About AFDC Global
AFDC Global is an international development consulting and organizational capacity-building firm working across Asia and Africa, partnering with governments, bilateral donors, multilaterals, and civil society organizations to design and deliver high-impact development solutions. We support NGOs, multilateral agencies, and civil society organizations in recruitment, program management, MEAL, and strategic communication, and invest in the next generation of development professionals through structured learning opportunities.
Background
AFDC Global is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Assistant – Intern based in Sri Lanka to support a focused set of research and coordination activities over a 6‑month period.This is a learning-centered internship designed for early-career development professionals who wish to gain hands-on exposure to NGO coordination, data collection, and evaluation support, with a commitment of approximately 2 hours per day.The intern will work closely with AFDC Global’s Director and wider team to support country-level workstreams linked to AFDC Global’s ongoing projects and research initiatives.
Scope of Work
What You Will Do
- Co-facilitate virtual Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with teachers, youth, parents, and community leaders in Sri Lanka (online or in-person as feasible).
- Support survey rollout and data collection with schools and communities, including follow-up with respondents.
- Assist with participant mobilization — reaching diverse groups including girls, rural communities, and marginalized populations.
- Contribute to policy document collection and desk research on education, digital learning, and related social sector themes in Sri Lanka.
- Translate, localize, and contextualize research tools (questionnaires, FGD guides) into Sinhala/Tamil as relevant.
- Support data entry, transcription of interviews/FGDs, and basic qualitative coding and organization.
- Prepare short country updates and briefs for internal meetings and documentation.
- Attend regular virtual meetings with the AFDC team and contribute Sri Lanka–specific insights and updates.
- Be part of building evidence that informs real policy and program decisions in the region.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the internship, the intern will have:
- Practically facilitated and supported FGDs and KIIs in a real development project context.
- Contributed to a multi-country, mixed-methods research initiative with a focus on South and South‑East Asia.
- Received direct mentorship from an international development director and senior consultants.
- Strengthened skills in ethical research, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and basic data analysis.
- Gained exposure to development consulting, partnership coordination, and global virtual team collaboration.
- Earned a formal AFDC Certificate of Internship and a strong reference (performance-based).
- Developed a realistic understanding of how international development consulting and evaluation work in practice.
Time Commitment
- Approximately 2 hours per day, Monday through Friday.
- Fully remote; flexible scheduling within agreed working hours (some overlap with AFDC team hours required).
Qualifications
Required
- Some exposure to data collection — e.g., through a thesis, class project, internship, or volunteering.
- Current residence in Sri Lanka (non‑negotiable; only in‑country candidates will be considered).
- Fluency in Sinhala and comfort working in English.
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a degree program in international development, education, social sciences, public policy, or a related field, or actively looking to start a career in international development/NGO sector.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Basic proficiency in Google Workspace or MS Office (Docs, Sheets, Gmail) and experience using virtual meeting platforms (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet).
- Self‑motivated, organized, and able to work independently in a remote environment.
Preferred
- Prior exposure to monitoring & evaluation concepts or project management frameworks (no advanced expertise required).
- Demonstrated interest in NGO capacity building, consulting, or development coordination in Sri Lanka.
- Experience engaging with communities, youth groups, or civil society organizations in any capacity.
What the Intern Gains
- Structured mentorship from an experienced international development professional.
- Certificate of completion and a detailed reference letter (subject to satisfactory performance and completion of agreed tasks).
- Practical skills in research coordination, roster/data management, virtual event support, and stakeholder communication.
- Exposure to real proposal, evaluation, and research processes within an international consulting and capacity-building organization.
- Networking opportunities within AFDC Global’s consultant and partner network across Asia and Africa.
Please note: This internship is unpaid. AFDC Global does not cover any costs associated with this internship (e.g., internet, devices, local travel).
How to apply
Please send the following to office@afdcglobal.org with a cc to afdcdirector@gmail.com with the subject line:
“Research Assistant Intern – Sri Lanka – [Your Name]”
Include:
- CV (maximum 2 pages).
- A brief motivation statement (250–300 words) explaining:
- Why you are interested in this role; and
- What you hope to learn during the internship and how it fits into your career plans.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview (online).
AFDC Global is committed to diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from the Global South. To know more about our work, visit https://www.afdcglobal.org / https://x.com/DevelopmentAf