Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow

Job Title: Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow

Location: Multiple locations across India

Experience (in years): at least 2 years of work experience

Contract type: Temporary, short-term contract

Engagement duration: 3 months or 6 months full-time commitment between April and September 2026

Stipend: Rs. 50,000/month and a one-time relocation allowance of up to Rs. 30,000 (subject to submission of invoices and payment receipts)

About Ashoka University:

Ashoka University - India's premier interdisciplinary teaching and research university. An institution that has become a beacon of academic excellence in less than 10 years since its inception. At Ashoka, we encourage you to embrace the new, push the boundaries for continuous learning, and adapt to a world of constant change because we believe that each Ashokan is capable of becoming a thought leader.

As part of our thriving and committed workforce, you will:

• Be Mission-Driven: Champion interdisciplinary learning, innovative pedagogy, and academic rigor to transform Indian higher education.
• Think Strategically: Collaborate with visionary minds to shape the future of higher education through strategic planning and a forward-thinking approach.
• Act Authentically: Embrace authenticity and integrity, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every voice is valued.
• Take Accountability: Own your work and drive positive change, as an empowering individual seeking to make a meaningful contribution.
• Build Collaboration: Experience the power of teamwork and diverse perspectives, working collectively towards our shared goals.
• Deliver Excellence: Strive for excellence in all aspects, upholding the highest standards of academic excellence, student support, and professional development opportunities.

At Ashoka University, we are on a mission to redefine higher education and create a remarkable space where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a pioneering force in interdisciplinary learning, we continually grow and adapt to stay at the forefront of educational excellence with emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity. Our philosophy revolves around care, well-being, and connection, which are deeply embedded in everything we do.

When you join our community, you become part of an extraordinary journey in which you can unleash your potential and make a meaningful impact. Where education empowers, where innovation thrives, and where excellence and humility coexist. We truly believe the world will enrich itself when there is progress with purpose.

About Climate Corps Fellowship:

Ashoka-Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellowship Program is an innovative fellowship program that trains talented and passionate postgraduate students and early career professionals and pairs them with companies and public institutions committed to meeting climate goals and helping to strengthen the Indian economy.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) established the Climate Corps fellowship program in 2008 to foster climate leadership by equipping professionals with the connections and skills necessary to drive progress. Fellows in India carry out 3-month or 6-month fellowship projects wherein they design tools and recommendations by mapping climate commitments, augmenting sustainability capacity, increasing both renewable energy and energy efficiency, and/or engaging suppliers, thereby helping organisations reduce emissions. To date, Climate Corps fellows have identified opportunities to prevent more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking nearly half a million cars off the road for a year. Read about the past projects here.

AshokaX has partnered with the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) to execute this fellowship in India, to build a skilled green workforce and accelerate net-zero and sustainability goals. We are committed to empowering skilled leaders who will advance solutions to put the economy on a path to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century and grow the economy while mitigating the worst effects of climate change.

How does it work

• This competitive program selects qualified candidates from a variety of disciplines.
• Selected candidates are custom-matched with an organisation that best aligns with their skills, interests, and mutual preferences with hosts.
• They undergo rigorous training to help them build their technical skills (e.g., climate finance, climate risks, supply chain sustainability, etc.) and hone their soft skills - to equip them for their fellowship project at their host organisations.
• During the fellowship (3 months or 6 months), fellows work directly with the staff at their host organisations on innovative net-zero and sustainability projects. Read about the past projects here.
• At the end of the fellowship, the fellows become part of the global Climate Corps Network and gain access to professional development resources throughout their careers.

High-Impact Projects to Match Your Unique Skills and Career Goals

Working under the guidance of a host supervisor and Climate Corps engagement manager, fellows develop net-zero strategies and climate solutions for their host organisations. Projects culminate in a written report with actionable insights and a series of recommendations to the host organisations. Projects may focus on any of the following high-emitting, underserved sectors:-

• Freight and Logistics: Reducing Scope 3 emissions, engaging suppliers on sustainability initiatives, and implementing zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets
• Agriculture/Food Systems: Incorporating climate-smart practices, measuring and reducing emissions across the agricultural and food value chains
• Manufacturing: Reducing emissions, incorporating material circularity into manufacturing processes, and enabling efficient industrial operations
• Sustainable Finance: Climate risk assessment, sustainable financing, climate-related policy and disclosures, investing in net-zero transition

Required Qualifications

• Applicants who are currently enrolled in or have graduated in the last 5 years (not earlier than 1 July 2021) from master's or post-graduate degree programs in engineering, finance, business, sustainability, environmental management, public policy, or other relevant streams are eligible to apply.
• Students enrolled in PhD programs are also encouraged to apply, provided they are able to commit to full-time project work during the fellowship period.

Required Skills and Experience:

• At least 2 years of work experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to climate action, sustainability, and equitable development.
• Demonstrated experience taking initiative in dynamic contexts with high agency, unstructured settings across corporate/ government/ social impact roles.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated capacity to manage stakeholders, and work effectively in interdisciplinary environments.
• Self-starter with strong project management and leadership experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Passion for solving environmental and climate challenges.
• Eligible and available to work on full-time projects in India during April September 2026
• Depending on available projects, additional skills/experience may be useful, such as:
• Demonstrated experience of working on freight and logistics, food & agriculture, manufacturing and industrial efficiency, circularity, urban planning & architecture, energy efficiency, clean energy or sustainability projects, climate risk mapping and budgeting, etc.
• Strong financial and quantitative skills, including project valuation, understanding of ESG, and TCFD compliance frameworks
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas emissions accounting and reporting frameworks (e.g., CDP, GHG Protocol, The Climate Registry)

Application Submission Process:

Apply here: https://environmentaldefensefund.my.site.com/EDFCCFellowPortal/s/login/

For any queries, please reach out to [Confidential Information].

Application Deadlines: We are accepting applications in two phases:

Phase I application (for postgraduate students): 1 September 2025 to 26 October 2025 - Closed

Phase II application (for early career professionals): 1 December 2025 to 4 January 2026