Sustainable Livelihoods Undergraduate Intern

Overview

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 – with one million members in the United States and five million supporters globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.

At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine 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 is WWF’s summer internship program. Launched in 2021, it is a paid internship opportunity aimed at a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students who could bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector. In particular, WWF aims to employ interns who have not previously had a breadth of professional experience and have not previously considered conservation as a career pathway.

Position Summary

Interventions designed to support and incentivize sustainable livelihoods and enterprises (for example, beekeeping, fish farming, seaweed aquaculture) are a crucial component of conservation programs worldwide. There are often different motivations for these kinds of investments: They can offer an entry point to partnering and building trust with communities to support conservation; can help meet community needs when conservation disrupts or limits environmental livelihood activities; or build resilience in the face of climate change. However, comprehensive understanding of the contexts within which these types of interventions have been and can be successful, and which can deliver better outcomes for people and nature - is still lacking. This lack of evidence may limit the effectiveness of our current investments in sustainable livelihoods and lead us to miss opportunities to scale impactful programs.

Supervised by members of the WWF-US Oceans Seascapes team, and in partnership with the WWF Global Science team, the intern will review the evidence on sustainable livelihood interventions and document case studies on WWF’s past successes and shortcomings related to sustainable livelihood programming. The internship results will provide a valuable output that contributes to the evidence base for sustainable livelihood interventions and help WWF more effectively address resource degradation, poverty, and inequality with the coastal communities we partner with.

Responsibilities

Internship Description:

Develop a typology of goals for sustainable enterprise investments in conservation and use the typology as a framework to conduct a rapid review of the evidence on the success of conservation and development programs on achieving these goals.

Based on the evidence review, identify 1-2 possible case studies within WWF’s seascape programs to illustrate real-world examples of sustainable livelihood programs and their impacts at WWF.

Develop case studies by gathering and review project documents and strategies on sustainable enterprises and conduct semi-structured interviews with WWF Country/Program Office staff to understand (a) the motivation for sustainable enterprise investments and (b) their perceived social and ecological impact.

Identify local actors in seascapes to inform potential partnerships and funding opportunities.

Summarize findings of the evidence review and case studies in a short report.

Develop a final presentation to be presented to the Oceans team, and country and program offices teams at the end of the internship.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

Pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s program in Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Marine Conservation, or International Development 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 16, 2025).

Strong reading and writing skills.

Experience and/or exposure to conservation science, sustainable development, or related fields in economics/finance (e.g. via coursework).

Displays interpersonal skills to successfully conduct interviews with Country/Program Office Staff, and is proactive and communicative throughout the process.

Ability to work respectfully in a multi-cultural environment.

Eagerness to work collaboratively across a multi-disciplinary team.

Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

Subject expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred, but not required:

Strong interpersonal skills (e.g. the ability to ask interview questions, the ability to be proactive in making connections across WWF offices)

Basic qualitative research skills or experience in presenting information in thoughtful and creative ways. This can be demonstrated through coursework.

Learning Outcomes

Conducting qualitative social research

Project management and coordination

Technical knowledge on sustainable enterprises and community-based conservation

Presentation and communication

Group work and international collaboration

WWF interns will be offered 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 staff and leadership team.

Location:

This position is flexible on location. The intern may complete the internship either in Washington DC or other states, with the exception of: Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

Compensation:

Paid - $20.50 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 16, 2025 to August 22, 2025

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page. In your cover letter, please describe:

Your relevant skills and interest for this position

Your connection to nature and the environment

What obstacles have you experienced trying to break into the field of environmental conservation?

How you could contribute to the field of conservation.

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

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.