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Africa-Related Virtual Summer Internships

*The application for CAS-funded internships (listed below the green colored tab) is now LIVE. CLICK FOR CARAT LINK.  Application deadline extended to March 2nd at 11:59pm. 

The Harvard Center for African Studies is pleased to share the following Africa-related virtual internship opportunities for continuing Harvard College students for Summer 2021. Browse the list of opportunities from CAS and other Harvard centers below. Each program may have different application deadlines, so pay close attention to dates and application instructions noted on each individual program page. Some opportunities come with funding from the various Harvard centers while others may require students to seek out funding opportunities for unpaid internships. We have provided funding recommendations for you if the opportunity is listed as unpaid. 

If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Moats, CAS Student Support and Outreach Officer, at lmoats@fas.harvard.edu.

Students who are currently on leave for the Spring 2021 semester who plan to be enrolled for the Fall 2021 semester are eligible to apply to CAS and HGHI affiliated opportunities if they receive approval from their Resident Dean and the Ad Board. Approval must be granted to access the CARAT application portal, so please seek approval well in advance of the application deadlines. Extensions for this process will not be granted.  

Please refer to the following internship and funding application deadlines: 
OCS Funding Application: February 4th, 2021
HGHI Internship Opportunities: February 7th, 2021
CAS Internship and Funding Opportunities: March 2nd, 2021 
Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships: Varies (See website)
IOP Funding Application: April, 4th 2021

Virtual Internship Opportunities by Harvard Center/Office

Office of Career Services Funded Internships

Cultural Agents | Pre-Texts: Creative arts, education, non-profit internships in Africa
Funding: A $4,000 living stipend is provided by OCS.
Application Deadline: February 8th, 2021
This summer, Cultural Agents is offering an eight-week, funded, remote program, where students will be paired with a host organization, become trained as facilitators of Pre-Texts, and will then work with host organizations on projects related to the organization as well as the implementation of Pre-Texts…(learn more).
African Host Organizations: Shamiri Institute (Nairobi, Kenya), Tom Mboya University College (Homa Bay, Kenya), AHRC, Clowns Without Borders (Sierra Leone or South Africa), Play Africa (South Africa). You can view a full list of host organizations on the Pre-Texts website linked above.

diiVe Virtual: Summer 2021, Cape Town, South Africa
Funding: This program has a $1900 tuition cost, but students may apply for up to $4,000 in funding through OCS. Please review the OCS funding information for diiVe on the OCS website. *Students may apply for CAS funding only if they did not qualify for an OCS grant due to being on leave during Spring 2021.
Application Deadline:  February 28th, 2021 (Program application deadline)
Consulting has consistently been at the forefront of business innovation and change, and now those in the industry are tackling challenges of our uncertain future. At diiVe Virtual, build your key consulting and business skills and learn how to leverage opportunity in a post-COVID era...(learn more).
Applications: diiVe application | OCS Funding Information | CAS Funding Application

Harvard Global Health Institute Funded Internships

Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Soweto, South Africa
Funding: Fully-funded by HGHI
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2021 at 11:59pm
Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) is one of Africa’s leading research centres, situated at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital—known locally as ‘Bara’—in Soweto, Johannesburg. PHRU is affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand and engages in research, training, policy-formulation and advocacy concerning HIV-positive and -negative people and their children....(learn more)

The Touch Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania
Funding: Fully-funded by HGHI
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2021 at 11:59pm
The Touch Foundation is a secular non-profit organization committed to improving the health of the Tanzanian people by strengthening their health system across the different levels of care, from tertiary hospital down to village-level facilities. We expand our impact across Tanzania by sharing our on-the-ground experience and acquired knowledge with the local and international public health community...(learn more)

University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
Funding: Fully-funded by HGHI
Application Deadline: February 7th, 2021 at 11:59pm
The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is a new university based in Rwanda that is training the next generation of global health professionals, including doctors, nurses, researchers, veterinarians, and public health and policy experts, to be leaders and changemakers who strive to deliver equitable, quality health services for all. An initiative of Partners In Health (PIH) led by internationally recognized faculty and staff from around the world, UGHE is an independent, accredited university that builds on PIH’s three decades of experience in delivering health services to some of the world’s poorest communities...(learn more).

