Partner with us for Internship Opportunities

Become a Host Organization

Empower the next generation of African leaders by hosting talented interns from around the world. In partnering with DOWA, you’ll have the opportunity to work with motivated students eager to contribute to impactful projects in Africa—whether for virtual internships, in-person internships, or both.

Since our inception, DOWA has connected students from Ivy League schools and other top institutions with organizations across Africa, providing a diverse pool of talent for partners in a wide range of sectors.

Why Partner with DOWA?

Access top talent: Host interns with expertise in Technology, Business Development, Policy, Sustainability, and more, from prestigious universities globally.

Flexible internship options: We offer flexible placement models to fit our Summer & Winter programs.

Comprehensive support: DOWA handles the internship logistics, including recruitment, matching, and administration, while you focus on providing real-world experience, mentorship, and professional guidance to your interns throughout their program.

Global network: Join a growing network of partner organizations across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and more, all committed to making a difference.

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Our Programs

Summer Internship Program runs for 8 -12 weeks: Mid-June to August every year.

Winter Project-Based Program runs for 4 - 6 weeks: Mid-Jan. to Mid Mar every year.

How It Works

Express Your Interest: Complete the Partner Organization Interest Form to let us know your organization is interested in hosting interns.

Match with Interns: DOWA will match your organization with the right interns based on your specific needs and the students’ skills and goals.

Host and Mentor: Once matched, provide your interns with meaningful projects, mentorship, and guidance during their program.

Ongoing Support: Throughout the internship, DOWA will remain available for support and assistance to ensure both your organization and the interns have a successful experience.

Eligibility

To ensure a successful partnership, partner organizations must meet the following criteria:

Based in Africa: Organizations must have at least one physical location on the continent.
Established Operations: A minimum staff size of 20 employees.
Active Projects: Organizations must be leveraging technology to develop solutions on the continent. They should have ongoing projects that provide meaningful work opportunities for interns.
Commitment to Partnership: Willingness to adhere to all DOWA’s terms and conditions throughout the internship process.

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Partner FAQs

What type of interns does DOWA seek?

As entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future, DOWA’s interns are expected to continue contributing to the development of Africa in their respective fields by using the knowledge and experiences from the internships to develop innovative solutions for tackling Africa’s challenges. Working in Africa will help DOWA’s interns shape their thinking about the challenges in Africa and fuel the innovative solutions borne out of their understanding of the African context.

What kind of expertise can student interns offer partner organizations?

Representing a wide variety of acclaimed universities, these student interns have the benefit of learning at a higher level and applying their knowledge to real organizations with real stakeholders. DOWA looks for exceptionally bright and innovative students who are able to represent their respective universities and facilitates their introduction to our partner organizations. Each thoughtfully considered student has a specific skill set and mindset that provides value to each partner. Student interns are able to take on whichever roles are needed by the partner organization.

How does DOWA create opportunities for Africa-based interns?

A key objective of DOWA is to connect a broad network of diaspora talent to Africa. In Nigeria, DOWA is working with Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission with the aim of tapping into Nigerian talent in the diaspora who want to contribute to the development of Nigeria. Many Nigerian students who seek the opportunity to work in Nigeria are unfortunately unable to find viable avenues to do so; DOWA provides an avenue for these students. DOWA also gives the interns in the diaspora the opportunity to work with interns from Nigerian universities and exchange ideas.