Position Overview

The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office in Nairobi advances the Foundation’s mission by driving impact across health, food, power, and economic mobility. As a key regional hub, the office cultivates partnerships, engages governments and regional bodies, and influences policy to create enabling environments for transformative solutions.

The intern will support these efforts through research, stakeholder mapping, and communications, while assisting with convenings and strategic initiatives. This role offers hands-on experience in a dynamic, mission-driven setting, providing exposure to policy engagement, investment strategies, and thought leadership that shape development across Africa.

This internship is well-suited for students who have had prior exposure to professional or organizational environments—such as previous internships, part-time roles, volunteer coordination, or campus leadership—and who are ready to contribute with maturity, reliability, and strong professional judgment.

Program Details

• Open to graduate and undergraduate students currently enrolled in an accredited program.
• Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter as part of the application process.
• Work authorization in Kenya is required.
• This is a 12-month internship, full-time from June 2026 through May 2027.
• The position is based in Nairobi and requires in-office presence on designated days.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Office of the SVP by gathering information on regional priorities, particularly climate-related initiatives, and synthesizing findings into concise briefs.
• Provide accurate notes, reporting, and actionable next steps during meetings and stakeholder engagements led by the SVP or Director.
• Help track activities and ensure alignment among programs in Food, Health, Power, and Climate within the Africa Regional Office.
• Participate in visits to grantees (as appropriate) and contribute to drafting clear, structured field trip summaries.
• Support the development of background documents and preparatory materials for high-level engagements.
• Provide assistance in grant-related processes, including research for due diligence and maintaining documentation for stewardship.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned to advance the office’s objectives.

Education, Experience, and Skills

• Currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program in International Relations, International Development, Sustainable Development, Impact Investment, Energy Transition, or related fields.
• Basic understanding of international relations, development, sustainability, or related fields, applied through coursework or projects.
• Prior experience in an office, organizational, or project-based environment—such as a previous internship, part-time role, volunteer coordination, or student leadership—is strongly preferred. Candidates should be comfortable navigating professional workflows, managing responsibilities independently, and engaging with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to gather, synthesize, and present information clearly; supports strategic thinking with structured research.
• Strong written English and ability to create simple visual aids for reports and presentations.
• Works well in teams, demonstrates curiosity, and adapts to feedback while learning new tools and processes.
• Prioritizes tasks, meets deadlines, and handles multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment with attention to detail, drawing on prior experience managing responsibilities in a structured or professional setting.
• Identifies issues and contributes practical solutions; supports cross-functional projects.

Competencies

• Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Nimble Learning: Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
• Strategic Mindset: Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.