Human Rights and Environmental Justice in Edéa Cameroon Internship

The Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC), in collaboration with the African Studies Center (ASC), and the Program for International and Comparative Studies (PICS), is excited to offer a fellowship to fund a human rights summer internship with the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF) in Edéa, Cameroon. The fellowship seeks to support a U-M student with demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in human rights, sustainable development, and women’s empowerment.

The successful applicant will spend eight weeks, between May and August 2026, working with the REFACOF team providing research and communications support to strengthen their programming.

The fellowship provides a stipend of $5,000 to defray the costs of living and travel for eight weeks.

Upon completion of this internship, fellows are expected to deliver a presentation of their internship projects and experiences and submit a written reflection to the sponsoring organizations.

Internship Positions at REFACOF

1. Research Intern
   This intern will lead field research assessing the impact and costs of its community forest management and restoration programs. Potential research topics include analyzing the fiscal and material costs of restoring one hectare of degraded mangrove or forest areas, evaluating the socio-economic benefits for participating communities, or identifying which forest-based livelihood initiatives provide the most stable and sustainable income for women. The specific research question will be determined collaboratively between the intern and REFACOF staff upon enrollment.
2. Grant Intern
   REFACOF is seeking an intern to support its fundraising efforts by identifying and applying to international grant opportunities in English and French. The intern will help expand REFACOF’s funding base by researching aligned donors and contributing to proposals that advance human rights–based development, gender equity, and women’s land and resource rights. This role will strengthen REFACOF’s capacity to sustain and scale its community forest management and restoration programs.
3. Communications Intern
   The communications intern will strengthen REFACOF’s digital presence and improve the accessibility of its work to international audiences, partners, and donors. They will work under the communications director at REFACOF. The intern will help communicate REFACOF’s commitment to human rights, gender justice, and community-centered environmental stewardship.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026

Notification: TBA

Eligibility Requirements

This fellowship is open to U-M undergraduates in the classes of 2027 and 2028, as well as U-M graduate students. French proficiency preferred and willingness to work in a French-language environment required. Applicants should demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills, appreciation of cultural diversity, and enthusiasm for working collaboratively as part of a team.

Application Procedure

To apply, submit the following documents to dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu:

Statement of interest (500 words maximum). The statement should explain why you would like to participate in this internship program and indicate relevant academic or other experiences related to human rights, sustainable development, Africa, International Studies, Environmental Science, or Women and Gender Studies. Please also indicate which of the internship programs listed above is of greatest interest to you as well as your flexibility regarding the options.

U-M transcript  

Please submit your current Michigan transcript.

One letter of recommendation should be submitted directly by the recommender

Contact Information: dhrc-fellowships@umich.edu

Desired Qualifications

We welcome applications from students from diverse backgrounds and academic programs. Basic knowledge of human rights, sustainable development, forest ecosystems, and African culture is preferred. Students should also be prepared to adapt to unfamiliar settings and the changing needs of the organization. Cameroon is a predominantly  Francophone nation, so it is desired that students have some knowledge of French.

Applications will be evaluated on the quality of the statement of purpose and qualifications, the applicant’s record of achievement, and the relevance of their experience and goals to the internship position with REFACOF. Final applicants will be interviewed by REFACOF staff.

About the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests

The African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF) is a non-profit that works primarily in Central Africa to support women in gaining economic and social autonomy through agroforestry initiatives and land tenure advocacy. REFACOF’s work is grounded in a human rights-based approach, recognizing secure land tenure, access to natural resources, gender equality, and participation in environmental governance as fundamental human rights. The organization works to address structural inequalities that prevent rural and Indigenous women from exercising their rights to land ownership, food security, environmental protection, and economic self-determination. Through its programming, REFACOF promotes environmental stewardship while advancing social justice, ensuring that women are not only beneficiaries of sustainable development but leaders and decision-makers in shaping their communities’ environmental futures. In partnership with the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) at the University of Michigan, REFACOF would like to host two students for a summer internship  program. Cecile Bibiane Ndjebet is the founder and president of REFACOF and will serve as the primary contact for the internship program.

Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC)

The Donia Human Rights Center is a forum for intellectual exchange on issues around human rights among scholars, practitioners, students, and the broader public. Toward that end, we invite leading practitioners and scholars to share their insights and expertise on human rights gained through their experiences and research. We also offer internship and study-abroad opportunities to students that would enhance their understanding of contemporary human rights issues and equip them with the tools to tackle challenging human rights problems around the world.

African Studies Center

The African Studies Center (ASC) at the University of Michigan provides strategic guidance and coordination for Africa-related education, research, and training activities on campus, and promotes opportunities for collaboration with African partners on the continent. The ASC also sponsors conferences, lectures, exhibits, film series, and cultural performances throughout the year. These events are designed to foster understanding of Africa among members of the U-M community and the public  and to advance the exchange of resources and knowledge between U-M and its partners in Africa.

Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS)

The Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) stands as the cornerstone of Global and International Studies at the University of Michigan. As a vibrant interdisciplinary program, PICS is dedicated to preparing students to become informed, engaged, and effective global citizens and leaders.