Employment & Internship Opportunities with Africa Action

Africa Action is the oldest organization in the U.S. working on African affairs. Through the provision of accessible information and analysis, combined with the mobilization of public pressure, we work to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational institutions toward Africa.

Our program staff is divided between two departments: The Department of Policy Analysis & Communications and the Department of Public Education and Mobilization. We also have an administrative staff. 

Employment Opportunities

There are no current employment opportunities with Africa Action.

Internship Opportunities

*We are no longer accepting applications for Winter/Spring 2009 internships. We encourage you to submit an application for the summer session in March.*

Africa Action offers academic semester and summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students in Washington, DC. Interns will develop a more comprehensive understanding of how an Africa advocacy organization utilizes policy analysis and organizing to affect national policy.

An internship at Africa Action will provide participants an opportunity to support the organization's current work, focused on three primary campaigns to cancel Africa's debt, end the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, and stop genocide in Darfur, Sudan. All our interns will get the opportunity to participate in meetings with a range of other non-profit organizations working on related issues.

Interns work either with the Public Education and Mobilization Department, Policy and Communications Department, Development and Fundraising Department or Executive Office. Please specify your preference in your cover letter.

Public Education and Mobilization

These internships are designed to give an exciting experience to those candidates particularly looking for creativity, inspiration and resourcefulness in public outreach activities.

Interns in this department will:

• Support the department staff to implement Africa Action's national mobilization strategy
• Help organize at least one public outreach event to raise awareness on Africa Action’s campaigns. This could be anything from organizing a public meeting, workshop, film screening, or concert, to a poetry slam
• Edit and produce an issue of Just Action, the bi-monthly Africa Action Student Network newsletter. Interns will have an opportunity to gain experience in writing, editing, and conducting interviews for the newsletter
• Develop an individual project and conduct research, with staff assistance, on a topic of interest and produce a short public education resource in a popular style such as a factsheet, set of talking points, or poster
• Creatively use alternative media and Internet tools such as Facebook, Youtube, Myspace and blogging to further Africa Action’s public education and mobilization goals 
• Assist staff in building the Africa Action Student Network and Religious Action Network constituencies

Online social networking experience/familiarity with MS Publisher/other design software a big plus.

Policy and Communications

These internships offer a chance to build written and online communications skills and pursue a deeper understanding of one or more of Africa Action's campaigns or related issues through research.

Interns in this department will:

• Regularly contribute content to Just Africa, Africa Action's weblog
• Track key issues and specific legislative developments in U.S. policy toward Africa
• Conduct research on Africa Action's primary campaigns and other organizational priorities
• Draft text for publications, correspondence, web pages, etc
• Support staff in implementing Africa Action's national media strategy

Development and Fundraising

This is a great opportunity to learn valuable fundraising skills that will translate well to any nonprofit. Interns working with the Development and Fundraising staff will :

• Assist with researching potential foundations and individual donors that might be interested in supporting the work of Africa Action

• Work on both web and print materials geared to informing potential donors about the work of Africa Action and why they should financially lend support; help identify and design outreach strategies to targeted groups the purpose of which is to draw support for Africa Action campaigns, programs, and activities.

• Assist in developing web strategies for fundraising

• Gather alumni magazines from colleges and universities that offer courses in African Studies and read through them looking for successful graduates who might become potential donors

• Gather contact information on members of Boards of Directors, Trustees, Regents of those academic, social, and business institutions so as to build Africa Action’s list of potential donors

• Research lists of donors to causes similar to the work of Africa Action and prioritize for future contact

• Help maintain and update office donor records

• Assist with established processes of donor cultivation, recognition, and outreach

• Help prepare the annual fundraising appeal

• Participate in various aspects of grant writing

• Research Africa Action's target cities and networks to identify key contacts

Executive Office

This intern will directly support Gerald LeMelle, Africa Action's Executive Director.

S/he will:

• Conduct research on Africa Action’s organizational priorities, and other issue areas as assigned
• Track key issues and specific legislative developments in U.S. policy toward Africa
• Draft text for publications, news articles, etc.
• Perform development duties including assisting in proposal writing, researching potential sources of funding and set-up meetings as requested
• Assist Executive Director with day-to-day duties including maintaining calendar

Superior organizational skills required.

All interns will also be responsible for attending organizational meetings and sharing in collective office responsibilities. Interns are required to work at least 20 hours per week, with preference given to those applicants able to work full-time. Internships are unpaid, though funding may be available from your university. Academic credit may be arranged, as Africa Action internships offer direct exposure to the workings of a national advocacy organization, close supervision by the Africa Action staff, interaction with other policy organizations, and opportunities to attend lectures and special events relating to Africa policy.

Qualifications:

In addition to the specific qualifications for each position listed above, all applicants should be organized, self-motivated and reliable, with a strong interest in Africa, human rights, economic and social justice and U.S. foreign policy. Relevant coursework is highly desirable. Computer/web literacy required.

To Apply:

Interested students should submit in one MS Word file their resume, short writing sample (3-5 pages), references and cover letter to info@africaaction.org with the subject heading "Internship Application - Firstname Lastname" or to the address below. Please include dates of availability and the number of hours per week you'd be willing to commit to Africa Action in your cover letter.

If you sent your materials to info@igc.org or africaaction@igc.org and did not receive a response confirming your application, please resend your application to info@africaaction.org.

Africa Action internships run in three sessions during the year:

Fall/Winter internships run from September through December,
Winter/Spring internships run from January/February through May,
Summer internships run from June through August.

However, Africa Action may be willing to be flexible to accommodate other academic schedules on a case by case basis.

Africa Action
Internship Program
1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 810
Washington, DC 20006

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