Construction Procurement Internship at One Acre Fund: A Strategic Career Opportunity in Rwanda

One Acre Fund is seeking a Construction Procurement Intern to join their Kigali-based team, offering engineering graduates a structured pathway into procurement and operations management within Africa's agricultural development sector.

Organization Overview

Established in 2006, One Acre Fund supports 5.5 million smallholder farmers across nine African countries through integrated agricultural services, including farm supplies, tree seedlings, credit facilities, and agronomic training. The organization's model enables farmers to increase income and assets on supported land by an average of 35 percent while building long-term resilience.

The Rwanda program, operating under the Tubura brand since 2007, represents the organization's largest country operation. With over 3,000 staff deployed across all four provinces and Kigali, the program served 2.8 million farmers in 2024. In partnership with the Rwandan government, the program advances national food security objectives while channeling resources to agricultural SMEs focused on high-value crops, including coffee, avocado, and chili.

The Young Professionals Program Framework

One Acre Fund's Young Professionals Program provides African graduates with paid internships designed to develop professional capabilities through substantive project work. The program features structured onboarding, project management training, and continuous learning opportunities aimed at building career foundations in the development sector.

Position Scope and Responsibilities

The Construction Procurement Intern will work directly with the Senior Specialist and Electrical Engineer, supporting contract management, importation coordination, and technical procurement activities. This position provides operational experience while developing competencies in procurement, engineering coordination, and stakeholder management.

Core Responsibilities:

The role encompasses preparation of Requests for Quotations (RFQs), bid evaluation processes, and supplier communication coordination. Interns will support contract drafting and review activities, ensuring alignment with organizational procurement policies and RICA standards. Additional responsibilities include maintaining procurement tracking systems, preparing sourcing activity reports, and developing contract management tools that provide leadership visibility into procurement operations.

Professional Development Structure.

One Acre Fund maintains a formalized approach to employee development. Interns participate in weekly management consultations, receive access to mentorship resources, and obtain regular performance feedback. Career review sessions occur every one to three months, focusing on professional aspirations and goal alignment. The role offers exposure to organizational growth dynamics and technical experience development.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline
• Demonstrated understanding of construction/engineering procurement, supply chain operations, and contract management principles (FIDIC familiarity required)
• Prior work experience in the relevant field
• Knowledge of engineering standards and professional practices
• Strong communication and interpersonal capabilities for stakeholder and supplier engagement

Position Details

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Start Date: Immediate availability preferred

Eligibility: Rwandan citizens or permanent residents only

Application Deadline: March 2, 2026 (rolling review process)

Compensation and Benefits

The position offers competitive stipend compensation for the contract duration. Candidates assigned to rural locations receive housing location assistance.

Organizational Culture and Values.

One Acre Fund integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion principles throughout its operations, working to establish an environment where all staff experience consistent value, representation, and connection. The organization maintains equal employment opportunity commitments regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, or gender identity expression.

The organizational culture emphasizes what they describe as "heart plus rigor," combining mission-driven purpose with business discipline to deliver cost-effective services at scale across ten African countries, serving two-thirds of the continent's farming population.

Application Process

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One Acre Fund employs a distinctive, hands-on interview methodology designed to ensure optimal candidate-role alignment. The organization actively seeks exceptional leaders from diverse backgrounds, with particular emphasis on African professionals possessing deep local knowledge and community investment.

Applications undergo continuous review until position fulfillment. Candidates should note that One Acre Fund never requests payment or testing fees during any interview stage. All official communications originate. Suspicious communications should be reported to globalhotline@oneacrefund.org.

Strategic Considerations for Candidates

This internship represents an entry point into procurement and operations management within the international development sector. Candidates will develop practical competencies in contract administration, supplier relationship management, and technical coordination transferable skills applicable across industries and organizational contexts.

The position offers particular value for engineering graduates seeking to transition their technical expertise into procurement and supply chain management roles. The structured learning environment, combined with exposure to large-scale operations serving millions of beneficiaries, provides accelerated professional development opportunities not typically available in traditional entry-level positions.

Working within One Acre Fund's procurement function means contributing to infrastructure that enables agricultural services across Rwanda. The role connects technical procurement activities with tangible social outcomes, offering professionals the opportunity to build careers at the intersection of operational excellence and development impact.

Next Steps

Qualified candidates should review the complete position details and submit applications through One Acre Fund's careers portal. Given the rolling review process, early application submission is strategically advantageous.

For additional information regarding the application process, organizational culture, and career development opportunities, candidates may consult One Acre Fund's careers resources or contact the recruitment team through official channels.

One Acre Fund is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, or gender identity.