Internship Market Research FACT

FACT foundation is currently looking for motivated students for a market research on productive biogas in:

• Burkina Faso, Mali
• Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
• Mozambique, Zambia

FACT is expanding its expertise on biogas in rural Africa where biogas can be used for the generation of electricity for business activities. This will eventually lead to increased economic activities and an improved livelihood.

The aim of the market research is to identify the potential market for biogas installations. Important conditions for potential customer group is the availability of feedstock and water (focus on agricultural waste products), a need for productive energy, and the possibility to implement this new technology in the local culture. Apart from these socio-technical criteria the purchasing power and willingness to invest in new technologies should be assessed as well.

Expected result of the study will be a description of the market potential for biogas systems for productive energy use (5kW – 100kW). The student develops a methodology that include both qualitative and quantitative methods (such as surveys, questionnaires, statistics, focus group discussions). The student works out a market study for one (or two) of the above mentioned countries.

The research should provide current market trends with regard to biogas/renewable energy, market opportunities and threats, and the number of potential customers for biogas installations. Furthermore, the research should include an analysis of customer demands, desires and their financial capacity.

We look for

A student of BSc/MSc. level who is:

• A strategic thinker that can work on sector development
• Interested in or has feeling with the agricultural and/or renewable energy sector
• Knowledge of market studies in emergine economies, or a degree related to development economics, agricultural economics, business studies is a an asset.
• Duration of internship: 2-3 months
• Willing to go abroad for a period of at least 6 weeks
• You have excellent verbal and written skills in English.
• Being able to work in other languages is an asset; e.g. French (West Africa) or Portuguese (Mozambique).
  

We offer

This is an unpaid position suitable as an internship to obtain work experience in a professional international bioenergy environment. It offers you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about bioenergy, the biogas sector, agro-processing industry and SME’s in developing countries. You will have the freedom and opportunity to develop a unique approach for carrying out this study, and at the same time develop new skills and competences in a new dynamic context. FACT Foundation has a modest fund available to (partly) reimburse travel expenses, however, the student is expected to mobilize own resources as well.