Business Development, Partnerships & Fundraising

About DOWA:

DOWA is a non-profit organization that connects brilliant individuals with innovators to accelerate technology-enabled solutions for global challenges. Since our inception in 2020, we have been committed to fostering collaboration, empowering innovators, and driving sustainable development across Africa.

Organizations across Africa’s innovation ecosystem are seeking driven and strategic students to support business growth, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives. This role is ideal for individuals interested in how organizations scale impact, build alliances, and secure resources to sustain operations.

Interns will work closely with leadership, strategy, and external stakeholders to support growth planning, partnership development, and donor engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct market and ecosystem research to identify growth and partnership opportunities.

• Support the development of partnership proposals, pitch decks, and fundraising materials.

• Assist in outreach to potential partners, sponsors, donors, and collaborators.

• Track partnership pipelines, funding leads, and stakeholder engagements.

• Support grant research, application drafting, and reporting processes.

• Assist with relationship management and partnership follow-ups.

Requirements
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Business, Economics, Management, or a related field
• Strong interest in business development, partnership building, and fundraising
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn, contribute ideas, and support strategic initiatives

Eligibility

Undergraduate or graduate students of African descent or students with a specific interest in Africa are strongly advised to apply.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
*Internship Compensation & Support*
DOWA internships are hosted by African-led social enterprises and startups working in resource-constrained environments. While not all partners are able to independently fund full stipends, DOWA is committed to reducing financial barriers to participation.

Support may include:

- University and third-party grants

- External fellowships and scholarships

- DOWA-sponsored micro-grants (select placements)

- Partner-provided stipends (where available)

Students are encouraged to apply for funding through their home institutions and external sources. Funding is available for students from:

• George Washington University
• Georgetown University
• DePaul University
• Dartmouth College

How to Apply for Funding

● Begin searches early — 3–6 months before the internship start date
● Gather strong essays and references highlighting your internship learning goals.
● Ask faculty or career advisors for nomination support where required.

Here is a link https://www.dowafrica.org/news/blog to some additional funding resources. DOWA provides guidance and documentation to support these applications.

Internships are structured as learning-centered experiences focused on professional development, mentorship, and applied project work aligned with students’ academic and career goals.

Participants engage virtually for approximately 14–16 hours per week over 8–10 weeks and receive access to ongoing mentorship, skills workshops, and global leadership programming.

Please view past interns' impact stories for additional insights: https://www.dowafrica.org/internships/impact-stories , If you have any additional questions please contact: info@dowafrica.org