Call for Applications: African Union (AU) Internship Programme 2023 for Young Africans

The African Union Internship Programme 2023 is now accepting applications. The AU internship program is a full-time commitment that allows qualified individuals from a variety of academic backgrounds to get professional experience at the AU.

The program’s goal is to expose participants to the workings of the AU at an early point in their professional careers and to help them develop their personal and professional abilities. It allows learners to obtain hands-on experience in a variety of relevant professions while studying in an intercultural setting. The AU will also receive support from individuals who have sufficient expertise and abilities in key areas, and it will serve as a possible training ground for future African leaders.

As an organization which promotes respect for diversity and team work, they encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Applicants should have a keen interest in the work of the AU and demonstrate the ability to interact with individuals from various cultural backgrounds and beliefs.

African Union (AU) Internship Programme Focus Areas

In general, interns assist in providing administrative and technical support for effective implementation of African Union programmes, projects and activities in its below Department/Directorates:

• Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson
• Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
• Economic Development, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETIM)
• Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI)
• Infrastructure and Energy (IE)
• Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS)
• Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS)
• Human Resources Management (HRM)
• Operations Support Services
• Management Information Systems Division
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Conference Management and Publications (CMP)
• Office for Safety and Security Services
• Citizens and Diaspora (CIDO)
• Medical and Health Services
• Financial Control Unit
• Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery
• Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)
• Quality Assurance and Control
• Ethics, Integrity and Standards
• Office of the Secretary to the Commission
• Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC)
• Office of Protocol
• Partnership and Resource Mobilization
• Women, Gender and Youth (WGY)
• Information and Communication
• Peace Fund Secretariat
• New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

African Union (AU) Internship Programme Eligibility

The programme is open to applicants who are:

• Nationals of the African Union’s Member States;
• Students enrolled in full-time undergraduate (in final year of study)/ postgraduate study or graduates from a recognized institution of learning;
• Fluent in one of the AU official working languages (Arabic, English, French or Portuguese, Kishwahili);
• Aged between 22 and 32 at the time of application.

African Union (AU) Internship Programme Terms and Conditions

• The AU will have no financial obligation towards interns – travel arrangements and cost of accommodation and living expenses will be the responsibility of the interns.
• AU will use reasonable efforts to assist the interns in obtaining their entry and residence visas.
• Interns will not be entitled to any compensation for travel.
• The internship will be authorized only once for three (3) month renewable one time for any candidate.
• Interns are not entitled to medical travel or medical evacuation to and from the internship location at the expenses of the Commission. Interns shall therefore have an individual insurance coverage throughout the duration of the internship.

African Union (AU) Internship Programme Application

Candidates interested to apply for internship with the African Union Commission should kindly send the following document to [email protected]

• A motivation letter indicating what they expect to gain out of the internship programme
• A copy of valid passport or national identity card
• Certified copies of relevant academic certificates
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Recommendation letter for internship from the institution of learning that they are attending

Applicants will be required to create a profile on AU Careers portal.

Applicants must submit the following  supporting documents with their online application:

• A motivation letter indicating what they expect to gain out of the internship program
• A copy of valid passport or national identity card
• Certified copies of relevant academic certificates
• Current curriculum vitae (CV)
• Recommendation letter for internship from the institution of learning that they are attending

Upon successful submission of their application, applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application has been successfully received.

For more information, visit African Union Internship.