Multilateral Development Bank Commercial Liaison Internship (Remote or Part-Time in Person)
U.S. Department of Commerce Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) Liaison Group Internship (Remote or Possible In-Person)
Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in international business, international development, or multilateral organizations? The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) MDB Liaison Group wants you! (**Note: Please send cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts DIRECTLY to the appropriate contact listed below in the "MDB of Interest" section when applying**)
The MDB Liaison Group is offering remote internships for the Spring 2023 semester, where interns will work from wherever they are located on their own personal computers. There is the possibility of interning on site, at the discretion of your supervisor.
Students are free to do the internship for class credit if allowed by your school.
About Us:
Though the officers of the MDB Liaison Group are located all over the world, the office is under the umbrella of the Advocacy Center (a unit of the Global Markets/Commercial Service (GM/CS) bureau of the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce), which coordinates U.S. Government advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on public-sector contracts with foreign governments.
The MDB Liaison Group has officers at each of the five MDBs to assist U.S. companies pursuing foreign public-sector contracts that are financed by one of the Banks. These officers facilitate advocacy for the companies on procurement and contracting issues to ensure fair and equal treatment. They conduct outreach to U.S. industry, counsel companies on potential opportunities through the MDBs, and help them navigate these complex organizations to increase the proportion of MDB projects won by U.S. firms.
Intern Responsibilities:
* The primary duty will be to draft and send notifications on potential opportunities to Commercial Service Offices and Global Sector teams to share with targeted U.S. companies, conduct secondary research related to the assigned MDB, and support creation and updates to marketing materials.
* Enter client management information in Salesforce database and create or update information in excel.
* Assist with creating presentations for external and internal audiences
* Research and related short writing projects
* Attend/report on events and webinars as directed
* Take part in conference calls and online meetings with representatives of the MDB and U.S. companies.
* Create/update and analyze reports on the MDB’s activities across the world
* Provide support/preparation for Annual Meetings, business forums/roundtables, webinars and other outreach events/activities.
Our interns gain a broad view of how the U.S. Government interacts with players in international development projects. Since our interns often join us on calls and videoconferences with representatives from both U.S. businesses and MDBs, they gain valuable insight into issues faced by major companies when competing for foreign government contracts. While this internship is unpaid, we are confident that the experience the intern gain will prove invaluable for future employment projects. Previous AC/MDB interns have gone on to careers in the highest echelons of government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.
Internship Requirements:
*Student must be currently enrolled in school and a rising junior or above
*3.25 minimum GPA
*U.S. citizenship
*Internship hours are flexible, but students must be able to work at least 24 hours (3 full days) per week, with accommodations made for classes.
What We Look For:
The MDB Liaison Group’s scope tends to fit well with students interested in subjects such as international business, trade, development, economics, finance, business, marketing, law, history, and other political and social sciences.
Key skills sought: Attention to detail and research skills, good excel skills, and those with strong writing skills are highly encouraged. Overall, strong communication skills and a positive, can-do attitude are essential!
MDB of Interest:
Although coordinated from Washington, DC, the MDB Liaison Group includes officers physically located at the MDBs’ respective headquarters, listed below. Note that while the internship would be conducted remotely, there is the possibility (at the discretion of your direct supervisor) of interning at the specific Bank’s headquarters, should you be located in the area.
***Please email your resume, a cover letter, and unofficial transcripts to Barbara White; barbara.white@trade.gov
*In your email, let Barbara know which of the following MDBs is of interest to you. (*Note: We ask that the prospective intern apply for only one of the MDBs*)
· Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) | Washington, D.C., USA
· World Bank | Washington, D.C., USA
· African Development Bank | Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
· European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | London, United Kingdom
· Asian Development Bank | Manila, Philippines
Check with your school's Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting the hiring offer to determine if this position satisfies the criteria for receiving academic credit.
To find out more about the MDB Liaison Group, visit: https://www.trade.gov/advocacy-liaisons-multilateral-development-banks