How to Join NNI

NNI Stakeholders

Stakeholders include government, non-government, public, private, and media sector supporters who are not actively engaged in work with the Network but who are committed to the mission and to promoting NNI products and activities.

Stakeholder-level activities can include, but are not limited to:

• Signing up for the NNI newsletter and email distribution list via the NNI website.
• Keeping abreast of NNI research and activities by, for example, attending NNI webinars, reviewing the latest NNI news on the website, or perusing NNI materials.
• Promoting the work of NNI informally through your own professional network.

NNI Collaborators

Collaborators are typically individuals who want to take a more active role in the NNI. Collaborators are expected to engage in 1 to 2 activities per year (not including the stakeholder-level activities) and provide a summary of those activities for the NNI Annual Report.

Collaborator-level activities include all stakeholder-level activities and also include, but are not limited to:

• Actively and regularly participating in aspects of NNI research (https://networkforni.org/our-work/).
• Using (and crediting) NNI research to inform the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS), natural infrastructure (NI), or natural and nature-based features (NNBF).
• Hosting a NNI event at your organization’s premises.
• Collaborating with a NNI research team on specific research, as an investigator or through activities such as serving as an outside advisor, reviewing reports, or sharing relevant datasets.
• Providing access to a NI project site for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
• Providing access to data on their NI project.

NNI Partners

Partners typically engage at an organizational level rather than as an individual due to high-level of expected engagement. Partners are should engage in a minimum of 3 to 4 activities each year and provide a summary of those activities for the NNI Annual Report. Partners may also choose to select one representative to serve on the NNI advisory committee (see the governance document for more information on this committee).

Partner-level activities include all collaborator-level activities and also include, but are not limited to:

• Contributing staff time and financial resources to develop and conduct research.
• Developing NNI educational materials.
• Providing access to facilities, models, data, or other resources that can advance NNI research.
• Providing access to a demonstration, field, and test sites for data collection and monitoring or other kinds of research, education, and communication activities.
• Providing internships or other work experience opportunities to the NNI community.
• Hosting a NNI career fair.
• Share NBS, NI, or NNBF lessons learned with NNI via a webinar series or similar.
• Provide opportunities for NNI researchers to participate in the implementation process of NBS.

Become a…

NNI Partner

Organizations interested in becoming a NNI Partner should submit a membership inquiry to the NNI Operations Committee. Interested parties are also encouraged to communicate with existing NNI partners about their potential role within NNI and seek recommendation from an existing partner. Partner requests will be reviewed by the NNI Operations Committee and submitted to the Executive Committee. Interested organizations will also be asked to submit a letter of interest.

Admission will be decided by the Executive Committee. The path to becoming a NNI Partner typically takes 3-6 months. If accepted, a welcome letter and NNI certificate will be provided. Membership to NNI will be reviewed and, if applicable, renewed every two years or at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

NNI Collaborator

Potential collaborators who may work with existing NNI partner on a specific project or research topic will be considered in an ad hoc process, and acceptance is at  the discretion of the relevant project lead and the NNI Operations Committee.  No letter of interest is needed to become a collaborator. Please reach out directly to the NNI researcher that you wish to collaborate with or reach out to a member of the NNI Operations Committee for more information.

NNI Stakeholder

Organizations and individuals interested in becoming stakeholders can learn more about NNI projects and events by joining the newsletter and email distribution list through the NNI website, which will include opportunities to attend webinars, information about the latest NNI research, and other ways to stay abreast of the latest in the NI field.