IN-26033 Oceans Sustainable Blue Finance Intern

World Wildlife Fund•Washington, DC

About The Position

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is seeking an Oceans Sustainable Blue Finance Intern to support the WWF US Oceans Blue Finance team. This team works at the intersection of ocean conservation and finance, aiming to redirect global capital towards a sustainable blue economy. The intern will research financial institutions' environmental and social risk management (ESRM) practices and policies in key ocean industries like shipping, offshore wind (OSW), and seafood. This research will build upon WWF's ongoing analysis of financial institution policies since 2022. The intern will assess how these practices align with best practices, such as the UNEP FI sustainable blue economy finance principles, and provide insights for WWF's engagement with the financial sector. Additionally, the intern may assist in the development and launch of the Seafood Finance Navigator, a new digital tool designed to enhance the finance sector's capacity for nature-positive oceans. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and cannot be sponsored for employment visas. All new hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. and complete an employment eligibility verification form.

Requirements

Only enrolled students are eligible for this internship as you must be able to receive academic credit from your current academic institution.
Able to work either part time or full time, depending on class schedule and availability.
Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: COURAGE, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, COLLABORATION.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Research and analysis skills, especially related to sustainable finance, environmental and social risk management and associated policies, the blue economy, innovative sustainable finance products.
Interdisciplinary communications skills.
Exposure to other WWF teams such as: Ocean Markets, Blue Foods, Area Based Conservation, Ocean Communications, Private Sector Engagement, Climate.
Opportunity to engage with external WWF partners.

Responsibilities

Conduct desk research (with potential for interviews with key stakeholders) on the business case for sustainable blue finance in the shipping and OSW sectors.
Review annual reports, sustainability reports, sustainable finance frameworks, ESRM policies, and other publicly available documents for a pre-selected target group of FIs financing clients in the shipping, OSW, and seafood sectors, to benchmark current industry practice against a pre-developed “best practice framework”, and identify trends and opportunities to enhance these frameworks and policies.
Conduct market research to support an update to an existing global inventory of blue finance products (blue bonds, sustainability linked loans, debt for nature swaps, etc.) relevant to shipping, OSW, and seafood, and analysis of current market best practice, and key enabling factors to support/incentivize greater blue product uptake (e.g. regulatory, market, other drivers).
Support partner (internal and external) coordination on the early-stage design and development of the Seafood Finance Navigator. This may involve administrative support (meeting coordination, note taking, identification of next steps and responsibilities) as well as content support (drafting of web text, design review, etc.).