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TechnoServe Fellows are critical members of the TechnoServer team, working with our full-time staff to further our mission and increase our impact around the world.
technoserve
Launched in 1996 by two dedicated volunteers, TechnoServe’s Fellows Program has grown into a cornerstone of the organization’s mission. Over 30 years, more than 1,300 Fellows have brought high-caliber expertise, global collaboration, and a commitment to market-based solutions, helping our clients build regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Consistently recognized as one of the most highly rated experiences in the sector, the program demonstrates the immeasurable impact when business expertise meets a mission-driven heart.
Fellows
Projects
Countries
Fellows rate the value of the TechnoServe experience*
Fellows
Projects
Countries
Fellows rate the value of the TechnoServe experience*
TechnoServe engages Fellows on three to twelve-month projects throughout Africa, India, and Latin America.
The TechnoServe Fellows Program is a highly competitive fellowship where business professionals have the unique opportunity to contribute their skills to help change the lives of those living in poverty. They experience the field of international development firsthand while building new skills and challenging themselves in a cross-cultural and entrepreneurial environment.
TechnoServe Fellows form a global alumni community representing top-tier consulting, industry, and nonprofit organizations and graduate schools.
While a salary is not offered, TechnoServe typically covers Fellows’ costs to travel to and live in-country for the duration of their projects. These costs may include international airfare, in-country accommodation and transportation, per diem expenses, visas, and other travel-related costs.
Our Fellows drive change across diverse high-impact sectors, ranging from regenerative agriculture to food processing and entrepreneurial ecosystem building. While every project is unique, typical Fellow roles often invove:
Other, less frequent projects include researching and writing communications materials, developing training curricula, and designing strategic research for our clients and partners.
Review our detailed sample project descriptions to understand the skills and capabilities most often required, and view a list of TechnoServe’s current and past partners to learn more about the corporations, private foundations, and governments that support our programs. View our Fellows FAQ page for more information.
Fellows are proven professionals who contribute valuable business acumen and experience to our teams and partners on the ground. Skills needed in the field often include industry analysis, business plan development, financial modeling, operations, organizational development, marketing strategy, and stakeholder management.
While we partner with secondment and externship programs at leading consulting firms and business schools worldwide, we welcome applications from well-qualified candidates outside of these partnerships as well.
Fellows have a minimum of two years’ full-time work experience, often – though not exclusively – in management consulting, financial services, or corporate strategy. They demonstrate a high degree of enthusiasm, flexibility, and strong communication skills, and can work comfortably in unfamiliar, sometimes challenging environments.
Our Fellows cohort is highly global, representing diverse nationalities, with more than half of Fellows coming from outside the United States.
Hear more about TechnoServe Fellows and their experiences by viewing the Meet Our Fellows video and reading Fellow blogs.
We welcome applications on a rolling basis. The TechnoServe Fellows Program aligns candidate skills and interests with project requirements, and applicants are interviewed as new opportunities emerge. While individual preferences are taken into account, offers to join TechnoServe are subject to project needs at the time of application.
The process for becoming a TechnoServe Fellow is highly selective. Please note that some positions require proficiency in French, Spanish or Portuguese.We encourage you to read our frequently asked questions and sample project descriptions before submitting your application.
See the work and expertise of our Fellows—click a photo to explore some of their profiles.
Technoserve
TechnoServe received a generous endowment to the Fellows Program from Board Co-chair Rachel Hines and her husband Michael Cemblast in 2023. In recognition of this generous gift, TechnoServe will select 10 Rachel Hines Fellows annually to focus on projects related to climate and nature. The gift will provide critical support over the next 20 years and make possible 200 Rachel Hines Fellows.
Private equity investor Joe Manning has volunteered twice as a TechnoServe Fellow—first helping Tanzanian coffee farmers in 2010, then returning 15 years later with his family to support Kenyan entrepreneurs. His hands-on experience has made him a passionate advocate for TechnoServe’s business-focused approach to fighting poverty.
They spent last year immersed in a different culture, searching for business solutions that will restore ecosystems, protect nature, and ultimately create prosperous livelihoods. Meet the first cohort of Rachel Hines Fellows.
Nuria Riechenberg, a TechnoServe Fellow in 2023, played a pivotal role in the LIWAY Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There, she created an intervention to address a gap in the recycling value chain, creating sustainable recycling solutions and thousands of jobs. Discover how her experience as a TechnoServe Fellow has impacted her career.
FAQs
TechnoServe welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and nationalities. In any given year, more than half of the Fellows placed may be from countries outside the U.S.
