Research and Advisory Intern: 2026 Smith/Busara Internship Program

About Busara:

Busara is a non-profit research and advisory organization with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and offices in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mexico. Our 130+ staff come from over 15 countries, speak more than 40 languages, and have completed projects in more than 50 countries. 

Our mission is to advance and apply behavioral science in pursuit of poverty alleviation and since our beginning in 2013 have built the world's largest behavioral science laboratory, and created applied research portfolios in agriculture, health, inclusive finance, governance and education, among others.

Along the way, Busara has become a global leader in behavioral science and serves as an exemplar of mixing science and application to solve problems of equity, access, poverty and opportunity.

The Smith Internship Program at Busara 

We are excited to partner with Smith College to offer an experiential internship experience for female students in the global south. Smith College, renowned for empowering women through academia for social impact in a real world setting, will be partnering with Busara, a research and advisory leader in behavioral science research and poverty alleviation in the global south to offer this learning opportunity.

Real-World Impact and Learning

This partnership offers an internship that blends education, real-world experience, and collaboration, designed to immerse students in applied research for social impact. Here, the interns will get the opportunity to explore different areas of applied research in the development sector, working on some of the most pertinent challenges faced by vulnerable populations in the Global South from a behavioral lens. 

Through this comprehensive and engaging learning, the interns will be able to: 

Contribute to projects that aim to apply behavioral economics to real-world challenges and opportunities.

Apply creative ideation in developing solutions tailored to the unique global south context.

Application and Internship Details

Understanding the significance of context in research experiences, This internship program will include four interns sponsored by Smith College; two currently pursuing their education in Smith and two interns from the global south. 

The application cycle for the global South Internship is now open, inviting final year students and recent graduates who are motivated, flexible, and passionate about making a difference. This internship spans 12 weeks, between June and August 2026, offering a deep dive into the world of behavioral science and hands-on experience in impactful projects.

Join us on this journey with Smith and Busara, where education meets real-world impact!

• Support in design and development of research and advisory projects focused on using behavioral science to alleviate global poverty
• Implement qualitative and quantitative behavioral research
• Develop and pilot instruments
• Support in management of large scale field and lab projects with leading academics and institutions
• Organize, clean, and analyze data
• Support in dissemination of results, prepare project reports, and present results
• Engage in internal projects, if needed
• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the project supervisor.

• Students in their final semester in masters/undergraduate programs. 
• Busara loves diversity of thought and we will accept applicants from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds– Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Statistics, Marketing and so on. A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related fields.
• High level of self-motivation and energy, an optimistic “can-do” attitude
• Interest in qualitative and quantitative research or data analytic skill. 
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.
• Interest and experience working in a fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Interest in behavioral science

As applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Data Privacy Statement 

As part of Busara’s recruitment process, personal information provided by an applicant through various means will be collected and stored. This includes but is not limited to the information which the candidate provides to Busara in their application and profile, any data from role assessments, interviews information including video interviews and data provided to us by your referees. This data will be used to evaluate the application, communicate with the candidate, and where a candidate has selected this option, for future recruitment opportunities. All this information will be treated as part of each job application record and only retained for the required record retention period. 

By choosing to apply for this position at Busara, you are giving Busara your consent to process your personal data as described above. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is secure.