2023-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN

The World Resources Institute's (WRI) 2023-2027 Strategic Plan outlines a transition from a period of global commitments to one of tangible impact on the ground. The strategy centers on three interconnected global goals—improving human well-being, protecting nature, and tackling climate change—and targets systemic change across three 'Human-Centered Systems' (Food, Land and Water; Energy; and Cities) supported by three 'Enabling Systems' (Economics, Finance, and Governance). WRI aims to operate as a centrally coordinated global network with a specific focus on 12 priority countries to drive just transitions.

• WRI has shifted its organizational approach to pursue three interconnected Global Goals: ensuring people live in an equitable society where essential needs are met, protecting and restoring ecosystem health, and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius while supporting community adaptation.
• The strategy identifies three 'Human-Centered Systems' as the primary drivers of emissions and degradation that must be transformed: Food, Land and Water; Energy; and Cities.
• To facilitate transitions in human-centered systems, WRI will target shifts in three 'Enabling Systems'—economics, finance, and governance—to move them from being inhibitors to catalysts of progress.
• WRI has designated 12 'focus countries' where it will deepen engagement to promote locally appropriate and just transitions: Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the United States, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda.
• WRI is implementing a new results framework that cascades from Global Impact Targets (for 2030) to WRI-wide Impact Targets and Country-Level Targets (for 2027), all underpinned by evidence-based 'Theories of Change'.
• In the Food, Land and Water system, WRI aims to reduce agricultural land demand by 100 million hectares and boost food supply by 20% by 2030, while lowering agricultural GHG emissions by 20%.
• WRI's energy transition goals include increasing the global percentage of renewables in the energy mix and expanding clean energy access, with a target that 4 million people have access to improved health, education, and agricultural services powered by clean energy by 2027.
• For urban systems, WRI targets a 5-10% increase in the percentage of under-served residents with access to public spaces in priority cities by 2027, focusing on 25 priority cities globally.
• WRI is evolving its internal structure toward a 'OneWRI' culture and a centrally coordinated global network model to improve agility, cohesion, and the alignment of its budget and people.
• The organization aims to increase its flexible core and unrestricted funding to 20-25% of annual income to better support infrastructure, innovation, and reserves.

APA

Ranganathan, J., & Oko, M. (2023). 2023-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN. World Resources Institute. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-07/wri-strategic-plan-2023-27-full-version.pdf

Chicago

Ranganathan, Janet, and Michael Oko. 2023-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN. World Resources Institute, 2023. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-07/wri-strategic-plan-2023-27-full-version.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ranganathan |first1=Janet |last2=Oko |first2=Michael |title=2023-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2023 |url=https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-07/wri-strategic-plan-2023-27-full-version.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ranganathan202320232027, author = {Ranganathan, Janet and Oko, Michael}, title = {{2023-2027 STRATEGIC PLAN}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2023}, url = {https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-07/wri-strategic-plan-2023-27-full-version.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }