GIZ Internship Programme (German Development Cooperation)

The GIZ Internship Programme places students and recent graduates inside German development cooperation, at the Bonn and Eschborn headquarters or in project offices across roughly 120 countries. Interns are paid (around EUR 2,200 per month in Germany) while contributing to real programs in climate, energy, governance, health and education, implemented on behalf of the German government.

Vacancies post continuously on the GIZ jobs portal, with German essential for many headquarters roles but plenty of project-country internships running in English or French. For anyone targeting a development career, GIZ experience is one of the sector’s strongest early signals.

• Students in the later stage of their degree or graduates within roughly two years, per each vacancy's terms.
• Fields matched to development cooperation: political science, economics, environmental and climate studies, engineering, agriculture, public health, digital transformation, communications and administration.
• Very good German is required for many Germany-based roles, while numerous project-country internships run in English, French or Spanish; read each posting's language line first.
• EU work authorization for Germany-based roles; project-country postings often hire locally or accept international applicants per the vacancy.
• Strong academic record and, ideally, first exposure to development topics through studies, volunteering or work.
• Standard German internship rules apply (voluntary internships capped in duration or tied to study requirements).
• Each vacancy on the GIZ jobs portal defines its own exact criteria.

• Support a GIZ project or head-office unit implementing German development cooperation on behalf of ministries like BMZ.
• Research, draft reports and concept notes, and prepare workshops and events for real programs.
• Work on topics from climate adaptation and renewable energy to governance, health systems and vocational training.
• Collaborate with international teams at headquarters in Bonn or Eschborn, or in one of about 120 partner countries.
• Contribute to monitoring, communications or partner coordination depending on the unit.
• Deliver defined outputs under a supervisor within a structured internship agreement.

• Paid internships, with Germany-based placements around EUR 2,200 per month, unusually strong for the development sector.
• A giant of implementation: GIZ runs projects in roughly 120 countries with around 25,000 staff, so internships exist across a vast thematic range.
• Field-office internships place you inside real project delivery rather than only policy papers.
• A respected stepping stone into GIZ's junior professional and advisor tracks and the wider development job market.
• Structured German workplace standards, references and supervision.
• Continuous postings across the year rather than one annual window.

• Search the GIZ jobs portal, filtering for internships (Praktikum) and your language and location preferences.
• Read each vacancy's language requirement first, since it decides realistic targets.
• Apply online with a CV and tailored cover letter through the portal before the posting's own deadline.
• Shortlisted candidates complete interviews with the hiring unit, sometimes with short written tasks.
• On selection, complete the internship agreement, visa steps where relevant, and start planning housing early for Bonn or Eschborn.
• Set portal alerts, because well-matched postings in English-language project offices go fast.