How We'll Do It: Institutional Excellence

Our strategy builds on 40 years of research and results. But to achieve the transitions the world needs, we also need to invest in our own internal transition.

We have entered a new phase of the organization — one even more focused on learning, accountability and achieving impact in the world. We aim to generate greater results through expanded partnerships; rigorous theories of change; a commitment to evolve and adjust over time; and better resources.

Partnerships

WRI won’t achieve the changes we seek alone. Our efforts to bring about systemic shifts require working closely with an even wider array of partners — individuals, businesses, NGOs, governments and more. While we forge partnerships to grow our knowledge and capacity, we also aim to support our partners with ideas, data and resources so that we can move the world toward common goals together.

Impact Targets

We’re holding ourselves to a higher standard than ever before. It’s no longer enough to measure positive outcomes. Instead, we’re starting with Global Impact Targets — changes we need to see in the world, linked to goals in high-level international accords like the Paris Agreement — and setting our institutional and country targets based on them. If we’re not creating real change in the world that achieves our goals for people, nature and climate, we’re not doing it right.

Theories of Change

All WRI’s work is based on rigorous, evidence-based theories of change. We identify key actors, risks, assumptions, knowledge gaps, social equity and political economy considerations. We develop methodologies for planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning (PMEL), which provides us with information to assess our progress — and change course when needed. The ultimate goal is initiatives that generate clear impact and lessons learned that we share broadly.

Flexible Funding

Shifting our approach to fundraising is essential for achieving our vision of a globally coordinated network that delivers impact in a more focused set of areas with clear targets. We’ll prioritize multi-year, flexible funding that allows us to dig deeper into projects and invest in building institutional capacity. To support our work, visit wri.org/support.

Getting the Great Transition Right

The goals we’ve set are ambitious. Working to achieve systemic change in focus countries and globally will be a herculean task. But it’s also critical one — not just for the world of today, but for the one we’re building for generations to come.