Masifundise: Research and Information Internship
Masifundise is a civil society organisation with a long track record in the small-scale fishing sector. Its aim is to promote and advance human rights and Food Sovereignty in small-scale fishing communities in South Africa, and globally.
Masifundise empowers fishers and community-based activists to become agents of change in order to to become agents of change within their own communities, organisations, and social movements, as well as facilitating and strengthening participatory governance, enabling fishing communities to secure their social, economic, and political rights and promoting principles of social, economic and environmental justice.
Masifundise has an exciting full- time, fixed term (1 June 2026 – 31 May 2027) Research and Information internship aimed at strengthening our capacity and programmes through enhanced and participatory research.
The intern will have the opportunity to experience and learn about working in a civil society organisation with a long track record in the social and environmental justice sector, and be exposed to field activities and policy processes at national and international level.
Responsibilities
- Support the Research and Information Officer in the planning and execution of desktop and field research activities
- Assist the Programme Officers in conducting Action-Research activities in targeted fishing communities
- Prepare presentation and research briefs on relevant issues related to Food Sovereignty and small-scale fisheries
- Collaborate on the development of research reports
- Simplify relevant research and information into text to produce popular education materials
- Support the development and maintenance of filing systems and accurate and detailed records of research activities and data collection processes
Requirements
- Must be in possession of, or in the process of completing of an Honors or Master’s Degree in Political Science, Sociology, Social Science, Development Studies, Geography, Law or a related discipline
- Strong research experience
- Experience in qualitative (interviews and focus group discussion) data collection
- Strong analytical and writing skills
- Ability to conduct data analysis using software programs such as Nvivo and SPSS is preferred
- Excellent English speaking and writing
- Ability to keep track of research, notes, and data in an efficient and organized manner
- Ability to work independently and within deadlines in a fast-paced team environment
- Interpersonal skills
- Strong commitment to social justice and to building a progressive grassroots social movement
- Innovative and flexible
- Competency in IsiXhosa, IsiZulu and/or Afrikaans is preferred
A stipend will be provided.
The internship will be located in Cape Town, South Africa and South African labour laws will apply.
If you are an unemployed graduate in the field of research, and have not previously benefitted from a RAITH internship programme, please apply by sending your:
- CV and
- Motivation letter with at least two contactable references, to vacancies@masifundise.org.za using the internship you are applying for as the subject line.
Closing date: 4 May 2026
The internship starting date is 1 June 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.