Date February 10, 2020

Alumni Spotlight: Tamara Coger ’16 MPA

Tamara Coger ’16 MPA discusses her experience in the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs MPA program and how it prepared her for her position as Manager of Global Commission on Adaptation for the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C.

The World Resources Institute is a global research nonprofit organization that partners with local and national governments, private companies, publicly held corporations, and other nonprofits to address environmental issues including global climate change, sustainable markets, ecosystem protection, and responsible governance.

Where did you work for your MPA consultancy and what did that experience teach you?

I worked at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on a project looking at synergies and trade-offs between agricultural productivity and climate change adaptation and mitigation. My research focused on France and the Netherlands, which was a new perspective for me coming from the international development field. It was valuable to understand how an influential organization like the OECD works, and great to learn more about the subject matter and get firsthand experience in policy analysis.

What skills from the MPA program are you using in your role?

I’ve often found myself drawing directly on courses like environmental economics, program evaluation. The classes I took on l impact assessment and ground-up policy-making have helped me think more critically and holistically about environmental challenges. I’m also glad I was able to hone presentation skills through the program, and get exposure to a range of organizations and policy challenges.

“ I work with our government, businesses, civil society, and international partners to identify opportunities to elevate the political visibility of adaptation, and to leverage the influence and expertise of these partners to deliver concrete solutions in areas like finance, agriculture, and cities. ”

Tamara Coger MPA Class of 2016

What the Global Commission on Adaptation? Who are its members, and what is your role as manager?

The Global Commission on Adaptation is working to shift the narrative on climate adaptation. It’s about recognizing that we’re already facing the effects of the climate crisis, and that we must prepare for these effects. In addition to reducing emissions to prevent further damage, we have both a moral and an economic imperative to adapt to climate change. I work with our government, businesses, civil society, and international partners to identify opportunities to elevate the political visibility of adaptation, and to leverage the influence and expertise of these partners to deliver concrete solutions in areas like finance, agriculture, and cities.

What do you like most about your job?

I feel fortunate to be able to work on issues that I care so deeply about, and to work with so many people and organizations who share the same mission. There’s so much fascinating and important work going on at WRI, I’m always impressed by my colleagues. It’s challenging work, but I’m constantly learning.

You have held several roles at World Resources Institute. How has your work evolved since you started there?

I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of different projects at WRI, from program design and evaluation mostly focused on forests and land use, to the work I’m doing now on climate resilience. It’s helped me get a deeper understanding of the organization and the specific climate challenges we’re trying to address, and how I’m best placed to contribute.

There is so much bad news about what humans are doing to the environment. What gives you hope about the planet’s future?

Working in this space has definitely made me more alarmed about the urgency and severity of the climate crisis. But I wouldn’t be working in it if I didn’t see reason to hope. We know what needs to be done, and we have solutions, even if they have not yet been scaled to the extent required. It also inspires hope to see the climate movement growing.