2027 Internship Program – Session 1,

• Programme2027 Internship Program – Session 1
• OrganisationAfrican Development Bank (AfDB)
• LocationKampala, Uganda
• TypeInternship (3 to 6 months)
• CategoryInternship Opportunities
• Start DateJanuary 2027
• StipendMonthly stipend + medical insurance provided
• DeadlineMonday, 12 October 2026

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier multilateral development finance institution, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. With 81 member states (54 African regional member countries and 27 non-regional member countries from the Americas, Asia, and Europe), the AfDB promotes economic growth and social progress across the continent through financing, technical expertise, and policy support for transformative development projects. The Bank Group comprises three entities: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund (which provides concessional financing to the poorest African nations), and the Nigeria Trust Fund.

The 2027 Internship Program (Session 1) provides students and recent Master’s graduates with an opportunity to acquire professional and practical experience at the African Development Bank. Interns are selected on a competitive basis according to the Bank’s business needs and are placed across a wide range of departments spanning agriculture, finance, engineering, economics, human resources, legal, communications, IT, and many other disciplines aligned to the Bank’s strategic priorities.

The internship lasts between 3 and 6 months, commencing in January 2027. Selected interns may work remotely or on-site depending on the needs of their hiring unit, with on-site placements at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan or at regional and country offices across Africa. Eligible interns receive a monthly stipend and medical insurance coverage paid by the Bank. While the internship provides valuable experience and creates a pool of potential candidates for future recruitment, applicants should note that it does not guarantee immediate employment with the AfDB.

• Agriculture.
• Human Capital.
• Engineering.
• Investment.
• Operations Management & Programming.
• Sustainability.
• Procurement.
• Delivery & 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 & Advisory Functions.
• Any other field of study that the Bank may deem relevant to its operations.

Special consideration is given to students working on projects that have a direct bearing on the mission of the African Development Bank.

Age Requirement

• Must have attained the age of majority in their country of nationality or origin.
• Must be not more than 30 years old at the time of commencement of the internship programme (January 2027).

Education

• Must be currently enrolled in a Master’s level degree programme in a recognised public or private educational institution of higher learning.
• Alternatively, candidates may apply within one year of having obtained such a Master’s degree.
• Must provide a letter from their school confirming enrolment or a copy of the degree.

Nationality & Language

• Must be a national of one of the 81 member countries of the African Development Bank (including all 54 African countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and others).
• Must be fluent in at least one of the Bank’s two working languages: English or French.
• The Bank does not accept dual nationality; candidates must declare the nationality they wish to be considered throughout their career if hired.

Technical Requirements

• Must be able to use the Bank’s standard software packages: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Knowledge of SAP is desirable.
• Remote interns must have access to a personal computer, reliable internet connection, and a conducive working environment.

Technical Skills

• Academic Excellence: Strong academic record at the Master’s level in a field aligned to the Bank’s job families and strategic focus areas.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access for document preparation, data analysis, presentations, and database management.
• SAP (Desirable): Familiarity with SAP enterprise resource planning systems, commonly used in international development institutions.
• Research & Analysis: Ability to conduct research, analyse data, and contribute to projects that align with the Bank’s development mandate.

Soft Skills

• Cross-Cultural Competence: Ability to work effectively in a diverse, multicultural environment with colleagues from 81 member countries across Africa and beyond.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English or French (proficiency in both is an advantage given the Bank’s bilingual working environment).
• Adaptability: Willingness to work remotely or on-site as required, including potential deployment to regional or country offices across Africa.
• Initiative & Professionalism: Self-motivated with the ability to contribute meaningfully to the Bank’s operations during the 3 to 6 month placement.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills for engaging with Bank staff, preparing reports, and contributing to project deliverables.

Eligible interns receive a monthly stipend and medical insurance coverage paid by the Bank for the duration of the internship. The Bank will also use reasonable efforts to assist interns in obtaining entry and residence visas for on-site placements. However, on-site interns are responsible for their own air travel to and from the Bank’s location and their personal upkeep. The internship provides a unique opportunity to gain professional experience at Africa’s leading development finance institution, work alongside international development experts, and build a professional network across the continent. The programme also serves as a talent pipeline for future AfDB recruitment.

• Gain professional experience at Africa’s premier multilateral development institution, with an AAA credit rating and operations across the entire continent.
• Receive a monthly stipend and medical insurance coverage, making this a financially supported internship rather than an unpaid placement.
• Choose from over 20 fields of study and strategic focus areas, from agriculture and finance to engineering, legal, economics, and IT.
• Work at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan or at regional and country offices across Africa, gaining international development experience.
• Flexible working arrangements: perform the internship remotely or on-site depending on the hiring unit’s needs.
• Enter the AfDB’s talent pipeline for future recruitment, with the Bank explicitly using the programme to identify potential candidates for permanent positions.
• Contribute to the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy focused on unlocking capital, reforming financial architecture, and building climate-resilient infrastructure across Africa.
• Open to nationals of all 81 AfDB member countries, including Uganda and all other African nations, making this accessible to a wide pool of young professionals.

Apply online through the African Development Bank’s official vacancy portal at afdb.org/en/vacancy/2027-internship-program-session-1-97099. You must submit a complete online application with a comprehensive CV attached. The application window is open for 15 calendar days only, from 28 September 2026 to Monday, 12 October 2026. Selected interns will commence in January 2027. Please upload supporting government-issued ID (passport or national identity card). If you encounter technical difficulties, email HRDirect@AFDB.ORG with a description of the issue. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The AfDB does not ask for payments of any kind from applicants throughout the recruitment process.

• Act quickly: the application window is only 15 days (28 September to 12 October 2026), and this is one of the most competitive internship programmes in African development.
• Ensure you have your Master’s enrolment letter or degree certificate ready to upload, as this is a mandatory requirement for eligibility.
• Tailor your CV to highlight academic work, research projects, or professional experience that directly relates to the AfDB’s mission of sustainable economic development in Africa.
• If you are working on a project with a direct bearing on the Bank’s mission (agriculture, financial inclusion, infrastructure, climate resilience), emphasise this prominently as it receives special consideration.
• Declare your preferred nationality clearly and upload a valid government-issued ID (passport or national ID), as the Bank does not accept dual nationality.
• Demonstrate proficiency in both English and French if possible, as the Bank operates bilingually and bilingual candidates have a competitive advantage.
• Verify your age eligibility: you must be under 30 at the commencement date in January 2027, so candidates born after January 1997 are eligible.