Trainee programmes

Over the course of the 17-month programme you will get a hands-on introduction to many different aspects of German and multilateral development cooperation (DC). Your training starts in Germany with a one-month onboarding phase to prepare you for working abroad. 

This is followed by a foreign assignment ranging between 1 and 11 months. You will spend eight months working on a technical cooperation project in one of our partner countries and a further three months in a partner country or at the head office of another German or international DC organisation. The programme ends with a five-month assignment with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Bonn or Berlin.

You need to have a university degree. Please refer to the specific trainee programme advertisement for detailed profile requirements. You should also have some work experience, including internships. 

Initial experience working in a developing country and familiarity with development cooperation is an advantage. his is an entry-level programme without an age limit and is open to all nationalities. However, to get the most out of the training, it is important that you have a good command of spoken and written German.

You'll receive a monthly salary of EUR 2,300.

The job advertisements for the upcoming development cooperation trainee programme starting on July 2026 are to be published in November or December 2025. Please note that further  information will follow at a later date. We recommend that you visit our job portal regularly so that you do not miss any new vacancies.

Please note that your professional qualifications should meet the requirements outlined in the job advertisement. You need to have completed your studies by the start of the development cooperation trainee programme, not at the time you apply.   

Please send us your cover letter and CV in German. Please also apply using the electronic applications form and attach any other documents you already have (certificates and references). You will receive an automated reply confirming receipt of your application. 

After the application deadline, we will start the pre-selection process for the relevant development cooperation trainee position. You will be updated about the status of your application regularly. The selection days will not start before mid-January 2026.

Contact 
Caroline Neininger 
@email 
Tel.: +49 6196 79 7509

• A Master’s degree in business administration, economics or a comparable field
• Initial professional experience in finance, financial control, procurement or administration
• Experience abroad through an internship is desirable; GIZ internship experience is an advantage
• Excellent organisational and communication skills, teamwork skills, advisory skills, flexibility, dedication and intercultural sensitivity
• Proficiency in relevant software (MS Office, especially Word and Excel) as well as knowledge of SAP
• Business fluency in German and English; French language skills would be an advantage
• Willingness to work in one of GIZ’s partner countries during the trainee programme and on successful completion of the programme 

Financial Management Trainee Programme (international) positions are usually advertised each May. Successful applicants are admitted into the trainee programme on 1 October of the same year. 

You can find current vacancies, on our job portal. Please submit your application in German. You can apply using the electronic application form. Please attach a CV showing relevant experience and a cover letter . You are welcome to attach further documents, but these are not required for shortlisting. You will receive an automated reply confirming receipt of your application.

You will be paid in line with GIZ’s collective bargaining agreement. During your time abroad, you will also receive a foreign service premium. 

During your trainee programme, you will receive ongoing support 

• An introductory event
• Get-togethers for trainees (regular social event or monthly meeting)
• A final workshop on job shadowing in Germany
• Staff assessment and development talks
• A workshop during the foreign assignment
• An end-of-traineeship workshop

On successful completion of the programme, we expect our trainees to be willing to work in one of GIZ’s partner countries.

We endeavour to recruit successful trainee programme alumni as financial managers in one of our partner countries. 

You must have completed an undergraduate degree in a humanities, social science or business studies field. A Master’s degree is not essential, but would be an advantage. 

You are curious and passionate about trends in the communications sector. You have initial professional experience in communications – whether working for an agency, a company or a media outlet. 

You are interested in international cooperation and are ideally already familiar with some of the issues in the field. 

You have an aptitude for language, enjoy writing and are eager to immerse yourself in new topics. You should be fluent in German and have excellent English language skills; additional languages would be an advantage. 

Applications must be submitted through our job portal. We regularly advertise traineeships on the portal. In a first step, submit a CV and cover letter, along with samples of your work, via the online job portal. We regret that we cannot accept unsolicited applications. Applicants who have applied previously are welcome to reapply . It can make sense for candidates who have undergone personal and professional development to reapply.

Suitable applicants will be invited to a group selection event. This will involve interviews and tasks to test your aptitude and skills. You will receive feedback soon after the one-day event. 

The remuneration for trainees is currently EUR 2,300 per month gross. Travel expenses are covered and you may receive an accommodation allowance. You will also receive a ‘JobTicket’ for using local public transport. 

As part of the PR Traineeship, you will rotate through various sections every three months, including Communications Strategy, Internal Communications, