Doing Good Work in Africa (DOWA), a U.S.-based non-profit driving talent exchange between the African Diaspora and the continent’s innovation ecosystem, has reached a major milestone—empowering 100 Diaspora youths through its transformative virtual internship program over the last five years. Building on this momentum, DOWA proudly announces its next evolution: the launch of in-person internships across Africa beginning Summer 2026.
Rooted in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 — Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, DOWA’s mission redefines traditional aid by creating circulation networks that turn “brain drain” into brain gain. The organization connects globally trained students of African descent and Friends of Africa with emerging African startups and social enterprises tackling challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, climate, and digital inclusion. Together, they co-create technology-enabled solutions that accelerate sustainable development and strengthen local innovation systems.
“We’ve witnessed how virtual collaboration can unlock extraordinary innovation between Diaspora talent and African founders,” said Ola Erogbogbo, Co-founder of DOWA. “Now, we’re taking it further — bringing that collaboration to life on the ground. Our Summer 2026 goal is for 100 Diaspora students to work directly with innovators across 15 African countries, translating skills and ideas into real systems that drive progress.”
Over the past five years, DOWA interns have contributed more than 500,000 minutes of hands-on innovation across 20+ African ventures, developing scalable solutions in education, telemedicine, circular economy systems, and green technology adoption. The impact extends far beyond the program: DOWA alumni have gone on to launch startups, lead social impact initiatives, and champion innovation-driven development in their local communities and in projects shaping Africa’s future.
The new in-person program marks a major shift in Diaspora engagement—from sending remittances to building resilient infrastructure for innovation. It fosters two-way learning: Diaspora youths gain local insights while African startups access world-class expertise, ensuring sustainable collaboration that benefits both sides of the Atlantic.
“This isn’t just about internships,” Emiola Abass, Co-founder of DOWA added. “It’s about building bridges—connecting knowledge, talent, and opportunity to create inclusive systems that scale impact and strengthen Africa’s innovation infrastructure.”
As DOWA continues to expand its reach, its mission remains clear: to catalyze a global network of innovators committed to transforming development through shared skills, scalable technology, and sustainable collaboration.
This milestone would not have been possible without the collective support of DOWA’s Advisors, Donors, Interns, and Partner Organizations, whose belief in the power of collaboration continues to drive this mission forward. DOWA also extends its appreciation to the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Office of the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for their encouragement and partnership in advancing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure—a shared commitment to strengthening systems that empower people, foster innovation, and build resilient communities across Africa.
Together, we are proving that when global talent, local innovation, and shared purpose intersect, good work doesn’t just happen—it scales.
Learn more about DOWA’s work and impact at www.dowafrica.org.
About DOWA
Doing Good Work in Africa (DOWA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit that connects Diaspora students and emerging talent with innovation-driven organizations across Africa. The program offers free internship placements for self-motivated, forward-thinking students seeking diverse, experiential learning opportunities in high-impact, technology-enabled sectors.
Through both virtual and in-person internships, DOWA advances technology-enabled development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable systems-building—in alignment with UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure.
Founded by two Nigerian women and built in the U.S., DOWA has engaged over 100 students from 40+ universities, partnering with startups in more than 20 African countries and generating over 500,000 minutes of collaborative innovation time.