What Did I Learn? On Departing WRI, Reflections on Nine Years at the Helm

In a parting reflection published on April 16, 2021, Andrew Steer outlines the lessons learned during his nine-year tenure as leader of the World Resources Institute (WRI). He describes WRI's growth into a global team of 1,500 professionals and details the strategic approaches the organization used to influence climate and environmental policy, including the use of data-driven research combined with practical on-the-ground implementation and multi-stakeholder convening.

• WRI's effectiveness in driving change is attributed to a specific operational model that combines globally respected data and research ("count it"), practical on-the-ground presence ("change it"), and global engagement and convening ("scale it"). This approach has been applied to initiatives such as the AFR 100 Landscape Restoration program with the African Union and 20 African governments, the New Urban Mobility Alliance (NUMO), and the New Climate Economy started in 2013.
• The organization emphasizes that systemic transformation requires a "jigsaw puzzle" approach rather than incremental projects or "silver bullets," involving a diverse array of actors including governments, corporates, finance, and NGOs. Examples of WRI's role in coordinating these systemic pieces include the Global Commission on Adaptation and the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
• WRI has expanded its influence beyond the traditional role of an NGO by providing evidence-based partnerships for senior decision-makers. This is evidenced by its work with China on "Greening the Belt and Road," the creation of the 20x20 Landscape Restoration program with Latin American ministers, and the establishment of Track 2 Dialogs for climate negotiations.
• The NDC Partnership, launched during the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, serves as a model for WRI's strategy of sharing credit and forging partnerships. While WRI manages the funds and hosts the secretariat, the partnership is governed by an Executive Committee of senior government officials and includes 120 national governments and 42 international institutions.
• During Steer's tenure, WRI quadrupled in size, opening new offices in Colombia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The organization's growth strategy focused on ensuring senior-level country ownership before opening and utilizing a "modular" approach where new offices tailor existing global platforms and tools to their specific country context.

APA

Steer, A. (2021). What Did I Learn? On Departing WRI, Reflections on Nine Years at the Helm. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/andrew-steer-parting-reflections-wri

Chicago

Steer, Andrew. What Did I Learn? On Departing WRI, Reflections on Nine Years at the Helm. World Resources Institute, 2021. https://www.wri.org/insights/andrew-steer-parting-reflections-wri.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Steer |first1=Andrew |title=What Did I Learn? On Departing WRI, Reflections on Nine Years at the Helm |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=16 April 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/andrew-steer-parting-reflections-wri |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{steer2021what, author = {Steer, Andrew}, title = {{What Did I Learn? On Departing WRI, Reflections on Nine Years at the Helm}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/andrew-steer-parting-reflections-wri}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }