KONEKSI Internship Initiative

Indonesia 25 Years On; Jakarta Pusat; On-site; IDR 22,320,000 - 44,640,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly allowance

Remote work option

Mentoring and professional development

Job summary

Cowater International in Jakarta hosts a two-month full-time internship designed to develop capabilities in the knowledge sector. The program includes four components: orientation and workplan design, two rotations across key teams, and a capstone project with a leadership review.

Interns gain hands-on experience while receiving mentorship from experienced staff and contributing to real projects. The internship prioritises onsite engagement to maximise learning, with remote work options

Qualifications

• Target current final year bachelor’s degree (Semester 7 or 8) or master’s degree students.
• Two-month placement with mentoring and structured rotations.
• Strong interest in development and knowledge sector.

Responsibilities

• Participate in four internship components: orientation, rotations, capstone project, and review.
• Rotate across teams: Performance Planning and Learning, Strategic Communications, GEDSI and Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, Partnerships Management.
• Work up to 40 hours per week and engage with KONEKSI staff for guidance and networking.

Education

Final year bachelor’s degree (Semester 7 or 8)

Master’s degree students

Job description

The DFAT-funded Knowledge Partnership Platform (KONEKSI) is Australia’s flagship program in the Indonesia knowledge and innovation sector. KONEKSI’s goal is to achieve an enduring relationship between Indonesia and Australia that advances mutual interest and supports Indonesia’s inclusive and sustainable development. The purpose of the program is to increase the use of knowledge-based solutions for inclusive and sustainable policies and technologies. This purpose positions KONEKSI as a vehicle to produce knowledge on complex socio-economic problems, where effective solutions are often beyond a unique sector or category of stakeholders. It will support both the knowledge to policy cycle (K2P) and the knowledge to innovation cycle (K2I), in a complementary and synergistic way. KONEKSI will focus on two End of Investment Outcomes (EOIOs):

• Australian and Indonesian organisations have increased collaboration and mutual understanding through knowledge partnerships; and
• Innovative solutions for inclusive and sustainable policies and technologies are generated by knowledge partnerships.

About the Internship Initiative

The internship initiative is designed to foster the growth and professional development of young Indonesians interested with career in development and knowledge sector. The program will target current final year bachelor’s degree (Semester 7 or 8) or master’s degree students, offering successful applicants a two-month placement supporting KONEKSI’s activities under the guidance of mentoring KONEKSI staff.

By providing meaningful, hands-on experience, the program will directly contribute to the enrichment of Indonesia’s research sector workforce pipeline and the development of sustainable, equitable and inclusive research capacity across the region.

The internship initiative seeks to achieve three objectives:

1. Develop professional interest in the research sector

The program aims to attract and nurture emerging professionals in the research and knowledge sector, providing practical experience in a dynamic and supportive environment.

2. Build individual capabilities

The program will develop the intern’s capabilities in project management, stakeholder engagement, impact assessment, equity and inclusion, and international collaboration and effective communication.

3. Strengthen the bilateral research ecosystem

The program will contribute to building the long-term capability of Indonesia’s workforce in the knowledge/ research sector and enhance its understanding of facilitating and leveraging Australia–Indonesia research relations.

Internship Structure

The internship will be tailored to individual participants, comprising the following four components:

Orientation and workplan design

The first day of the internship will be hosted by Operation & Grants Management team (under HR Manager), to provide induction and familiarisation with KONEKSI program objectives, governance, organisational structure and day-to-day operations. The intern will be provided with time to meet with each of KONEKSI’s teams and discover about current or upcoming projects to develop an internship workplan.

Two program-focused rotations

Weeks 1 to 8 of the internship will consist of three rotations, each lasting approximately 2 weeks, with placements in program-focused teams. These rotations are designed to give interns broad exposure to different areas of the organisation’s work while supporting their learning and professional development.

Rotations will take place across the following teams:

• Performance Planning and Learning
• Strategic Communications and Public Discourse
• GEDSI and Strategic Partnerships
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnerships Management

Intern placements will be determined based on available supervisory capacity, current project needs, and alignment with each intern’s skills, interests, and development goals. For each rotation, a dedicated supervisor, typically a manager or senior coordinator—will provide mentorship, oversee workload, and monitor performance.

Capstone Project and Review

The final week provide an opportunity for the intern to reflect on their placement. Based on their experience, the intern will identify an area of interest and conduct a review of an existing KONEKSI project or activity, develop a proposal for an enhancement or new activity aligned with KONEKSI objectives. While it is expected this capstone project will be largely intern-driven, a supervisor/mentor will be allocated from a relevant KONEKSI -team based on the subject matter The intern will present their capstone project to the KONEKSI leadership team, and take part in an exit interview and feedback session before completion of the internship.

Summary of the position

This internship position offers a valuable opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a supportive, professional environment. Over a period of up to 8 weeks on full time basis (40 hours per week), interns will contribute to real-world projects while receiving guidance from experienced staff.

The role prioritises onsite engagement to maximise learning, collaboration, and networking, with remote work options available to ensure accessibility. The position is open to students from all backgrounds, with a strong encouragement for applications from underrepresented groups.

A monthly allowance, including support for reasonable accommodation for successful applicants originally based outside the Jabodetabek area or with disability, to be considered on a case‑by‑case basis depending on the specific needs of the individual.

Key Responsibilities:

• Commit to a 2-month internship, working up to 40 hours per
• Coordinate internship schedule in line with ongoing study
• Actively participate in onsite work to engage with KONEKSI staff for mentoring, collaboration, and networking.
• Follow organisational guidelines and supervision while contributing to team activities and
• Maintain communication and attendance expectations, whether working onsite or
• Regular contributions to assigned tasks and projects aligned with KONEKSI’s program
• Demonstrated learning and application of new skills relevant to the placement
• Weekly progress updates or reflective reports as
• Participation in team meetings, knowledge-sharing sessions, or networking
• A final presentation and summary report showcasing achievements, learnings, and contributions during the internship.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.