2025 Arlie Schardt Memorial Fellowship Program-Economic Policy/International Policy

OVERVIEW: 

Friends of the Earth is a hard-hitting, progressive, environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest federation of grassroots environmental groups, working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues. 

FOE envisions a world where we live within the ability of the planet to sustain life, and in which all people live with dignity, health and equity. We believe that both environmental crises, as well as widespread social injustice, are intertwined symptoms of flawed ideological, economic and political systems that are violating peoples’ rights, perpetuating oppression, failing to meet the needs of people, and destroying the planet.  

We believe that increasing racial diversity within environmental organizations is critical to the future success of our movement. Our Fellowship program is designed to increase the long-term effectiveness of FOE and the environmental movement by operating an inspiring and fulfilling fellowship program that builds skills and relevant job experience for people of color and members of underrepresented communities. 

Our vision of the Arlie Schardt Memorial (ASM) Fellowship program is to create career experience, pathways, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color in underrepresented communities who are interested in environmental advocacy. Arlie W. Schardt was a pioneering voice for the environment and witness to some of the most seminal events in American history as a Time magazine correspondent traveling with Martin Luther King while covering the civil rights movement. Throughout his peripatetic 50-year career, Schardt reported on and acted on behalf of social justice. Al Gore states, “Through his remarkably diverse career, Arlie Schardt lived a life of purpose and impact,” said the former Vice President. “He was a champion for civil rights and an early pioneer of the environmental movement. I valued greatly his commitment to public service and will always be grateful for the invaluable roles he played on my Presidential campaign.” Schardt joined Friends of the Earth (FOE), serving as Chairman of the Board from 2009 until June 2019 when he was named chair emeritus in honor of his service. According to Erich Pica, president of FOE, “Arlie was instrumental in tripling the size of the organization and broadening its mandate to combine his concerns for social and racial justice with environmentalism.” 

For our program, we are prioritizing communities that are underrepresented in the mainstream environmental movement. Women, people of color, and youth are highly encouraged to apply. If you do not identify as part of an underrepresented community, that is not a disqualification, and we encourage you to apply as well. 

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP: 

Each year, we welcome a cohort of five Fellows to work with us full-time for six months. This year the Fellowship program will be a remote position with a potential opportunity for an in-person retreat in DC. Fellows will receive compensation of $25 per hour, along with a $1,000 stipend distributed in two installments throughout the program. The fellowship begins in March 2025 and ends in September 2025. 

Fellows are placed with our Communications, Food & Agriculture, Oceans & Vessels, or Economic Policy teams. In addition to substantive work with the teams, the Fellowship program also includes networking and career development opportunities. 

About our Economic Policy Team and Fellowship Position: 

The U.S. government has spent more than $44 billion on fossil fuel projects overseas over the last decade. From fracking projects in Argentina to liquified natural gas development in Mozambique, this finance has not only resulted in pollution and environmental degradation, but displacement, violent conflict and human rights abuses. Public finance flows through several different types of institutions like multilateral development banks, bilateral development banks, and export credit agencies. These are all institutions that collect, invest, and distribute our public funds. As part of our international sustainable finance campaign, we watchdog government-backed institutions that fund energy and mining projects overseas. Our campaign works to end public financing of fossil fuels, to give a voice to affected communities, and to push institutions to responsibly invest public money in renewable energy. 

This position will learn about international finance and how the U.S. and other governments/institutions finance energy and mining projects all over the world. The fellow will select a research topic and research and write a 5–10-page piece. They will be provided with the opportunity to represent Friends of the Earth in meetings with government officials and speak publicly about the research that they are conducting. In addition, they will be exposed to both Congress and the executive branch to both get a better understanding of how civil society advocates for progressive causes, as well as get exposure to see if they would have any interest in working for Congress or an executive agency. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Research, write, and publish at least one paper on international finance  

• Attend and potentially lead meetings advocating for the end to international public finance of fossil fuels and increase oversight of (and possibly opposition) international finance for mining projects.  

• Discussing papers and topics with the press, including drafting press releases with quotes and in interviews.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

No specific academic or professional experience is required, but we are looking for people who are passionate about the environment and/or social justice. An environmental background, and previous (volunteer or paid) experience in non-profit organizations, advocacy, political campaigns are pluses. 

Qualified applicants must be: 

• At least 18 years of age 

• Authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship 

• Committed to environmental and social justice 

• Able to work well in team and independently  

• Motivated, and willing to learn and take initiative 

• Able to use Microsoft Office 365 products such as Excel and Word, and Google applications 

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from women, people of color, and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.