The African Development Bank Group is recruiting interns for Session 1 of its 2027 Internship Program, starting in January 2027. Placements last 3 to 6 months, with a monthly stipend and medical insurance. Applications close on 12 October 2026, so the window is short.
The program suits young Africans in master’s programs who want to see how a continental development institution works from the inside, whether they plan to build ventures, advise founders or move into policy and finance later.
At a glance
| Deadline | 12 October 2026 |
| Who can apply | Nationals of AfDB member countries, aged 30 or under, enrolled in a master’s program or within one year of completing it |
| Duration | 3 to 6 months, starting January 2027 |
| Support | Monthly stipend and medical insurance (amount not published) |
| Location | Abidjan headquarters, regional and country offices, or remote, depending on the hiring unit |
| Cost to apply | None. The Bank states it never asks applicants for payment |
| Official link | AfDB vacancy page |
Who can apply
You must meet every criterion on the Bank’s list. You must be a national of an AfDB member country (the Bank counts 81, of which 54 are African), no older than 30 when the internship begins, and either enrolled in a master’s program at a recognized institution or within one year of finishing it. Fluency in English or French is required, along with working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. Knowledge of SAP is described as desirable.
Anyone who has already completed an internship at the Bank is not eligible, since the authorization is one-time only. The Bank also does not accept dual nationality, so you declare a single nationality when you apply.
The list of fields is wide: agriculture, economics, finance, engineering, statistics and data management, legal, communication, environmental management, governance and many others the Bank considers relevant to its operations.
What you get
The Bank lists a monthly stipend, medical insurance during the internship, and visa assistance on a reasonable-effort basis. It does not publish the stipend amount on the vacancy page. Interns working on site cover their own airfare and living expenses. Remote interns need their own computer, reliable internet and a suitable place to work.
The Bank is open about the limits: the internship is meant to give practical experience and to build a pool of potential future candidates, but applicants “should not expect the internship to lead to immediate employment.”
How to apply
- Read the vacancy page and check each eligibility point against your own situation, including age at the start date.
- Prepare a full CV, a letter from your school confirming enrollment (or a copy of your degree), and a government-issued ID.
- Apply online through the external candidates portal linked from the vacancy page, before 12 October 2026.
- Submit complete documents. The Bank says only complete online applications will be considered.
Use the official AfDB vacancy page to reach the right portal. Current Bank staff use a different one.
Advice from the Africapreneurs team
- Match your degree to one of the Bank’s listed fields in your CV. Selection is based on the business needs of the Bank, so say clearly which kind of unit your studies fit.
- Check your enrollment letter now. A missing or outdated school letter is the easiest way to lose an otherwise strong file.
- Entrepreneurship students: connect your thesis or projects to the Bank’s stated priorities. The Bank says it gives special consideration to students whose projects support its mission.
- Work out in advance whether you could cover the costs of an on-site placement in Abidjan or a regional office, since on-site interns pay their own airfare and living expenses.
- Apply early. Fifteen days is a short window, and technical support is by email only.
FAQ
Is there a fee to apply?
No. The Bank states that it does not ask for payments of any kind during recruitment.
Can I apply after graduating?
Yes, if you finished your master’s degree within the past year and meet the other criteria.
Will the internship turn into a job?
Not automatically. The Bank says applicants should not expect immediate employment, though the program builds a pool of potential future candidates.
Is a Francophone applicant at a disadvantage?
No. English or French fluency is accepted.
Sources
African Development Bank Group: 2027 Internship Program, Session 1
