Role overview
What you'll be stepping into
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is inviting applications for its 2027 Internship Program – Session 1. The programme offers eligible students an opportunity to gain professional and practical experience while contributing to the work of the Bank across various departments.
Selected interns may be placed at the Bank's Headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, or at its Regional and Country Offices. Depending on the needs of the hiring unit, internships may be conducted remotely or on-site.
About the African Development Bank
Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is a pan-African development institution focused on promoting economic growth and social progress across Africa.
The Bank has 81 member states, including 54 African Regional Member Countries. Its development agenda provides financial and technical support for transformative projects aimed at reducing poverty and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The Internship Program forms part of the Bank's broader Talent Management Framework and supports the implementation of its Ten-Year Strategy (2023–2032).
The Bank's strategic focus includes:
Unlocking capital at scale
Reforming Africa's financial architecture
Supporting Africa's demographic transformation into an economic powerhouse
Building climate-resilient infrastructure and promoting value addition
Objectives of the Internship Programme
The broad objectives of the African Development Bank Internship Program are to:
Provide students with an opportunity to acquire professional and practical experience at the African Development Bank.
Provide the Bank with a pool of potential candidates for future recruitment purposes.
Important: Participation in the internship programme does not guarantee or imply immediate employment with the African Development Bank.
Internship Locations and Work Arrangement
Selected candidates will be deployed to various departments at:
The African Development Bank Headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
The Bank's Regional Offices
The Bank's Country Offices
Depending on the requirements of the respective hiring unit, selected interns will undertake their internship remotely or on-site.
Remote interns are expected to have:
A personal computer
A reliable internet connection
A suitable and conducive environment for uninterrupted remote work
On-site interns will be responsible for their air travel, where applicable, to and from the Bank's location, as well as their personal upkeep.
Internship Duration
Internships will last for:
Minimum: 3 months
Maximum: 6 months
The internship is authorised only once for any candidate.
Session 1 of the 2027 Internship Program will commence in January 2027.
Fields of Study
Interns may be selected from fields of study that fall within the Bank's job families, including:
Agriculture
Human Capital
Engineering
Investment
Operations Management and Programming
Sustainability
Procurement
Delivery and Performance Monitoring
Risk Management
Finance
Capacity Development
Governance
Natural Resource and Knowledge Management
Economics
Statistics and Data Management
Human Resources Management
Information Management Technology
Real Estate Management and Services
Translation and Interpretation
Communication
Legal
Corporate Governance and Advisory Functions
Other fields of study that the Bank considers relevant to its operations
Special consideration will be given to students working on projects that have a direct bearing on the mission of the African Development Bank.
Strategic Focus Areas
The specific disciplines and specialist professional areas are aligned with the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy and gender strategy.
Key focus areas include:
Agriculture
Human Capital
Engineering
Investment
Operations Management and Programming
Sustainability
Procurement
Delivery and Performance Monitoring
Risk Management
Finance
Capacity Development
Governance, Natural Resource and Knowledge Management
Economics, Statistics and Data Management
Human Resources Management
Information Management Technology
Real Estate Management and Services
Translation and Interpretation
Communication
Legal
Corporate Governance and Advisory Functions
Other relevant fields as determined by the Bank
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the African Development Bank Internship Program, applicants must:
Have attained the age of majority in their country of nationality or origin.
Be 30 years old or younger at the time of commencement of the internship programme.
Be currently enrolled in a Master's-level degree programme at a recognised public or private higher education institution.
Alternatively, be able to apply within one year of obtaining the relevant degree.
Be a national of a member country of the African Development Bank.
Provide a letter from their educational institution confirming enrolment or a copy of the relevant degree.
Be fluent in at least one of the Bank's two working languages: English or French.
Be able to use the Bank's standard software packages, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
Knowledge of SAP is desirable.
Internship Benefits and Conditions
Selected interns will benefit from the following provisions, subject to the applicable programme conditions:
Internship placement for between three and six months.
Remote or on-site working arrangements depending on the hiring unit's requirements.
Assistance from the Bank, where possible, in obtaining entry and residence visas.
Medical insurance coverage paid by the Bank for eligible interns during the internship period.
A monthly stipend for eligible interns.
For on-site placements, interns are responsible for their travel to and from the Bank's location, where applicable, as well as their upkeep.
Application Procedure
Applicants will only be considered if they submit a complete online application and attach a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV).
The African Development Bank runs two internship sessions each year. This announcement is specifically for Session 1 of the 2027 Internship Program.
Application Period
Applications will be open for 15 calendar days:
Opening Date: 28 September 2026
Closing Date: 12 October 2026
Selected interns are expected to commence their internships in January 2027.
How to apply