Internship Orange Corners: Research and Data on Entrepreneurship Support

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland; also known by its Dutch acronym RVO) is looking for a motivated intern for the period October 2026 to June 2027 (9 months preferred, 6-8 months negotiable) to support the Orange Corners Research and Data team.

The Orange Corners team is in need of an enthusiastic research  intern, with a strong background in qualitative research methods and experience with data analysis (i.e. literature review, coding, interviews, processing and analyzing datasets). As a research intern, you will engage in advancing our ongoing research projects  based on the Orange Corners Research Agenda, as well as support the continuous, data-driven development of the Orange Corners programme. You will be part of an ambitious team, where you will be offered a dynamic task package with a lot of room for your own interpretation. As an Orange Corners research intern, you will switch between gathering data (e.g. literature reviews, interviews and surveys) analyzing and processing data (e.g. transcribing, coding or analyzing in excel) as well as contributing to high quality research.

For instance, you will assist in academic research on the effects of shocks (i.e. armed conflict, or hyperinflation) on entrepreneurship support in fragile states or on the difference in training needs of entrepreneurs who experience linear vs. exponential growth. Another example is analyzing drivers and barriers for Orange Corners entrepreneurs to formally register their business. You will liaise with researchers within Orange Corners and at universities both within and outside of the Netherlands where the research projects are taking place. You will also be in contact with implementers, private partners and knowledge institutions that have a vital role in our research.

You will also play an role in the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) of the Orange Corners programme. Through our MEL framework, Orange Corners collects and analyzes data from participants, hubs, and ecosystem actors, enabling the enhancement of programs. Your role in this field is diverse. For example, you will be in regular contact with programme implementors and colleagues to ensure programme results are submitted, and you will actively be involved in analysing and presenting these results to the wider team, using various platforms to communicate the programme’s impact, such as visual dashboards (POWER BI).  

• You are enrolled at a Dutch educational institution throughout the internship period;
• You are in an advanced stage of a university study relevant to the position, such as: Innovation Sciences, International Business, Organizational Change, Business Management, Economics, Entrepreneurship, International Development Studies;
• You have affinity with qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods, experience in data analysis in excel is considered an advantage;
• You are available to work 5 days a week for a period of at least 6 months (9 months preferred). While we work largely hybrid, you are available to work at the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays;
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English (Dutch is a pre, but not mandatory);
• You are independent, proactive, culturally sensitive, assertive, and possesses strong communication skills;

Ideally the internship is for 9 months, shorter time periods with a minimum of 6 months are negotiable.

Teamomschrijving

Orange Corners is a global movement active in 20 African, Middle-Eastern and Asian countries, that empowers young entrepreneurs to start and grow their own businesses and strengthens entrepreneurial ecosystems. Through collaborations with implementing partners and a broad coalition of private organisations, we offer comprehensive training, mentorship, invaluable networks and funding to young entrepreneurs. This support enables them to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable businesses, and allows them to progress in their business journey from startup to scale-up. To ensure these businesses can thrive, we focus on strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystems in which they operate, through a variety of projects tailored to each local context. Orange Corners is an initiative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is overseen by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Research plays a pivotal role at the Orange Corners. First, Orange Corners’ research can contribute to and influence entrepreneurship theory and practice in low- and middle-income countries. Orange Corners aims to inform policy, share insights with a wider community, and contribute to academic research. The Orange Corners Research Agenda was published in 2023 and identifies four strategic development areas that guide our ongoing research efforts: entrepreneurial ecosystem development, entrepreneurship in fragile contexts, scaling businesses in low-and middle income countries, and agripreneurship. Additionally, research is crucial to enhancing the effectiveness of the Orange Corners programme, by facilitating continuous adaptation through inclusion of literature insights, and data-driven improvement.

At the heart of these developments lies a strong data-driven approach. Through an extensive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework, Orange Corners collects and analyzes data from participants, hubs, and ecosystem actors, to continuously improve its programs. This gives us valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities young entrepreneurs face. By turning data into action, we are able to tweak our interventions and strengthen ecosystem support, ensuring Orange Corners make a lasting contribution to the entrepreneurial ecosystems in the countries we operate in.