The Fellows Program does not post specific project openings on our website. Roles are limited in number, and placements are highly competitive. The Fellows Program team matches candidate skill sets closely with project requirements. Candidates are alerted if/when a potential match between skills and interests has been identified. At this point, a candidate will be sent additional information on the match or matches identified. When you apply to the Fellows Program, you will have the chance to tell us about your experience, skills, and interests, and to share with us what you hope to gain – both professionally and personally – through the Fellows experience. Your skills, interests and goals will be seriously considered as we explore whether a strong fit exists for you within our program.
Typical projects consist of: assessing value chains, industries and markets, and identifying opportunities to improve local economies; crafting business and funding strategies in partnership with one or more TechnoServe clients; strengthening the operations and/or organizational capacity of TechnoServe clients; researching and writing communication materials such as programmatic lessons learned; and designing innovative TechnoServe projects and proposals. Other, less frequent projects include but are not limited to: exploring the use of new information and communication technology in our programs; evaluating long-term program impact and sustainability; designing and executing strategic research; and assessing financial and/or risk management for our clients and partners. Please view the “Sample Fellow Projects” page on our website to review these project descriptions in more detail.
Fellows have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience and have proven business skills applicable to our programs. Successful candidates typically: have experience working in client services at management consulting companies, investment firms, and industry leaders; demonstrate interest in living and working in emerging markets; and bring stellar academic credentials. Key skills include – but can also exceed – proven strategic thinking, problem solving, communication and analytical capabilities. Fellows are resourceful, creative and passionate. They are equipped to handle ambiguity and navigate new cultures with enthusiasm.
Yes. We have had Fellows with over 30 years of experience and who held senior-level management positions before joining the Fellows Program. We would welcome your application.
We staff most projects between one and four months in advance of the agreed upon start dates. However, many successful candidates apply as many as six months ahead of their anticipated dates of availability. This is especially true if a candidate must first secure an employer’s approval for a leave of absence. In the application, you will indicate the dates that you are available to serve as a Fellow with TechnoServe. You will also have the chance to indicate whether these dates are flexible or fixed, and if you require a certain amount of notice from TechnoServe.
Most TechnoServe projects require at least a three-month commitment on the ground. In the summer months, we sometimes have 10-week positions available for MBA and graduate students. If you are available for less than 10 weeks, you may still apply, but please understand that the available opportunities will be limited. In some cases, shorter-term projects that are identified require financial contributions from the Fellow to cover some, if not all, of his or her travel and in-country expenses.
In the application, you will see a section called “Project Matching.” Here we invite you to indicate specific preferences, if any, for the geographic region or country where you would like to volunteer as a Fellow. We also ask you to designate which one or two project types you feel best suited to. In the essay section you explain how your skills and capabilities align with those projects. Individual preferences on location and project type are taken into account. Please understand, however, that offers to join TechnoServe are ultimately subject to specific project needs.
Joint placements are possible, but they are infrequent and cannot be guaranteed. If you are interested in applying with your significant other, please create two separate accounts and submit your individual applications in The ConCourse application platform. Please note your desire to be in the same location in the “Additional Information” section of the Personal Information page.
With the exception of positions in Haiti and Brazil, a minimum of business-level proficiency in Spanish is required for all roles with our Latin America and Caribbean team. If you would not be able to effectively conduct business in Spanish, we would encourage you to consider applying for roles in Africa or India.
Yes, please do. In the application, we ask how you came to learn about the Fellows Program. Please note the source and list the specific name(s). We are always interested to hear about your connection to TechnoServe.
Yes. Please indicate in The ConCourse application that you have been in touch with a member of the TechnoServe staff.
Yes. On the last page of the application, you will be prompted to upload two documents. The first document is an up-to-date copy of your resume or CV. The second is a PDF or Word document with brief answers (up to 400 words) to the two required essay questions. These questions are detailed in the application.
When you submit your application through The ConCourse application platform, you should receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive this email, please send an inquiry to fellows@tns.org, indicating the date and time you submitted the form. Please rest assured that we review all incoming applications in their entirety. We look forward to learning more about you, and if we establish your profile is a strong fit for a Fellow role with TechnoServe, we will contact you.
The timing will depend on a number of factors, including your availability, the projects we have available, and preparatory steps such as obtaining a partner or client’s input. In some cases, the process – from initial project match to confirmed offer – may take just a few weeks. In other cases, placement may take a few months. The Fellows Program team will keep you updated along the way. Please understand that submitting your application does not guarantee a place in the program. The Fellows Program is highly competitive.
Please share your updated information via an email to the Fellows Program at fellows@tns.org.
Projects emerge on a rolling basis. If the Fellows Program staff identifies a project that aligns with your skills, interests and availability, a member of the team will email you to share an overview of the project. From there you would interview one or more times with the corresponding program team manager or country director. The interview, like the application, is an essential part of the selection process. The program team, in partnership with the Fellows Program staff, will determine if an offer is appropriate.
The interview process helps us to get to know you, your talents, your goals and your personality. Our aim is to find a role for you in which you will grow and excel. Each interviewer has his or her own style. In all cases, however, you will want to prepare for a mixture of open-ended, behavioral, situational and/or case questions. If a statement of work has been shared in advance, you will want to review the expected deliverables and think through how you would approach your work. The interview is also your opportunity to ask questions about the work, the team, the culture and the country in which you would be volunteering.
You will work with the Fellows Program team to determine what projects, if any, align best with your skills and interests. From there, the team will be on the lookout for new potential matches.
Most projects cover: one round-trip international flight in economy class; in-country accommodation; per diem expenses to cover meals and incidentals; required travel visas; and vaccinations. All Fellows working outside of their own countries are also given emergency evacuation insurance coverage with International SOS. Fellows are responsible for maintaining independent health insurance for the duration of their project. Please note that while TechnoServe covers the majority of these expenses for most projects, we do have some projects for which the budget cannot cover all such expenses. Indicating the expenses, if any, you would be willing to cover may open up additional TechnoServe project matches.
TechnoServe does not have a separate internship program for advanced degree candidates. However, many graduate students, especially MBA and MPP/MPA candidates, have spent their summers as Fellows. Please apply to the Fellows Program through The ConCourse application platform. If you are looking for a U.S.-based internship, please view the TechnoServe jobs page where specific openings would be listed.
Very rarely. From time to time, however, remote projects – for example, projects that you would carry out from your home – do emerge. These projects depend on the needs of our teams in the field.
While we are sorry to miss the opportunity and thank you for your interest, TechnoServe is not currently accepting applications to partner with graduate student teams.
We understand that you may wish to speak with a member of the team. However, due to the high volume of candidates and inquiries, we are not able to offer informational interviews. If you would like to be considered for an opportunity with the Fellows Program or to learn more about specific project opportunities, please apply via The ConCourse application platform. We also encourage you to reach out to friends and colleagues who are program alumni. You may wish to do a search on LinkedIn to identify a connection.
If we have not answered your question through the information on our website or in these FAQs, please send an email to fellows@tns.org. We will do our best to respond to you as soon as possible.
With the exception of positions in Latin America and parts of Africa, most Fellow projects require a minimum of business-level proficiency in English. Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the exception of Brazil, require a minimum of business-level proficiency in Spanish. Projects in some countries in West Africa require business-level French and those in Mozambique and Brazil require business-level Portuguese. If you would not be able to effectively conduct business in Spanish, French, or Portuguese in one of these countries, we would encourage you to consider applying for roles in other regions of Africa or in India.
We accept applications on a rolling basis. We also receive Fellow projects from our program and country teams on a rolling basis, therefore, we have new projects at any given time throughout the year. We encourage you to apply, no matter when your ideal start date may be.
Typically, Fellows work with either one manager or within a team of full-time TechnoServe staff in the field. Although Fellows do not manage others, they often play a leadership role in the execution of their project, while working with their direct manager/team.
By The Numbers Section: *Data collected from exit surveys 2023-2025
Senior Manager, Fellows Program
Megan brings over 20 years of experience in international affairs and development, including early work with the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the past 12 years at TechnoServe.
In her current role, she leads the Fellows Program, deploying top-tier professionals across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and India to advance business and operations strategy and other priority initiatives for program teams. She also oversees global security, partnering with country leadership to manage risk, strengthen resilience, and enable effective program delivery in complex operating environments.
Beyond her professional work, Megan has volunteered both internationally and domestically, supporting community-level initiatives in Guatemala and Laos and assisting women and families through a domestic violence safehouse in the United States.
Megan holds a master’s degree in Policy Management with a focus on International Development Policy and a bachelor’s degree in Communication (Media).
Fellows TechnoServe, Peru
Turning Trash into Opportunity
Background: Raquel Izar came from Bain & Company where she was a senior associate in the Sao Paolo, Brazil office. Raquel worked in different industries, such as apparel, healthcare, retail, services and a variety of themes from strategy, business building, and digital marketing. Raquel graduated in Industrial Engineering from Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). She is also the co-founder of a NGO in Brazil that works with people experiencing homelessness.
Project: Raquel supported TechnoServe’s Circular Economy work by designing inclusive business plans for material recycling facilities in Peru. She identified key areas for improvement in financial, operational, and commercial processes, directly benefiting waste-pickers and improving recycling rates. Her market-sizing analysis highlighted the potential for job creation and improved livelihoods. Raquel’s efforts culminated in a scalable model for a business plan to enhance waste management systems, drive employment in township economies, and address Peru’s environmental challenges.
Fellows TechnoServe, Kenya
Reducing Food Loss, Boosting Nutrition
Background: Yednkachew (Yed/Yeddy) Assefa came to TechnoServe from Oliver Wyman’s Washington, D.C. office. As a consultant, he supported strategy and due diligence projects for clients across federal and commercial markets. He comes from a background in International Development with experience at USAID and Africa-focused NGOs. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 with distinction in International Relations and minors in International Development, Africana Studies, & Law & Society.
Project: Yed partnered with TechnoServe’s NutriSave team in Kenya to conduct an in-depth analysis of the tomato paste business case, drawing on best practices from Senegal, Egypt, and Nigeria to reduce food loss and improve access to affordable nutrition. He also supported the prototyping and testing of five food loss and waste reduction and nutrition concepts, applying a desirability, feasibility, and viability framework to inform go/no-go piloting decisions.
Fellows TechnoServe, Nigeria
Accelerating Tech-Driven Agri Impact
Background: Before joining TechnoServe, Bea Wintschnig worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company in Germany across different industries, with the highlight project being shaping the financing strategy for a large green steel transformation. Her favourite internship experience was at an early-stage start-up incubator in Uganda, where she spent four months supporting young local entrepreneurs. She studied Business Administration at Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich for her bachelor’s degree and going on to earn a Master’s in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics.
Project: Bea served as a Market Creation Fellow with CASA Plus in Nigeria, working with a high-growth digital agribusiness to strengthen smallholder market access and investment readiness. She analyzed operational and financial performance, identified growth opportunities, designed tailored solutions to overcome scaling challenges, and developed implementation plans to drive inclusive, tech-enabled agricultural growth in one of Africa’s largest smallholder markets.
Fellows TechnoServe, Tanzania
Unlocking Growth in Emerging-Market Agribusiness
Background: Before becoming a Fellow, Daniel Ndirangu was an analyst at McKinsey & Company in Boston. During this time, he worked on different industries and functions including sustainable mobility, economic development, M&A, logistics, and transport infrastructure. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University.
Project: Daniel worked with TechnoServe’s CASA Plus program in Tanzania, providing analytical and strategic assistance to impact investors and agribusinesses in the climate-resilient agriculture sector. He maintained and analyzed investment pipelines, conducted value-chain and sector assessments, and prepared insights and reports to inform investor decision-making. Daniel also contributed to due diligence, developed knowledge products, and supported the design and implementation of market-building interventions.
Fellows TechnoServe, Mozambique
Scaling Seed Operations for Regional Growth
Background: Pedro Kenzo Jukemura came to TechnoServe during his MBA and International Studies programs at Wharton Business School and The Lauder Institute. Prior to school, Pedro worked as a consultant at Bain & Company in São Paulo and a senior associate consultant in Atlanta. There, he focused on business strategy, post-merger integration, and strategic due diligence on healthcare, consumer product goods, and mining. He holds a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Universidade de São Paulo and a Master of Science in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.
Project: Pedro worked with TechnoServe Mozambique’s client, a Mozambican seed production and processing company. He reinforced the company’s operations by supporting certified seed production, strengthening the supply chain with small and medium farmers, and enhancing technical assistance and market linkages. Pedro also contributed to business structuring, financial planning, and process optimization, helping the company expand its sunflower seed and refined oil production, improve organizational efficiency, and scale operations for regional markets in Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Fellows TechnoServe, Ehtiopia
Scaling SGBs through strategy and execution
Background: Julio has experience across engineering, management consulting, and social impact initiatives. He began his career as a Production Engineer at Airbus Defence and Space, before transitioning into management consulting. He worked at KPMG Strategy and Madrid Futuro, a non-profit organization created by McKinsey & Company to support Madrid’s social and economic recovery after COVID-19, contributing to projects across banking, insurance, smart cities, and public sector transformation. In 2022, Julio joined TechnoServe as a Fellow Consultant in Kenya and Ethiopia, focused on private-sector–led development and agricultural value chains. He then joined McKinsey & Company’s Madrid office, where he worked on strategy and transformation projects, before completing an MBA at INSEAD (Singapore and France). Julio has since returned to McKinsey & Company and is currently based in Madrid.
