You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.

Software Developer Intern

DOWA - Doing Good Work in Africa
Email

Doing Good Work in Africa connects brilliant and innovative university students from Ivy League, innovative and HSBC schools in the United States to Africa-based companies, public entities and non-profit organizations working to address challenges at the grassroots level with impactful and scalable initiatives. www.dowafrica.org

The DOWA Winter 2025/2026 Internship Program is now open for applications.

  • Program Period: Between December 2025 - March 2026

Remote | DOWA Partner Organization

Our partner organization is seeking passionate, self-driven interns to join their engineering team as Frontend Developer Interns or Backend Developer Interns. Candidates may apply for either track depending on interest and skill set. This internship offers hands-on experience building real, production-level systems that power impactful technology solutions across Africa and the global innovation ecosystem.

About the Role

As a Software Developer Intern, you will contribute to designing, developing, and maintaining modern web applications. Whether you choose the Frontend or Backend track, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams, learn industry-standard workflows, and strengthen your technical foundation in real-world environments.

Key Responsibilities

Frontend Development Track

  • Develop responsive and interactive web applications using React, Next.js, or other modern JavaScript frameworks.
  • Translate UI/UX wireframes and prototypes into clean, maintainable, reusable code.
  • Collaborate with backend developers to integrate APIs and manage client–server data flow.
  • Optimize performance, accessibility, and scalability across devices and browsers.
  • Participate in code reviews and follow best practices for version control (Git).
  • Troubleshoot and debug frontend issues to maintain high-quality user experiences.

Backend Development Track

  • Assist in building and maintaining RESTful APIs and server-side logic using Node.js or similar technologies.
  • Work with SQL and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) for efficient data storage, retrieval, and schema management.
  • Integrate user-facing elements with backend logic to ensure smooth application functionality.
  • Participate in code reviews, unit testing, and debugging workflows.
  • Apply best practices in API security, data protection, scalability, and version control.
  • Document backend processes and contribute to engineering knowledge resources.

What You’ll Gain

  • Hands-on experience with modern frameworks, development pipelines, and real product workflows.
  • Mentorship from experienced software engineers and product teams.
  • Exposure to collaborative development environments (Git, CI/CD, agile workflows).
  • Practical skills in building scalable, maintainable software systems.
  • Opportunity to contribute to impactful technology projects addressing real-world challenges.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s student in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
  • Familiarity with JavaScript/TypeScript and at least one modern framework (React, Next.js, Node.js, Express).
  • Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows.
  • Understanding of frontend or backend fundamentals (based on chosen track).
  • Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and willingness to learn.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a remote, cross-functional team.

Undergraduate or graduate students of African descent or students with a specific interest in Africa are strongly advised to apply.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Presently, internships are structured as unpaid because, for the most part, our partners in Africa are unable to offer competitive rates compared to organizations in the US. The students are therefore encouraged to apply for grants/funding from their universities or 3rd party organizations. Here is a link to some additional funding resources. In select cases, DOWA may offer grants directly to students.

These unpaid internship opportunities meet the requirements set forth by the US Department of Labor (FLSA); see https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm. Interns engage virtually for about 14 - 16 hours per week for a duration of 8 - 10 weeks in beneficial learnings from innovators which can be tied to the intern’s formal education program through integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit, the DOWA initiative ensures access to development opportunities such as ongoing mentorship, cultural immersion, personal and professional development sessions. Please view past interns' impact stories for additional insights: www.dowafrica.org, If you have any additional questions please contact info@dowafrica.org

How It Works

We offer summer and winter remote and on-ground internship programs with organizations in Africa. Interns are identified through an application process and matched with prospective partner organizations in Africa, in various sectors doing good, scalable, impactful grassroots work. The final selection of interns is done by the partner organizations.

Ideal for undergraduate or graduate students of African descent or students with specific interest in Africa attending Ivy League/Innovative/HBCU schools in the United States.

Fill out the application form to be considered:

https://www.dowafrica.org/intern-program