Nairobi, Kenya
How cool would it be to join a team of psychologists, anthropologists, economists, health specialists, designers, data scientists, academics, and more to use behavioral science to design solutions that improve lives in the Global South? Busara is a leading organization applying behavioral science to help alleviate poverty by bridging the gap between research and application. They use rigorous research methods and evaluation tools to enable partners to improve program design, assess existing interventions, and optimize internal processes. Busara works with governments, NGOs, private companies, and academics to understand human behavior and design solutions to overcome behavioral barriers to products, programs, and policies as they scale. The teams work on projects related to agriculture, health, insurance, financial inclusion, climate and sustainability, gender-related, entrepreneurship, governance, conflict and fragility, and other issues central to development economics.
While it’s too soon to know exactly what project you’d be working on, as a member of the Qualitative Research and Design Team, you can expect to support research and applications of behavioral sciences in various ways. This might include; involvement in co-design workshops, UX/UI research, human-centered design projects, developing and testing prototypes, creating insights and reports, and developing ideas for interventions. You will also learn how to write winning proposals and be involved in end-to-end research activities. Just in case this is not enough, in your free time, you could use your time visiting the famous Mount Kenya, go on a safari at the Tsavo, or even spend a weekend or a few more days relaxing at the coast as you kayak or snorkel with dolphins.
Seeking two (2) curious and collaborative students with solid research, synthesis, ideation, and visual storytelling skills and an interest in experiencing how behavioral science and human-centered design work can make an impact and who are eager to explore East Africa.
Bridgetown, Barbados
CCREEE is committed to renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) across the Carribean Islands and to creating a vibrant sustainable energy sector. It is the implementation hub for sustainable energy activities and projects within the Caribbean. It is one node amongst a broader network of regional sustainable energy centres for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific. This consortium is committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Seven: Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7).
As part of this work, you would be supporting CCREEE’s work to improve access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services, energy security and mitigation of negative externalities of the energy system (e.g. local pollution and GHG emissions) by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, markets and industries in the Caribbean. The CCREEE is working to find creative solutions to these challenges. Join this social cohesion project by gathering and synthesizing data, report writing, and engaging stakeholders in determining optimal solutions customized for local contexts.
Seeking two (2) intrepid students with strong communication, customer service, research, and synthesis skills. Passion for, familiarity with, or connection to, the Caribbean context will serve you well in this position.
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Passionate about combating Climate Change? CORCLIMA is a community-led effort in the cloud forest of Costa Rica committed to uniting Monteverde to capture more carbon than it emits and serving as a model of climate resilience and sustainable local economies. CORCLIMA has many ongoing projects including; a women-run local bartering and upcycling center, improving water management, and helping to tell the story of climate resilience in the region. CORCLIMA works hard to define projects that satisfy both students’ interest and CORCLIMA’s goals. Below is more detailed information on two potential projects of particular interest. In your application, we ask you to specify what type of project you’re interested in, why, and how you’re uniquely qualified. Please recognize that projects might shape shift based conversations between you and the host and the evolving needs of the organization.
Join Rutas Eléctricas Costa Rica in accelerating a business to enable tourists to travel in electric vehicles. Costa Rica’s economy is primarily based on tourism–you can be part of reducing the environmental impact of this critical economic engine. Help Rutas Elétricas reach potential customers and create tools and systems to ensure they have a positive experience. There’s a lot to explore with this entrepreneurial opportunity.
Support CORCLIMA and the municipality in establishing a streamlined process to deal with compostable food container waste. Help design a system to transform used pizza boxes into good soil , from determining how people will know what trash bin to put them in, to how it will be collected, to where it will be taken, to how it will be chopped up, and how much the municipal compost can handle. There’s a lot to figure out in this waste systems design challenge. Seeking two (2) or four (4) fiercely independent workers and Spanish-proficient speakers who aren’t afraid to tromp respectfully through very damp forests, work closely with community members, lead work independently, and join in collective action.
Seeking two (2) students who are passionate about the future of Latin America and eager to experience intrapreneurship at its best. Familiarity with the Latin American context will serve you well in this position. Spanish and/or Portuguese language proficiency is a plus but not required.
Medellín, Colombia
Are you interested in joining a dynamic community passionate about changing Latin America for the better? LALA’s mission is to develop a new generation of diverse, entrepreneurial, and ethical leaders who will serve the Latin American region. The team supports purpose-driven 14-to-20-year-olds — the majority of whom are from historically marginalized communities — and gives them access to programs that build leadership, entrepreneurship, social innovation, social-emotional learning, and critical thinking skills. These LALíderes join a lifelong community leading change across Latin American countries, industries, and governments.
LALA is entering a new stage in its strategic growth as it moves from a centralized to a country-based model. The Global Fundraising team needs your help determining which countries to expand the impact of their work into next. Through primary and secondary research, you will identify community partners and philanthropists who might make that expansion possible. Additionally, you might work to discover global organizations investing in leadership development in the Latin American context and articulate a value proposition for partnering with them on developing a new tool that measures and evaluates the impact of LALA’s leadership development model.
Seeking two (2) students who are passionate about the future of Latin America and eager to experience intrapreneurship at its best. Familiarity with the Latin American context will serve you well in this position. Spanish and/or Portuguese language proficiency is a plus but not required.
Yenne, Sénégal
Are you a motivated climate change activist or passionate about entrepreneurship AND love working with kids? Are you driven to make change in this world? Have you always longed to explore West Africa? If so, a summer working with Yenne Kids’ Academy might be right for you. This is an opportunity to work with young students in Sénégal on one of two projects. In your application, please specify which of the below projects you’d be interested in, why, and how you’re uniquely qualified.
An environmental education project where you will work with children and community members at the nexus of climate adaptation and skill building. YKA has dreamed of engaging kids in the construction of a fishing boat for local use, but the project could take many directions and incorporate STEAM education.
An entrepreneurial education project where you will work with children and community members at the nexus of poverty alleviation and capacity building. YKA imagines a project where kids are introduced to entrepreneurial skills by developing and testing a small market stall in the community, again the direction of this work will be shaped by you and the organization.
Seeking two (2) or four (4) students who have experience and/or a passion for working with kids (K-grade 5) along with interest in adaptation to rising climate risks and/or poverty alleviation. French language proficiency is not required but is strongly recommended.
