Program Research Analyst - Restoration Finance

WRI India is seeking a Program Research Analyst for Restoration Finance in New Delhi. The role involves supporting sustainable food and land use systems, focusing on landscape restoration and climate mitigation. Candidates should have a master's in business, finance, or economics, along with two years of relevant experience. WRI India promotes equitable development and values diversity in its workforce.
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 at Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s 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:

WRI is 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

Program Overview for Food, Land and Water:

WRI India’s Food, Land and Water program aims to inform India’s transition towards sustainable and resilient food and land use systems focusing on developing interdisciplinary nature-based solutions like landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture to mitigate climate impacts, enhance jobs and livelihoods and improve nutritional security. To catalyse systems, change with a focus on circular food systems in India, we also focus on developing equitable strategies to reduce food loss and food waste and mitigate climate impacts.

With broader systems change and food systems perspective, we work with diverse stakeholders like governments, businesses, civil society partners and farmer producer organizations to inform and develop land use strategies based on robust evidence and analysis to build the resilience of local communities to mitigate climate impacts, bridge capacity gaps, monitor progress, and inform a pathway to building a restoration economy for people, nature, and climate.

Job Highlight:

Landscape approach to restoration is gaining momentum in India as a strategy that delivers multiple benefits, including food and water security, biodiversity enhancement, job creation, livelihood improvements and climate change mitigation and adaptation. To achieve impact at scale, restoration efforts need to be funded by philanthropy, CSR, bilateral grants, and private finance. This requires a blended finance approach to mitigate the risks inherent in this early sector, and to ensure available finance is appropriate for restoration business models. Restoration businesses deliver a range of products (e.g., fruits, bamboo) and services (e.g., water, carbon, biodiversity).

As part of this program, WRI India is looking to recruit a Program Research Analyst (Restoration Finance) with a master’s degree in business, finance or economics, with at least two years of full time, relevant post-study work experience of their skills in natural resource management field.

You will work with the restoration team, international offices, and partner organizations to support Food, Land and Water (FLW) programs related to finance and market, this includes support in execution of restoration strategy on finance, support with research on use cases for blended finance, support with external engagement and communication.

What you will do:

Executing restoration finance strategy and projects (70%)
• Support the execution of restoration finance and markets projects, from launch to completion, ensuring adherence to timelines, scope, financial compliance, quality standards.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of restoration finance projects, ensuring effective financial disbursement, risk management, and adherence to funding agency requirements.
• Develop financial models and instruments to unlock funding for restoration, and its alignment with public funding
• Support with comprehensive investment strategies, including identifying key public, private, and blended finance sources and modalities for restoration projects.
• Explore knowledge gaps where WRI India’s research can improve the quality and quantity of restoration finance available.
• Monitor relevant international and national finance landscape, identifying strategic opportunities for the program to develop blending finance mechanisms
• Co-author knowledge products (e.g., reports, briefs, data-products)
• Identifying key public, private, and blended finance sources for restoration projects

Program Management (20%)
• Develop and implement work plans and procedures that enhance project delivery.
• Assist with internal capacity building through workshops, training, and knowledge-sharing events focused on restoration finance.
• Assist with ensuring compliance with reporting requirements for donors and other partners by preparing narrative reports and other materials to enhance donor relations and support with fundraising

Partnership and engagement (10%)
• Attend external meetings and travel related to ongoing projects.
• Understand and promote the tools and solutions offered by the FLW program
• Write and edit material including blog posts, op-eds, e-blasts and other compelling communications that serves to translate technical material for various audiences.

What you will need:
• Master’s degree in Business, Finance or Economics
• At least two years of work experience preferably in the environment, land use or development sector
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proven track record of analysis, writing and working with interdisciplinary teams
• Data-driven approach to decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with multiple partners.

Potential Salary and Benefits: 9,50,000 to 12,50,000 CTC Per Annum

Salary shall be commensurate with experience and skills. WRI offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.

Location: New Delhi India

Duration: 1 Year (extendable based on performance and project requirements). The start date is as soon as possible.

List of Documents to be attached:
• Cover letter
• Resume

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview purpose.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) @WRI India

WRI India values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of our work and workforce. Integrating these values into our actions fosters a progressive and collaborative culture and can also enhance our impact. It is our responsibility to create a welcoming working environment for people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and experience to learn together. We are responsible for fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where questions, concerns and information about diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our ongoing dialogue and development.

Learn more about WRI India’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Click Here

People-centric to the core:

We keep our people at the centre of everything we do - from a welcoming work environment to benefits and a culture that encourages staff to stay healthy, happy, engaged, and growing.

Some of the non-monetary benefits that our staff get:

Health benefits: We cover health insurance for you and your loved ones for up to INR 8 lakhs

Term Insurance: Our term insurance policy covers life coverage of 50 lakhs per staff member

Employee Assistance program: Promoting mental well-being and supporting staff in achieving a satisfying work-life balance

Health & Nutrition: Personalized diet recommendation from a certified dietitian based on the physical health condition and lifestyle

Flexible work schedule: Alternative work arrangements for all who are eligible by nature of their job

Learning culture: Workshops and trainings to empower staff, encourage new learning opportunities

Rest and Recharge weeks: We encourage staff to take time off to rest, rejuvenate, upskill, and pursue their interests.

Our leave policy: Avail personal time off at 36 per year, along with public holidays, maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves.

Click here to know more about our benefits Careers | WRI INDIA (wri-india.org)

Equal employment @WRI India

We believe in equal employment, it is our policy to recruit, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to caste, religion, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status, or disability.