Careers

Research and Impact Internship - 2024 Fall Semester

About Building Markets

Building Markets’ mission is to build inclusive economies for small businesses so that all people have the opportunity to rise. We do this by opening opportunities for small business owners affected by crises or marginalization to transform their lives and communities.

Building Markets addresses inequality around the world by advancing inclusive economies that work for all. We do this by opening opportunities for small business owners — who fuel more than 70% of the world’s jobs — to transform their lives and communities. Since 2004, Building Markets has combined its deep local knowledge, comprehensive data, and global networks to build confidence and strength in more than 27,000 small business owners affected by crises and marginalization. From securing $1.4 billion in contracts or loans to creating more than 74,000 full-time jobs in places where they’re needed most, Building Markets is elevating small businesses as engines of enduring social impact and economic growth.

To achieve our mission, we concentrate our efforts on four primary outcomes:

• Increased revenue for small businesses from communities affected by marginalization.

• Increased buyer confidence in our target small businesses.

• Job creation for people held back by marginalization.

• Secured working capital for our target small businesses.

The Research and Impact Internship

Building Markets seeks a motivated graduate-level intern to join its Research and Impact team for a remote, part-time, paid internship for the 2024 fall academic semester. The Research and Impact team monitors and evaluates program implementation and leads organizational learning. The intern will work alongside the team, gaining expertise in research methodologies, data analysis, and impact assessment. The primary responsibilities will include conducting background research and literature reviews, gathering data from primary and secondary sources, analyzing the data, and drafting findings.

The internship is an opportunity for students interested in sustainable development, entrepreneurship, inclusive economies, refugee inclusion, climate and environment, and/or women’s economic empowerment. Dedicated to fostering inclusive economies that work for all, Building Markets offers an enriching environment for interns to gain practical work experience in their field of study.

Internships range from a minimum of eight weeks to a maximum of six months. Interns will be compensated at an hourly rate of $20 and should commit to 16-20 hours per week.

Qualifications

Open to recent graduates or graduate students focused on international development, sociology, economics, public policy, political science, business/entrepreneurship, or a relevant field. English proficiency is required; knowledge of a second language is preferred. Strong writing skills are required.

Submission Instructions

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample to careers@buildingmarkets.org by August 19 for consideration for the 2024 Fall Semester.

Application materials should highlight your educational background and research experience and explain how this internship will support your professional goals. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis in anticipation of the 2024 Fall Semester.