Working with Nespresso to revive the coffee sector in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Partnering with brewer AB InBev to craft a response for small-holder farmers grappling with COVID-19. And working with Mastercard to help improve the e-commerce practices of micro retailers globally. These are just some examples of the type of projects overseen by TechnoServe’s Strategic Initiatives unit, as we partner with multinational corporations to deliver on our mission to use business solutions to help solve poverty.

TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. As a nonprofit organization operating in 30 countries, we work with enterprising men and women in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities. With over 50 years of proven results, TechnoServe believes in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.

The Strategic Initiatives team at TechnoServe is responsible for designing and supporting initiatives with our multinational corporate partners. These types of projects – as distinguished from our other projects which are funded by governments and donors – account for a third of our work. Our corporate partners source commodities from or sell products to tens of millions of individuals that live below the poverty line around the world. We believe with the right business model innovations and investments, there is a pathway to take millions out of poverty in a way that is sustainable and scalable.

To bring these initiatives to fruition, our team works with our corporate partners to develop win-win business cases for investing in these new business models. Our team consists of former management consultants who also typically have experience in development and is largely based in New York City. Through studies paid for by our partners, this team develops the business case and works with these partners to support implementation of the projects through our field offices.

We believe this combination of top-tier advisory expertise at the intersection of business and poverty, paired with our ability to implement field solutions is a unique way to deliver meaningful change to people’s lives.

Position Description:

We view the internship position as an opening pathway to a career in international development. The intern will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of cutting-edge development topics while building relationships with TechnoServe staff across the world. S/he will also be invited to attend professional development workshops, trainings, and organization-wide webinars.

The intern position is open to individuals with exceptional research and writing abilities and a deep commitment to alleviating poverty around the world. The internship will focus on 1-2 larger projects and a set of shorter term tasks that leverage research and written communications skills.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research topics in shared value growth strategies and international development (e.g., green growth, climate-smart agriculture, last mile distribution, agtech, fintech), pending team and partner needs
• Prepare high-level communications and presentations for internal and external audiences
• Support production and review of partner deliverables and proposals, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

We’re looking for someone with passion about our mission who possesses the following qualifications:

• Excellent and demonstrated research experience
• Strong writing and editing skills, with ability to produce documents that are clear and concise
• Ability to prioritize among competing demands, to meet deadlines and to adapt to changing conditions
• Ability to gather data and conduct basic analysis
• Proficiency in MS PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Fluency in English required; other languages helpful
• Passion to use these skills to support our organizational mission of poverty reduction
• For eligibility, interns must be based in a country where TechnoServe has operations (this includes the United States). See a list of where we work here.

Logistics:

We are seeking candidates who can work 40 hours per week for eight weeks during the summer of 2022. The intern will be paid $15 per hour and can be based in our office in New York, NY or remotely. For eligibility, interns must be based in a country where TechnoServe has operations.

We welcome hearing from qualified and interested applicants. Applications will be accepted until January 10th, 2022. To apply, please click “Apply Now” at the top of this page and submit a Word document with answers to the following questions. You do NOT need to submit a resume or cover letter.

Imagine you are working with JuiceCorp, a multinational corporation that sells fruit juices to billions of consumers all over the world. Please design a shared value initiative that could be a partnership between JuiceCorp and TechnoServe. Write a pitch for the initiative that explains to JuiceCorp why they should invest in the opportunity. Please be creative and specific, and limit your response to 150 words or less.

Due to a high volume of applicants, please understand that we are able to contact only those who meet the minimum qualifications. Please also note if applying to other internship opportunities within TechnoServe. Only candidates that are selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and affirmative action employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and beneficiaries from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.

If you have a disability that affects your ability to use our online system to apply for a position at TechnoServe please contact the Human Resources at recruitment@tns.org or call +1 202 785 4515.