Jeremy Kundtz

Jeremy Kundtz is a development practitioner dedicated to advancing human-centered solutions to poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Before joining the Global Human Development program, he spent nearly a decade as an educator, communication specialist, and consultant with organizations like the OECD Environment Directorate, the UN Environment Programme, and USAID. A two-time Fulbright Scholar, Jeremy taught English as a Second Language at universities in the Colombian Andes and Amazon Rainforest. Jeremy holds an MA in Communication and Media Studies from Sciences Po Paris, and a BA in Spanish Language and Latin American Studies from The Ohio State University. Since joining GHD, Jeremy has had numerous opportunities that align with his professional goals. In December 2024, Kundtz moderated a fireside chat between his fellow classmates and Ani Dasgupta, CEO of World Resources Institute; in April 2025, Kundtz joined the Social Development Team of The World Bank Jakarta Office. There, he is conducting policy research, and writing a report on benefit sharing mechanisms involving payments for environmental services. Beyond GHD, Jeremy loves cooking, reading, and spending time in the mountains with his dog, Mango.

Summer internship

I completed my Summer Internship with The Environmental Bamboo Foundation (EBF), a small but mighty NGO based in Bali, Indonesia. EBF leverages bamboo-based agroforestry to advance not only ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, but also gender equality and rural economic development. I supported EBF’s Programs Team in drafting a proposal to integrate gender into Indonesia’s National Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation. I conducted policy research, interviewed key stakeholders, and collaborated with members of Indonesia’s Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, and Ministry of Forestry (among others). Additionally, I contributed to the development of a short film EBF will present during COP30 in Brazil. While working on the film, which highlights EBF’s flagship ‘Mama Bamboo’ program, I was fortunate to visit partner communities in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, and to spend time with people whose lives are being positively transformed by EBF’s work. During my time with EBF, I saw the practical challenges of policy implementation. I also saw how the success or failure of a given policy is highly context-specific, depending as much on technical components as on human relationships. Ultimately, interning with EBF was an excellent learning experience that strengthened my resolve to work at the intersection of social development and environmental stewardship.