WASHINGTON (September 25, 2023) — World Resources Institute (WRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie Robinson as WRI’s new Global Climate Program Director. Starting this week, Robinson will work with WRI’s global staff and partners to advance ambitious climate action. She will be based at WRI’s office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Robinson has 25 years of experience working in international development and climate finance. Most recently, she served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe and represented the U.K.’s 160 Ambassadors on the Management Board of the U.K. Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Melanie to the WRI family,” said Ani Dasgupta, President & CEO of World Resources Institute. “Melanie has very strong knowledge of climate finance and international development issues, but even more valuable is her depth of experience working directly with governments, particularly in Africa. Her amazing track record positions us well to work with countries to accelerate climate action while simultaneously improving people’s lives and ensuring nature can thrive. With Melanie on board, I am even more confident that we can collectively tackle the climate crisis and enable a safe, just future for all.”

Robinson previously served as the U.K. Executive Director to the World Bank Group. Prior to that, Robinson was the Development Director of the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) in Ethiopia, where she led DFID’s largest aid program spanning climate change, economic development, health, education, security, governance and humanitarian issues. In this position, she was involved in the creation of one of Africa’s first national climate strategies and funds. In earlier roles, Melanie led the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change’s teams responsible for negotiating in the United Nations and European Union on international climate policies including finance, adaptation, forestry and low-carbon technology and created DFID’s first climate adaptation team and strategy. Over her career, Robinson also worked for DFID in Mozambique and conducted grassroots work in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Nepal.

“I am honored to join the talented and widely respected team at World Resources Institute. I am passionate about supporting the climate transition in ways that benefit everyone. And I love the ambitious and innovative way WRI combines rigorous research, coalition building and practical action on the ground to deliver this,” said Melanie Robinson. “Serving as Global Director of the Climate Program will allow me to draw on my understanding of the issues and relationships with key players to advocate for bold climate action and drive systemic change at all levels, from international negotiations to national capitals and from governments to the private sector. I look forward to learning from and collaborating with colleagues in our country offices and our many partners around the world as we work together to tackle the climate crisis.”

The Climate Program at WRI focuses on four main areas: stepping up national climate delivery, advancing international climate action, tracking progress toward climate goals and supporting equity and development goals in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. The Climate Program is involved in a range of high impact initiatives such as the NDC Partnership, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Allied for Climate Transformation By 2025 (ACT2025), System Change Lab, Science Based Targets initiative and others. WRI staff working on climate are located in country offices across all continents.