freximbank is a financial institution aimed at financing and supporting intra and extra African trade. It has shareholders that include African governments, private and institutional investors, as well as non-African investors. Afreximbank also offers internship opportunities.
The Bank’s formation was established through two instruments – an Agreement signed by member states and multilateral organizations which grants international organization status to the Bank, and a charter which governs its corporate structure and operations, signed by all shareholders. The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, and has branches in Harare, Zimbabwe (established in November 1996), Abuja, Nigeria (established in January 2003), Abidjan, Ivory Coast (established in 2015), and Nairobi, Kenya (established in 2015). Additional information can be found on the Bank’s website at www.afreximbank.com.
Background to Internship placement:
The Bank understands the importance of promoting and financing trade in Africa, which requires a deeper understanding of the challenges in African trade and trade finance, including the principles of structured trade finance that the Bank operates on. To achieve this, the Bank offers internship opportunities to exceptional students, enabling them to gain insight into the Bank’s mandate and operating model. The knowledge gained from the internship will be useful in their future careers, benefiting the Bank and trade in Africa as a whole. Additionally, the interns are expected to bring new and diverse ideas that will enhance the Bank’s operations. The internship is open to nationals of the Bank’s member countries, and the selection process is merit-based, with many highly qualified candidates applying for the programme. A list of member countries is available on the Bank’s website.
Eligibility criteria:
The internship programme is open to students who meet the following criteria:
- Must be currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate study programme at a recognized institution of learning during the year of the internship. Preference is given to those studying economics, business administration, finance, accounting, social sciences, statistics, law, or related fields.
- Must be a national of one of the Bank’s member states.
- Must have fluency in either English or French and a working knowledge of the other. Knowledge of Arabic or Portuguese is an added advantage.
- Must be between the ages of 20 and 32 in the year they apply for the internship.
- Other applicants may be considered upon approval by the President.
Please note that children of Afreximbank staff are not eligible to participate in the programme.
The Internship Programme Periods:
The internship programme is offered twice a year, for a maximum duration of six months. The two periods are June and December. Applications for the internship programme are accepted throughout the year.
The Bank can accommodate a total of four interns per year, with two candidates selected for each internship period (June and December). However, the President may approve additional interns if deemed necessary. Only successful candidates will be contacted by the Bank.
Application procedure:
To apply for the internship programme, applicants must complete an online application form and provide the following documents:
- A letter of application expressing their interest in the internship programme.
- A copy of their current CV.
- A copy of their valid passport.
- Certified copies of their relevant academic certificates.
- A recommendation for the internship from their current institution of learning, including the proposed period of the internship, which should not exceed six months.
- A short statement of intent, outlining their expectations and goals for the internship programme, with a maximum length of one A4 page.
All documents must be submitted along with the online application form.
Internship commencement:
Upon acceptance, candidates have two weeks to accept the conditional offer from the Bank, after which it will expire. During this period, candidates must provide proof of possessing medical insurance and group personal accident cover valid in the location of their internship. Failure to do so before the start of the internship will result in automatic withdrawal of the offer.
Interns are expected to begin their internship within the first month of the internship season. They will undergo the Bank’s normal induction process and will be assigned to a primary department. The Head of Department will choose a mentor for each intern, and throughout their internship period, they will rotate around various departments of the Bank as determined by their mentor and Head of Department.
At the end of the internship, interns must write a report detailing what they have learned and how they intend to use their newfound knowledge to promote intra and extra African trade.
Terms and conditions:
Additionally, interns are expected to adhere to the following terms and conditions:
- They are not employees of Afreximbank and therefore are not entitled to any employment benefits;
- They are not permitted to engage in any other paid employment during the period of their internship;
- They are required to sign a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement at the commencement of the internship, pledging to keep confidential all information obtained during the course of the internship;
- They are expected to comply with the Bank’s policies, procedures, and regulations governing conduct, including but not limited to the Bank’s code of ethics and business conduct;
- They are responsible for obtaining any necessary approvals or permissions from their institution of learning for their participation in the internship programme;
- They are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the internship programme and adhere to the Bank’s dress code policy;
- They are responsible for their own safety and security during the internship programme and are required to comply with the Bank’s security policies and procedures; and
- They are expected to complete all assignments and tasks assigned to them during the course of the internship and submit a final report at the end of the programme.
Other conditions:
These are important additional conditions to note for applicants:
- Interns will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement with the Bank, which will apply for the duration of their internship and after the termination of the internship.
- Interns will be required to disclose any conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during their internship programme.
- The Bank reserves the right to terminate an internship at any time, without any obligation on the part of the Bank, in the event of misconduct or other inappropriate behavior on the part of the intern.
- The Bank may require interns to undergo a security clearance process before they can commence their internship programme.
- The Bank reserves the right to make changes to the terms and conditions of the internship programme at any time and without prior notice.
