Economic Development Internship Programmes

We collaborate with grass-root NGO’s that support and educate local communities on sustainable living, entrepreneurship, economic growth and development. We also work with research institutes, policy organisations and government departments that work towards supporting and improving the economy at a local, regional, and national level.

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Economic Development internships - quick video overview
The best Economic Development Internship Programmes in Africa?

The best microeconomics/economic development internships in Cape Town? We think so. We pride ourselves on delivering customised internship placements and on the ground support that offer life-changing, valuable professional experiences.

We collaborate with grass-root NGO’s that support and educate local communities on sustainable living, entrepreneurship, economic growth and development. We also work with research institutes, policy organisations and government departments that work towards supporting and improving the economy at a local, regional, and national level.

As an intern in this field you will gain an invaluable insight into the challenges that a lot of South Africans face today. You could be involved with mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, exploring and promoting sustainable economic development practices, managing relationships with local communities, facilitating community-based projects, consulting, assessing and researching policy, developing international business events and much more!

Read on for a full overview of the best economic development internships in Africa.


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KEY INSIGHT

Economic Development Internship Programme Overview

Here's what you can expect from the programme in a nutshell!

Economic Development Internship Key Skills:

  • Creativity and innovative thinking
  • Adaptability
  • Business acumen
  • Research skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Project management
  • Reporting and writing skills
  • Risk and strategic management



Academic & Career Benefits

  • Boost your CV with valuable international work experience.
  • Develop your understanding of governance, consultation and community engagement processes and practices.
  • Build a strong set of transferable skills and add to your knowledge base whilst gaining confidence in your abilities.
  • Establish a network of professional connections 



Ideal Internship Applicant

  • Proficient in English.
  • Proactive and self-motivated.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Studying a business, economics or finance related course


Programme highlights

  • Participate in a meaningful and rewarding internship placement
  • Work in a collaborative and creative environment
  • Have the opportunity to be a catalyst for change to build thriving sustainable communities
  • Benefit from the mentorship of experienced professionals
  • Work alongside inspiring members of local communities, well respected and highly experienced professionals in the field of economic development, and government officials.


Minimum Requirements

  • Minimum age: 18
  • Completed (or will have completed) A2-Levels or equivalent
  • Minimum of 2 weeks duration, no maximum
  • Not a resident of South Africa

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Skills you'll hone through your Economic Development internship

Of course, the list is much longer - but these are the skills our intern alumni reported back that they grew in the most!

Creative thinking
Adaptability
Business acumen
Project Management
Report writing
Risk assessment
Strategic planning
Research

Ready?

Turbo charge your career in Economic Development

What are you waiting for - get started now!

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KEY INSIGHT

Economic Development internship programme reviews & ratings

We managed to grab some detailed interviews from previous interns on this programme, you can click on them below.

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KEY INSIGHT

A hypothetical Economic Development Internship Programme

What might your programme in this career field look like? Here's how it has typically shaped up for our alumni!

Week One

Arrival & orientation. Introduction to Cape Town, your accommodation and your internship host organisation and colleagues.

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Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 1
Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 2
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Week Two

Get stuck into your economic development internship placement and establish yourself with your organisation. Come to our free social events.

Week Three

Enjoy a great work-life balance, getting out and about to see the sites alongside working hard on your internship.

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Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 3
Internship Programmes South Africa - Hypothetical week 4
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Week Four

Pick up more responsibility in your internship as you prove your capability. Enjoy regular activities in Cape Town outside of work. Come to another social!

Week Five

Now you’re flying (metaphorically) at work, you’ll be more and more autonomous. Expect to pick up even more challenges!

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Week Six

Internship is going swimmingly, now go and do something crazy like swimming with some great white sharks or abseiling off of a mountain.

Week Seven

Regularly enjoy the benefits of Cape Town and at work, gather materials needed for portfolio (e.g. references from us and provider).

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Week Eight

Putting the finishing touches to your internship and gathering feedback from us and your internship provider for use in your academic / career portfolio. Finalise paperwork for university (if needed)

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Download and read a free guide.

13 Essential Insights for a Fulfilling and Safe Internship in Cape Town

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KEY INSIGHT

Economic Development internship programme features

What makes our internship programmes a worthwhile investment? Here's a swift overview of what you can expect!

