The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), a joint center of Columbia Law School and Columbia Climate School, is accepting applications for internship positions for Summer 2023. Interns are staffed to one or more specific research projects depending on the background and interests of the particular applicant.
Applications will be accepted until March 1, and the internships can be done remotely.
CCSI is a leading applied research center and forum dedicated to the study, practice and discussion of sustainable international investment. Its mission is to develop and disseminate practical approaches and solutions to maximize the impact of international investment for sustainable development. The center’s work is organized around three major areas of research: sustainable investments in mining and energy; sustainable investments in land, agriculture and food systems; and sustainable international investment law and policy, with cross-cutting research related to climate change, human rights, the energy transition, and business and finance.
To apply for a summer internship, please send a cover letter, CV, and writing sample, (all together in a single file, in that order), by March 1, 2023 to CCSI’s executive coordinator, Nancy Siporin (nancy.siporin@columbia.edu). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Please indicate if you are work-study eligible (preferred but not required). The cover letter should include a distinct list of which internships you are applying for (you may include as many as you’d like).
Paid summer internship opportunities are currently available for the following:
NEW [added May 8, 2023]: French Language Tutor (work study)
CCSI seeks a part-time French-speaking JD, LL.M, SIPA or other graduate student to offer French language tutoring to CCSI research staff members on a weekly basis. The intern will provide French conversation and language tutoring to one or more CCSI research team members implementing our technical support collaborations with civil society or government on topics such as land rights, Indigenous peoples’ rights, community development agreements, and investment approval processes in Francophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa (among others). Preference will be given to candidates with work study funding and with prior French-second language tutoring experience and strong organizational skills. Knowledge or experience of issues relating to responsible land-based investment, land rights, government policymaking related to investments, and/or community rights in the context of resource investments is desirable. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Start date flexible: summer/fall
Responsible and Rights-Respecting Land Investments
CCSI seeks a JD, LLM, or other graduate student to support the center’s research and advisory work on responsible and rights-respecting land-based investments. The internship will involve working closely with staff on priority projects requiring research, analysis, partner liaison, writing, and finalizing reports. These projects may include contributing to our technical support collaborations with civil society or government on topics such as land rights, Indigenous peoples’ rights, community development agreements, and investment approval processes. Preference will be given to candidates with strong research and writing skills, attention to detail, and organizational skills. Knowledge or experience of issues relating to responsible land-based investment, land rights, government policymaking related to investments, and/or community rights in the context of resource investments (particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia) is desirable. French-speaking skills are a plus, though not required for the position.
CCSI will be accepting applications for this position until April 3, 2023.
Developing Financing Pathways for Energy Transition Engineering Projects
CCSI will develop financing strategies and roadmaps for energy transition projects identified by the UN-convened Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition. CCSI will investigate financing options and blended finance solutions for particular project pipelines such as those related to grid interconnection, power storage solutions, digitalization and smart meters, large-scale renewables, distributed energy solutions, sector coupling, and alternative fuels, among others.
Making Renewable Energy Infrastructure Project Permitting Efficient, Rights-Respecting, and Environmentally Sound
CCSI is seeking research assistance support for a literature review of permitting processes for renewable energy and clean infrastructure projects leading to an analysis of the range of problems and solutions identified in such literature and the identification of key gaps.
Developing SDG-based Development Plans for Coffee-producing Regions
CCSI, together with several partners including the World Coffee Producers Forum, is working to develop SDG-based development plans for coffee-producing regions. Based on on-the-ground engagements in three coffee-producing regions in Latin America, the team will develop multi-sectoral, integrated sustainability plans, with suggestions of corresponding financing. In addition to developing plans in those three sites, the team will produce a guide and tools for other coffee-growing regions to use in the design of their own national sustainability plans. Spanish fluency is required.
For more information on internship opportunities and how to apply, please visit CCSI’s website.
