and writing for Restoration team partnership and funding proposals.

This provides experience in developing written materials intended to support partnerships and funding opportunities.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to:

• Undergraduate students
• Graduate students
• Recent graduates

Applicants should have a focus or interest in one or more relevant areas, including:

• Resource economics
• Development finance
• Environmental sciences
• Social sciences
• Public policy
• Environmental studies
• Data science
• Related fields

The position is particularly suited to candidates who want to explore the relationship between environmental restoration, finance, policy, research, and sustainable development.

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants should be comfortable communicating insights derived from data analysis.

The position also values experience with both quantitative and qualitative research.

Relevant experience includes:

• Quantitative data analysis
• Qualitative data analysis
• Research
• Literature reviews
• Outlining
• Drafting
• Proofreading
• Data organization
• Working independently
• Working as part of a team
• Prioritizing tasks
• Managing deadlines

Experience with data tools such as Excel or R, or similar tools, is preferred.

Research Background

Applicants should have some background in research and familiarity with fundamental research processes.

This can include experience with:

• Literature reviews
• Research organization
• Drafting
• Outlining
• Proofreading
• Research synthesis

The ability to take information from different sources and organize it into clear research outputs is relevant to the position.

Environmental and Restoration Knowledge

An understanding of areas such as the following is a plus:

• Ecosystem restoration
• Land use
• Forestry
• Conservation
• Agriculture
• Related environmental sectors

Applicants may demonstrate this understanding through academic study, professional experience, research, projects, or other relevant experience.

European Policy and Economic Research

Experience with economic and policy research in the European context is listed as an advantage.

However, the position’s primary portfolio focus is on Africa, with preliminary research also being conducted into European opportunities.

Language Requirements

English proficiency is required, both verbally and in writing.

Working proficiency in any of the following languages is desired but not required:

• French
• Spanish
• Dutch
• Danish
• German

Applicants do not need to have these additional languages if they meet the other requirements.

Work Authorization Requirement

Existing authorization to work in the United States is required at the time of application submission.

WRI states that it is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Applicants should therefore confirm that they already have the necessary U.S. work authorization before applying.

Location and Working Arrangement

The position is based in Washington, DC.

It is an Office Flex or hybrid position.

Interns are required to work from the Washington, DC office for at least:

8 days per month

There is also a specific geographic requirement:

Applicants must be residents of DC, Maryland, or Virginia at the start of employment.

Therefore, candidates should meet both the residency and work-authorization requirements.

Internship Duration

The internship is:

• Full-time
• Three months
• Hybrid
• Based in Washington, DC
• Flexible regarding the exact start and end dates

The flexibility around the start and end dates may allow the internship schedule to be coordinated with the selected candidate’s circumstances, subject to WRI’s requirements.

Compensation

The internship provides hourly compensation based on educational level:

The position is full-time for three months.

About World Resources Institute

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent research organization working on environmental sustainability and human well-being.

Its stated areas of work include systems such as:

• Food
• Land
• Water
• Energy
• Cities

WRI reports having more than 2,000 staff, working on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in more than 50 nations.

The organization’s mission is focused on helping human society live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its ability to provide for present and future generations.

WRI’s Values

The organization identifies five shared values:

1. Independence
2. Integrity
3. Impact
4. Partnership
5. Care

These values form part of WRI’s organizational culture and approach to its work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

WRI states that it is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being through its mission and employment practices.

The organization states that qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to characteristics including:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Sex
• National origin
• Age
• Caste
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity and expression
• Disability
• Protected veteran status

WRI also states that it seeks interns from diverse backgrounds who are intellectually driven and passionate about sustainability and development.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit:

• A resume
• A cover letter

Applications must be submitted through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

Apply for the Restoration Finance & Policy Intern position

Application Deadline

October 2, 2026

The job listing also displays an end date of October 3, 2026, but the application instructions specifically state that applicants should submit their resume and cover letter by October 2, 2026.

WRI also notes that it may close the application earlier if it receives a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

Applicants should therefore avoid waiting until the final day.

How to Prepare Your Application

Candidates can strengthen their application by clearly connecting their experience and academic interests to the work described in the position.

Tailor Your Resume

Highlight relevant experience in areas such as:

• Environmental research
• Policy research
• Finance
• Economics
• Data analysis
• Sustainability
• Land restoration
• Conservation
• Agriculture
• Research and writing

Demonstrate Research Skills

The position involves literature reviews, desktop research, policy analysis, data analysis, drafting, and proofreading.

Applicants should therefore make relevant research experience easy to identify.

Highlight Data Skills

If you have experience with Excel, R, or similar tools, clearly identify it on your resume.

Connect Your Interests to Restoration

Applicants can explain their interest in restoration, nature-based solutions, sustainable development, climate, land use, conservation, or related issues.

Address the Policy and Finance Components

Because this internship combines restoration with finance and policy, applicants may benefit from highlighting experiences that demonstrate an interest in both areas.

Important Requirements at a Glance

Before applying, candidates should make sure they understand the key conditions:

• Full-time internship
• Three-month contract
• Washington, DC location
• Hybrid/Office Flex arrangement
• Minimum 8 days per month in the DC office
• Must reside in DC, Maryland, or Virginia at the start of employment
• Existing U.S. work authorization required
• No visa sponsorship available
• Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates can apply
• Relevant academic interests include environmental sciences, public policy, development finance, resource economics, data science, social sciences, and related fields
• English proficiency required
• Additional European languages desired but not required
• Resume and cover letter required
• Application through WRI Careers
• Application deadline: October 2, 2026

Conclusion

The WRI Restoration Finance & Policy Intern, Global Restoration Initiative offers a three-month, full-time opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain practical experience at the intersection of land restoration, environmental policy, finance, research, data analysis, and sustainable development.

The internship provides exposure to restoration projects across Africa, research into the European restoration economy, innovative financing mechanisms, policy development, partnership building, and proposal development.

Successful interns can gain experience working alongside professionals in geospatial science, finance, and international policy while contributing to efforts designed to increase investment in restoration that benefits people, nature, and climate.

The position is based in Washington, DC and requires at least eight days of office work each month. Candidates must already have U.S. work authorization and must be residents of DC, Maryland, or Virginia at the start of employment.

Interested candidates should prepare a tailored resume and cover letter and apply through the WRI Careers portal before October 2, 2026.

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