Internship: Supporting Crop Diversity for Food Security in West Africa

Join Oxfam Novib in the fight against inequality and work together with colleagues, activists, and partner organizations in more than 90 countries towards a fairer world.

We are committed to a world in which everyone has equal opportunities—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. A world in which we address climate change and reduce income inequality.

For the period September 2026 through the end of January 2027, various internship opportunities are available. Please clearly indicate in your application which internship(s) you are interested in. If you are applying for multiple internships, please state your preference in your cover letter.

Ready to make a difference? Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

This internship is hosted by the Seeds for Resilience program team within the GREEN/Climate Resilience unit at Oxfam Novib. The foundations of the seeds work stem from the SD=HS program and is currently applied across three projects: Cultivating Change, Rooted in Diversity and Crop diversity for food in West Africa. The focus of the internship will be the Crop Diversity project currently implemented in fragile contexts in Mali and Nigeria.

The internship will focus on the Crop Diversity project, which is being implemented in fragile contexts in Mali and Nigeria. The primary objective is to support research on seed system resilience in areas affected by political instability, conflict, insecurity, and climate change. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of digital applications in facilitating knowledge exchange, seed access, and policy analysis in these challenging environments.

Through this work, you will gain insights into farmer seed systems in fragile contexts and contribute to developing a strong foundation for proposal development, project implementation, and policy advocacy.

Key Tasks
📝 Conduct background research and support drafting of policy documents/briefs on seed systems resilience in fragile contexts.

📝 To develop and propose a digital farmer field school as a online platform; new ways to facilitate knowledge exchange, access to materials and policy reviews.

💬 Support project implementation, including coordination of learning and influencing activities, and preparation of quarterly reports.
📰 Draft the quarterly internal/external communications materials on the Crop Diversity project.
🤝 Assist in proposal writing and donor reporting for the Crop diversity project. Participate in team meetings and contribute to brainstorming sessions.
🛠 Perform ad hoc tasks as needed, including note-taking, event organization, logistics, administrative support, translation, and editing.

Who Are We Looking For?

🎓 Currently following a master’s degree in food systems development or a related study.
📚 A good understanding of seed systems and agrobiodiversity issues.

✍️ Excellent research, writing, editing, organizational, and coordination skills.
🧠 Analytical and independent thinker, creative problem-solver.
💡 Affinity with coordination, communications, and knowledge management.
🌟 Highly motivated, proactive, result-oriented, and creative.
🌈 Strong cultural sensitivity and gender awareness.
🗣 Fluency in English required; fluency in French is an advantage.

When can you do an internship with us?

For this internship, we are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

You are 18 years or older and enrolled throughout the entire internship period at a Dutch educational institution (HBO or university level). You have the legal right to live and work in the Netherlands, or you can obtain this through your study programme (via a three-party internship agreement). In addition, you have less than 3 years of relevant full-time work experience and have not previously been employed by Oxfam Novib.

Please note: this internship is intended as work experience and career orientation and is not suitable as a graduation internship.

Our offer

You will receive an internship agreement and a monthly allowance of €450 based on a 36-hour work week (pro rata for fewer hours). The minimum number of working hours is 24 per week.

We offer a hybrid working model: at least two days per week at our office in The Hague and the rest from home. Travel costs are reimbursed if you do not have a student public transport card.

The internship runs from September 2026 until the end of January 2027 (approximately 5 months); an earlier start date is not possible. Supervision and guidance will be provided throughout the internship. Our preference is to use the UNL internship agreement, if this is accepted by your educational institution.

Doing an internship at Oxfam Novib

Our work is guided by the core values of Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality. We work according to the Feminist Principles of Oxfam.

We strive for a diverse and inclusive working environment and have a strict policy against any form of misconduct, including abuse of power, harassment and financial misconduct. This is part of our recruitment and selection process.

We will ask selected candidates to provide a reference (for example from an educational institution or another source).

Is this internship right for you?

Do you think this internship is a good fit? We would love to hear from you!
Apply via our application portal by 4 June 2026.

If you are applying for multiple internships, please clearly indicate this in your cover letter for each internship you apply for.

For questions, please contact Mariska Bodewes, Corporate Recruiter via Mariska.bodewes-vanes@oxfamnovib.nl