Choice of two programmes

We have two primary programmes to suit your needs. In some instances we also offer virtual placements.

Unlimited duration as standard

You can come for as long as you need without paying any extra fees.You'll receive the same level of support.

Backed by concrete promises

We are 100% on your side. We guarantee every aspect of your trip with unrivalled promises.

Career
Focus

Need to focus on a precise niche or two? No problem! Your programme can focus on your specialist areas.

Immersive cultural experience

We'll help you engage with the culture and personal benefits of being in a foreign country.

Virtual placements

Save on travel and accommodation costs, pay a far lower fee. All while building your professional network.

Academia friendly

We will handle all aspects of academic accreditation, including direct liaison with your tutors and academic staff.

Future career friendly

We will write full reference letters for your placement(s) to optimise future employers' first impression of you.

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Current Economic Development Job Openings

Here are some current or recent internship job opportunities in this career area. We do not publish all openings - so please contact us to hear about others.

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Explore your custom Economic Development programme now

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KEY INSIGHT

A straightforward process

We have worked very hard to streamline our process to make your experience easy, fun and highly rewarding personally and professionally. Flick through the steps below, or read about our process in more detail.

Introduce yourself to our friendly team

Getting your dream internship all starts with you saying hello! Just pop your details into our enquiry form and we'll reach out to schedule a conversation with you that we call a 'discovery call'.

Ask questions & learn how we can help

In your discovery call, you can ask us any questions you still have. We'll talk about your options in the career fields you've told us you're interested in to help you imagine your placement and decide if our service is right for you.

Complete your programme application

If everything sounds good to you, complete your application to put into words your dream programme. This forms the basis of the 'design' of your customised placement and will be the primary framework against which we validate potentially suitable opportunities.

We'll source you the best opportunities

We maintain a large and varied network of the best organisations in Cape Town. We will identify the best potential fits for your programme goals and preferences and reach out on your behalf to assess those organisations for suitability (learn about their current projects and initiatives).

Prepare and plan for your experience

Once you've confirmed which placement offer you prefer, we'll start helping you plan the rest of your trip. We'll book your accommodation, help with your travel arrangements and provide extensive advice and information on how to get ready for your time in Cape Town. Your Bridging Gaps mentor will be on hand to make sure you're fully prepared for your placement.

Maximise your experience & learning

Finally, every member of our team will move mountains to make sure you get what you came for and MORE! It's essential to us that you're safe, you're learning and growing in confidence and developing the most important skills for your future career.

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KEY INSIGHT

Economic Development internship programme cost

Our programme fees are shown below, for a full description of our service offering please click to view the programme or a side-to-side comparison.

Bootstrap

£
795
one-off, fixed

Bespoke programme

Backed by 4
concrete promises

VIEW BOOTSTRAP

Concierge

£
1195
one-off, fixed

Comprehensive support

Visa & travel assist

Accommodation assistance

Social events & excursions

... and lots more

VIEW CONCIERGE

Virtual

£
395
one-off, fixed

Tailored Search

Ongoing support
& mentoring

VIEW VIRTUAL
Click to see detailed programme feature comparison.
FAQ
Economic Development Internship Programmes FAQs

We've answered some specific questions about this internship programme below.

What are the best internships for economics students?

Excellent internship opportunities for economics students include placements in: macroeconomics, economic policy, microeconomics and economic empowerment.


What are economic development activities?

Economic development has a large variety of roles. Various routes include: international relations, policy development, consulting, nonprofit work, community projects, investment advising and more.


How much do economic developers make?

Economic developers' salaries can vary quite drastically depending on the position. Higher paying career opportunities could be to work for the government on international relations/policies. Other roles could include working in economic consulting which can be very profitable as well. 


What should I expect from a research internship?

Research internships often entail a lot of independent work, although asking questions, being proactive, and making the most of your resources are key to a successful research internship. Medical internships or those in the field of biology are often heavily focused on research and interns will either be asked to complete their own project or contribute to ongoing research. These types of internships will also involve laboratory work. Research is also often integral to internships in human rights, law and public policy.


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Economic Development Internship Programmes

Hi, we're really sorry but we are no longer offering internship opportunities in this career field. However, we wish you the best with your search.