2025 African World Heritage Fund Internship

The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2006 by the African Union and UNESCO to promote the effective preservation and safeguarding of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value.

The primary aim of AWHF is to tackle the difficulties encountered by African States Parties in implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention, particularly the limited representation of African sites on the World Heritage List and the inadequate conservation and management of these sites.

In 2010, the Fund was designated as a Category II Centre under UNESCO’s auspices, becoming an official and strategic partner of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee (ICOMOS, ICCROM, and IUCN). The Fund is hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on behalf of the African continent.

About the Internship
The African World Heritage Fund is looking for a motivated, innovative, and capable young professional to join its team as a Partnerships and Communication Intern.

This role offers the intern the opportunity to utilize their expertise in social media management, content creation, communications, and partnerships while contributing to the protection and promotion of Africa’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage.

This remote position is open to individuals from the African continent and the African Diaspora. The internship will run for a period of six (6) months and includes a monthly stipend.

Requirements for African World Heritage Fund Internship Program

Social media management:

• Familiarity with major social media platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn) and their best practices.
• Ability to create engaging content tailored for each platform and interact with followers to enhance community engagement.

Content creation:

• Strong writing skills for creating compelling posts, articles, and updates.
• Proficiency in graphic design software such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), or equivalent.

Website management:

• Basic knowledge of website content management systems such as WordPress.
• Understanding of search engine optimisation principles to enhance website visibility.
• Ability to update and optimise websites, improving user experience and content accessibility.

Photo and video editing:

• Proficiency in photo editing and manipulation to improve and integrate images into designs.
• Experienced in video editing software such as Windows Video Editor, Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

Communication skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluent in English and/or French. Working knowledge of other African Union languages (Arabic and Portuguese), is an added advantage.
• Ability to craft engaging narratives through thoughtful planning, scripting, and visual compositionAbility to articulate ideas clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

Research skills:

• Strong research abilities to gather information on heritage sites, conservation efforts, and relevant news.

Analytical skills:

• Familiarity with social media analytics tools to assess engagement and performance metrics.
• Ability to analyse data and generate reports to inform strategies.

Team collaboration:

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, contributing ideas and supporting colleagues.

Time management:

• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

Preferred qualifications

Educational background:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Heritage/Environmental Studies, or a related field.

Experience:

• Previous experience (e.g. internship or volunteer) in social media management, communications, digital marketing or content creation is a plus.

Additional Attributes

• Passion for heritage: A genuine interest in cultural heritage, conservation, and sustainability.
• Creativity: Innovative mindset with a willingness to experiment with new ideas and formats.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Cultural sensitivity: Understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and perspectives.

Application Documents

 Interested applicants must submit the following:

1. A detailed CV highlighting relevant expertise and experience.
2. A portfolio of past work (e.g.: examples of project deliverables, videos, sample of content created for social media/digital marketing, etc.).

Application Deadline

January 22, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) on docs.google.com to apply

For inquiries or further information, please contact Ms. Veronica Maduna at VeronicaM@dbsa.org

For more details, visit the African World Heritage Fund webpage.