Senior Program Associate, Climate Program

About us

WRI India, an independent charity legally registered as the India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being.

We are inspired by and associated with World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research organization. Currently, over 250 researchers are working with WRI India in our offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Our mission and values:

Our 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 and Respect.

Our culture:

We are committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

About WRI India’s Climate Program

At WRI India’s Climate Program we focus on cutting-edge, robust research and integrated solutions that can enable a low-carbon transition in India, while ensuring that the transition is equitable and just for its people and protects natural resources. Through applied research, the use of frameworks and tools, partnerships with key stakeholders and ground-level implementation, we seek to achieve impact at scale.

Overview of the role

India has set for itself ambitious decarbonization targets that can put the country on a low carbon development pathway. While this climate ambition must also ensure that India meets its developmental targets and raises the standard of living of all its people, climate change impacts are already affecting communities and must be addressed. Additionally, while low carbon shifts in our energy systems, industries, and transport can bring in better economic, job and development outcomes at the aggregate levels, if not managed well, they could also disproportionately and negatively impact the livelihoods of the most vulnerable – including informal workers, small businesses, low-income households, and women.

Taking cognizance of this, WRI India’s research is aimed at supporting policymakers on policy planning and implementation through economic modelling, policy analysis, developing tools and guidance, conducting vulnerability assessments, stakeholder engagement, capacity building and skilling interventions. WRI India is also working actively on building a thriving and resilient MSME sector in India by reducing their vulnerability to climate change, building capacity on undertaking climate action, accessing technology and finance for decarbonization, and preparing MSMEs for the low carbon transition though targeted, sector-specific skilling programs.

In this regard, the Climate Program at WRI India is seeking a dynamic Senior Project Associate for its ongoing intervention with the Indian MSME sector to build their resilience towards impacts of climate change, build their capacity to decarbonize and stay competitive in the low carbon economy and support a “just” transition by identifying skilling needs and developing skilling programs and building capacity on accessing climate finance. The Senior Project Associate will play a critical role in: (a) successfully engaging with MSMEs, policymakers, local partners and other relevant stakeholders, (b) conducting research and implementation of the project, (c) draw key insights and provide recommendations to meet the objectives and deliver impact, and (d) facilitate on-ground activities at the state or cluster level.

How your day will unfold:

The Senior Program Associate will undertake a range of tasks as listed below:

• Help in building and nurturing relationships with MSMEs, local governmental, industry and MSME organizations, educational institutions, associations, and communities we work with across projects
• Lead focused interviews, consultations, discussions, and other engagement with cluster associations, MSME units in the clusters, skill development partners, experts, policy makers and government officials as needed throughout the project
• Conduct secondary research to complement the interviews and consultations to identify and map existing vulnerabilities, risks, skilling needs and impact on women
• Conduct and support data collection, data analysis and present analysis to relevant internal and external stakeholders
• Lead coordination and dissemination of capacity building activities
• Organize events/conferences/ trainings/webinars that WRI India hosts or participates in
• Support project by ensuring timely completion of activities and high-quality deliverables
• Write compelling and persuasive research products, articles, and blogs, and provide research and content development support, as needed
• Keep abreast of industry trends, policy landscape and sectoral developments
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Project Lead and Climate Program Director

Qualifications and requirements we seek:

• Postgraduate degree/ Masters degree in Social Sciences, Economics, or Public Policy
• At least 4 years of relevant industry experience, preferably in relation to environmental/climate change interventions, including experience with MSMEs, or local communities
• Willingness to travel to MSME clusters for research and engagement
• Awareness of environment and climate domain – key issues and trends
• Excellent interpersonal skills; good communications and writing skills
• Willingness to learn and develop new skills to work on cutting edge research
• Ability to engage constructively and collaboratively with the team members and a strong sense of respect for the team members and stakeholders
• Responsible, resourceful, and self-motivated
• Fluent in Tamil and English