Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience, professional development and international exposure at the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The African Union (AU) has opened applications for the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Internship Programme, offering African students an opportunity to gain practical experience while contributing to one of the continent’s most ambitious economic integration initiatives.
The internship programme is designed for highly motivated final-year students seeking to develop their analytical, technical and professional skills in an international and multicultural work environment.
The AfCFTA, a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, is the world’s largest free trade area, bringing together all 55 AU member states and eight Regional Economic Communities to promote intra-African trade and economic development.
According to the organisers, the internship aims to provide participants with firsthand experience of the Secretariat’s operations while supporting projects aligned with its strategic objectives.
Eligibility
To qualify for the programme, applicants must:
Be nationals of an African Union member state and currently residing in Ghana.
Be final-year students enrolled full-time in an accredited higher institution, particularly in Interpretation and/or Translation.
Be available for at least three months.
Demonstrate proficiency in one AU official language (English, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Kiswahili or Spanish), while knowledge of an additional AU language is an advantage.
Possess strong quantitative, ICT and Microsoft Office skills.
Be able to work effectively in a multicultural and international environment.
The AU also encouraged female students to apply.
Benefits
Successful interns will:
Gain practical experience within the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Strengthen their professional and technical competencies.
Build international networks.
Develop a deeper understanding of African continental integration initiatives.
Receive exposure to the operations of an international organisation.
Required Documents
Applicants are expected to submit:
A motivation letter explaining what they hope to gain from the internship.
A valid passport or national identity card.
A current curriculum vitae (CV).
Proof of enrolment or a letter of introduction from their university.
Candidates will receive an email confirmation after successfully submitting their applications.
Application Process
Interested applicants are required to complete the online application by creating an account on the AfCFTA application portal if they are first-time users and uploading all required supporting documents.
Applications close on August 7, 2026.
https://jobs.au.int/search/?q=Internship&locationsearch=&pageNumber=0
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