Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) collaborates with institutional investors to bring solutions to Asia’s sustainability challenges. We engage a range of companies, banks and investors in the areas of Energy Transition, Protein Transition, and Sustainable Real Estate and Infrastructure.

ARE is one of a kind. We are dedicated to making a difference. Our purpose is to create a sustainable and compassionate Asia, and our mission is to conduct investor-backed corporate engagement for change. We use constructive dialogue and research, building conviction for sustainability and supporting escalation of investor concerns where warranted. The programmes also engage Asia’s banks, as relevant.

ARE just launched an Asia Protein Transition Platform with collaborating investors managing USD 3 trillion. The platform hosts an aspirational 2030 vision and goals for the protein programme, and sets out specific investor expected protein sustainability disclosures for Asian food and agriculture businesses.

The programme engages a select list of keystone food companies, to activate and support sustainability leaders. To contextualise and scale up this effect, the next biennial benchmark of a larger universe of listed Asian protein sourcing companies will be crucial to generate regional competition and progress towards responsible animal proteins and more sustainable alternative protein sourcing.

This internship with ARE’s protein transition programme is a great opportunity to gain deeper insights into the world of food sustainability, investment, corporate engagement and benchmarking. Besides learning the various tools and metrics used for tangible insights into company sustainability, you will be using them on real companies to analyse and assemble a benchmark comparing over a hundred of Asia’s largest food companies, among other activities. In turn, ARE would value your subject knowledge and fresh enthusiasm, and pay a small monthly stipend.

Intern projects for the Protein Transition programme are available for ideally May to end July (or later) 2023. Final year students or graduates from environmental or economics disciplines are welcome to apply. While we prioritise capable Asian interns, any eligible applicants welcome, as long as they can legally intern in either Singapore or Beijing.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in the design and development of the next benchmark
• Research agreed universe of Asian protein buying companies to constitute the benchmark
• Analyse company status with regard to market and sector, and compare with prior results
• Participate in other background research and engagement meetings with companies, banks
• Contribute to insights for acceleration of alternative proteins in the Asian food system
• Develop and support further advocacy and communication assets. For example, assisting the Research Manager in supermarket score cards of humane and sustainable proteins in regional hub cities, opportunities to practise presentation and other communication skills.

Requirements and competencies:

• University graduate or final year university student (environmental or economics disciplines)
• Available for a minimum of 12 weeks, ideally May to July (full-time over summer break)
• Any nationality with permission to work / intern in Singapore
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, or Chinese if applying to the Chinese internship
• Adequate proficiency in second language welcome (particularly Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese)
• Adequate proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to work independently and in a team

Please provide your latest CV, cover letter, and any relevant documents to show you can work in Singapore or China, along with your availability period.

For queries and applications, email: dave.luo@asiareengage.com