Harvard Center for African Studies Funded Internships

Application instructions are posted below this list. Please review carefully before applying. 

Empower Africa (2 Positions Available - Links Below)
Research and Data Analyst Intern
Content Intern
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2021
Empower Africa was founded in 2018. We are a values-driven company built on the belief that business is the best way to create scalable and sustainable solutions in developing economies.
Through our business network, we enable established and emerging businesses from all over the world to connect, partner, and create long term value with projects across the African continent...(learn more).
More information on Empower Africa
Link to CARAT Application

Heritage & Cultural Society of Africa, Ghana & USA: Communications Internship
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2021
HACSA seeks to reunite the African diaspora and highlight the importance of heritage and culture for socioeconomic development, within the framework of women’s empowerment, environmental protection and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We work through advocacy, education, innovation and collaboration with both individuals and partner organisations in Africa and the diaspora…(learn more). 
More information on The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa
Link to CARAT application 

Pembe, Cambridge, MA: Web Design & Operations Optimization Internship
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS
Application Deadline: March 2nd 2021
Pembe is An organization dedicated to increasing the representation of the African diaspora in the legal profession in America. Pembe was born out of a desire to reduce informational barriers to entry into the legal field that African immigrants may experience, by marshalling the knowhow, experience and goodwill of lawyers and student-attorneys of African origins. Pembe is hiring an Intern to assist with various tasks related to website design, budgeting, operations optimization and grant application…(learn more). 
More information on Pembe
Link to CARAT application 

Suadela, Mali (2 Positions Available - Links Below)
*French and English Language Fluency Required*
Fundraising Intern
Monitoring and Evaluation Intern
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2021
Suadela (suadela.org) is a nonprofit organization founded by graduates of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government with a mission to increase women and girls’ power by developing their capacity for decision and action.  Inspired by the name of Roman goddess of persuasion, Suadela offers training programs in which young women and girls learn to master the art of negotiation to overcome obstacles and achieve their life goals. The Suadela model builds on local capacity. Suadela employs young Malian women (Nego'Coaches) and trains them to teach negotiation skills to adolescent girls between 13 and 15 years old (Nego'Sisters).
More information on Suadela
Link to CARAT application 

United Nations Development Programme, Pretoria, South Africa (Two Positions - See below)
Nature, Climate, & Energy Communications Intern (Up to two interns will be selected for this position)
Communications & Knowldge Management Intern (One intern will be selected for this position)
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS (*Summer - See more information below)
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2021
The UNDP country office in South Africa supports the government of South Africa in achieving its development goals outlined in the National Development Plan 2030 as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNDP country office’s activities are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2020 -2025), the UNDP Strategic Plan (2018-2021), and the UNDP South Africa Country Programme Document (2020-2025). UNDP’s country programmes seek to contribute to South Africa’s social and economic transformational aspirations from policy support to implementation. UNDP brings knowledge of global best practices to South Africa through flagship knowledge reports including the Human Development Reports…(learn more).
*Preference will be given to students who are able to continue their internship through the Fall 2021 semester. Students may apply for fall funding at a later date; however, funding is not guaranteed.
More information on UNDP South Africa
Link to CARAT application 

Wellness Africa Foundation, Nigeria (2 Positions Available)
Marketing & Communications Intern
Fundraising and Partnerships Intern
Funding: $2,500 living stipend funded by CAS
Application Deadline: March 2nd, 2021
Wellness Africa Foundation (WAF) is a non-governmental organization committed to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria in May 2019. The mission of WAF is to facilitate community health outreaches to the underserved, while also promoting Adolescents and Youth Reproductive Health (AYRH) services...(learn more).
More information on Wellness Africa Foundation
Link to CARAT application 

The application for CAS-funded internship opportunities is now LIVE in CARAT. You may apply for up to two positions using the same single application. Please review the application information and instructions posted in CARAT. Each position has unique application instructions, so please review each job description (linked above) carefully to know which documents should be uploaded for each position. Please email Lindsay Moats, Student Support and Outreach Officer, at lmoats@fas.harvard.edu if you have any questions about the application process.