Fellow - Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project

The World Resources Institute seeks a full-time/part-time fellow to support its Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project. MAPT builds and supports capacities in developing countries related to the design and implementation of measurement and tracking systems to meet domestic development goals in a less carbon intensive manner. The initiative works directly with key stakeholders in select countries that include national policy makers, industry, and civil society groups. While the main goal of the MAPT initiative is to support domestic efforts in strengthening measurement and tracking systems, the lessons learned are also collected, analyzed and disseminated to an international audience in order to build support and replicate success.

As part of MAPT, WRI is working to identify the capacity needs and best practices of existing national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory systems by reviewing elements critical to their development and management. Similarly, the MAPT project is using the experience of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol (www.ghgprotocol.org) to strengthen corporate GHG accounting and reporting capacity in key emission-intensive sectors.

The Helms fellow will support both the national inventory and industry initiatives of MAPT, playing a critical role in achieving this project’s research and influence goals, and helping to ensure strategic linkages are made between our national and corporate inventory capacity building efforts. In turn, this fellow would gain a deep understanding of key government and industry GHG accounting systems, data management processes, existing capacity gaps, and other climate issues, as well as build a professional network of international experts.

Working independently and with MAPT’s national inventory and industry teams, the fellow will:

• Conduct desk research and interviews related to:

- Critical elements of national GHG inventory reporting processes and institutions;

- Design and best practice of existing mandatory corporate GHG reporting systems and registries;

- Institutional arrangements for domestic measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.

• Analyze results and draft case studies based on research findings.

• Facilitate dissemination of the results of this research to inventory practitioners through in-country workshops and international fora.

• Help organize workshops and meetings and provide other administrative support as needed.

• The candidate must be a citizen of a developing country.

• Completed or working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in environmental science, environmental policy, business, economics, or other relevant discipline.

• Demonstrated research and writing skills.

• Familiarity with the GHG Protocol, mandatory/voluntary GHG reporting programs, national GHG inventories, and/or GHG accounting and reporting in general.

• Living or working experience in South Africa, India, or Brazil strongly preferred.

• Excellent academic performance.

• Demonstrated proficiency in oral and written English; proficiency in other languages desirable.

• Highly motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal skills; able to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills; able to meet deadlines and respond constructively to challenges and new tasks.

• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office and internet research.

Salary and benefits

A stipend is provided for the fellowship.

About The Helms Fellowship:

The Helms Fellowship is open only to developing country nationals. The goal is for the learning to be two-way, and have multiple benefits: The Institute’s work would be greatly enhanced through the additional perspective of Fellows who have direct experience with the culture and challenges of these countries, and likewise, Fellows would gain valuable analytical and policy research skills relevant to their professional development and potentially applicable within their home country in the future.