The German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) - Internships

On a regular basis, DIE offers job positions within its research departments, at irregular intervals also within the service facilities. DIE has been involved in vocational training since 2003. The Institute trains young people to become Office Communication Managers (Kaufleute für Bürokommunikation). For German and international university students

DIE offers internships in the Research,  Training, and Communications Departments.

DIE promotes equal opportunities for women and men, and the reconciliation of work and family life. In 2012, DIE was awarded the certificate berufundfamilie for its family-friendly personnel policy. Respective offers include special flexi-days for employees with small children, flexible workplace solutions and additional services such as family-related allowances for childcare costs.

Internships in DIE's Research programmes

• Content: Interns have the possibility to deepen their existing knowledge in the field of development policy by means of application-oriented questions. They are involved as much as possible in the current research and consultancy projects conducted by their respective intern advisor. Their responsibilities may include doing literature and Internet research, the evaluation of documents and the preparation of short research or consulting papers. It is common also that interns complete a literature survey relating to a relevant topic in the field of development policy. 
• Requirements: Specialization is not required, however we do generally receive applications from students from the following disciplines: Economics, Political Science/International Relations, Sociology, Regional Science, Geography and Sociology. Particular interest and basic knowledge in the field of development policy and/or global governance is a prerequisite. We do expect fluency in English; further languages are highly welcome. 

The Research ProgrammesResearch can only consider applications from students with a strong background in the fields of current or future DIE research projects.

Internships in Training

• Content: Internships in Training are particularly practice-oriented. The focus is on assisting with the organisation and implementation of the MGG Academy, the scholarly part of the Training and Dialogue Programme “Managing Global Governance” which DIE implements on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Please note: Internships in the Team Training are only possible from 01 August to 31 October.

Interns are in close contact with the participants of the MGG Academy and are responsible for particular tasks in the context of individual modules (e.g. organisation and accompaniment of the MGG study trip to international organisations in Brussels and Geneva, as well as assisting in seminars). Interns have time at their disposal to follow the lectures and seminars of the MGG Academy.

Internships in the Communications Team

• Content: Internships in the Communications Team offer an excellent insight in the tasks of a communication and public relations unit at the interface of research and politics and requires excellent communication skills. The tasks include the research of contacts with journalists, assistance with work on the DIE-website, the preparation of presentations, the writing of texts for publication in the media and the compilation of the press review as well as other tasks to be agreed on.
• Requirements: You should be a student in the field of political science and/or journalism/communication, Applications of students on a Bachelor degree will be considered. Very good knowledge in the field of development policy and of the relevant current political debates is essential as well as experience with Web 2.0-applications (Social Media). Only German native speakers are eligible to apply for internships at the Media and Public Relations-Department.

Application Procedure

Interested students should directly apply to the secretariat of the Research Programme in which they wish to complete their internship or to the head of Dept. Communications respectively. E-mails without department specification will not be considered.

Please send your complete application (in German or English), including the standard documents (i.e. CV, cover letter, copies of diplomas, research work, publications) via e-mail only. The CV should provide all relevant information, including the specialisation of the degree and a brief overview on internships already completed (if applicable). Your core subjects and experiences should match the fields of work of the department you apply to. We advise to not send your application more than 3-6 months in advance.