Project: Julio has experience across engineering, management consulting, and social impact initiatives. He began his career as a production engineer at Airbus Defence and Space, before transitioning into management consulting. He worked at KPMG Strategy and Madrid Futuro, a non-profit organization created by McKinsey & Company to support Madrid’s social and economic recovery after COVID-19, contributing to projects across banking, insurance, smart cities, and public sector transformation. In 2022, Julio joined TechnoServe as a Fellow in Kenya and Ethiopia, focused on private-sector–led development and agricultural value chains. He then joined McKinsey & Company’s Madrid office, where he worked on strategy and transformation projects, before completing an MBA at INSEAD in Singapore and France, which was fully sponsored by McKinsey & Company. Julio has since returned to McKinsey & Company and is currently based in Madrid.
Fellows TechnoServe, India
From Fields to Frameworks: Driving Agricultural Growth
Background: Carola Borsetti came to TechnoServe through her Master of Public Administration program at Columbia SIPA. Prior to SIPA, Carola was a Manager at Bain & Company in London and a consultant prior to that in Milan. She worked as a generalist, with exposure to different industries including consumer products, financial services and private equity.
Project: Carola worked with TechnoServe India’s senior leadership to shape the strategic direction of high-impact agricultural programs focused on regenerative agriculture and farmer-led enterprises. She led value-chain assessments for priority crops, helped design a scorecard to measure impact of regenerative agriculture practices, developed industry-level strategic plans, evaluated and selected AgriTech partners, and designed performance frameworks to measure farmer and farmer producer organizations’ progress.
Fellows TechnoServe, Cote d’Ivoire
Expanding Global Reach of Cashew Processors
Background: Krystal Erickson came to Technoserve with nine years of experience spanning corporate strategy, marketing, human-centered design and business development. She has honed her skills at Fortune 100 companies like Samsung and Oracle, early-stage startups and marketing agencies. Krystal holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BS in Engineering: Product Design from Stanford University.
Project: Working with TechnoServe’s Prosper Cashew program in West Africa, Krystal supported marketing strategies for cashew processors across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. She developed go-to-market strategies, refined brand positioning for regional processors, and executed targeted marketing campaigns, helping increase global visibility and market access. Her work strengthened the capacity of local processors, facilitated international investment, and advanced West Africa’s position as a competitive supplier of cashew products.
Fellows TechnoServe, India
From Insights to Impact: Powering India’s Green Enterprises
Background: Laura Smith is a former senior associate at McKinsey & Company in London. While at McKinsey, Laura focused on sustainability and agricultural development across Europe and Africa. Laura studied Economics and Management at Oxford University.
Project: Laura partnered with TechnoServe’s Greenr Sustainability Accelerator team in Mumbai, India to drive program delivery and scale, unlocking growth for sustainable green businesses across India’s waste, textiles, and forestry sectors. She led the design of program recruitment processes and scoring tools, carbon reduction frameworks, translated quantitative and qualitative data into climate action strategies for portfolio companies, and co-led capability-building workshops for founders and management teams.
Fellows TechnoServe, South Africa
Catalyzing Green Agri Development
Background: Prior to joining TechnoServe, Luiza Correa graduated from her MBA in London Business School and worked at Bain and Company in São Paulo and San Francisco as well as at Cisiv, a British health tech company. During her time at Bain, Luiza completed projects in various industries such as retail, CPG, education and third sector, across different capabilities such as customer experience, strategy, digital and more.
Project: Luiza served as a Fellow in South Africa in 2023 where she designed initiatives focused on innovative blended financing mechanisms and technical assistance that could drive agricultural job creation in coal-mining provinces to support a just energy transition. Through on-the-ground fieldwork, and speaking to a range of stakeholders including investors/lenders, farms and agricultural associations, she uncovered a pipeline of investment opportunities/needs and outlined a program of supporting technical assistance. Her work directly shaped a UK FCDO program that ran from 2024-26 that involved creating a blended finance facility with a specialist non-bank agricultural lender which was part funded directly by FCDO, and a program of technical assistance that was delivered to a shortlist of seven early-stage commercial farms which is expected to create hundreds of jobs.
