Business Development Intern

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals who are interested in international development and would like to gain valuable experience in resource mobilization and partnerships. The internship will be based at IWMI's headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

IWMI’s Business Development Unit (BDU) is responsible for identifying funding opportunities, managing IWMI’s pipeline of proposals and supporting the proposal development process. The Unit also explores new partnerships and fundraising opportunities, e.g., with foundations and private sector organizations. BDU works in close coordination with several departments and teams across IWMI, including Research, Finance, and Communications and Knowledge Management.

Scope of internship

The intern will assist BDU with resource mobilization and partnership efforts at IWMI, under the guidance of the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Specialist and the Manager - Resource Mobilization and Partnerships.

During this internship, the intern will assist in the following areas:

• Help BDU and IWMI researchers develop proposals.
• Prepare summaries of calls for management review.
• Organize meetings with proposal teams and other internal or external stakeholders as needed.
• Coordinate requests for input on proposals.
• Compile lists of projects, CVs, and career summaries.
• Format and copyedit proposals prior to submission.
• Research potential new donors, partners, and country programs.
• Assist in the creation of briefing notes for donor visits and events.
• Support due diligence assessment preparation.
• Provide analysis for new funding opportunities or country programs.
• Prepare institutional information for BDU.
• Develop data sheets for projects.
• Record BDU meeting minutes and prepare FAQs and guidance notes.
• Create training materials such as PowerPoints and workshop resources.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) team to develop relevant communication materials.
• Generate content for internal and external BDU webpages.
• Support other assignments of BDU and the partnerships process at IWMI as requested.

Requirements

Qualifications, knowledge and experience:

• Recent graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree in business administration, development studies, international relations, economics, environmental sciences, or any other related discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work both in a team and independently as required.
• Strong interest in international development.
• Prior experience in research, grant writing, or policy analysis will be an added advantage.

Benefits

IWMI will provide a monthly stipend to the selected candidate during the internship period.

The duration of the internship is 06 months with the possibility of extension for another 6 months based on performance, requirements of IWMI, and availability of funds. This is a nationally recruited internship and only Sri Lankans are eligible to apply.

To apply, visit www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications must be submitted by 24:00 (Colombo time) on June 08, 2026 (Monday).

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 17 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries. www.iwmi.org

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.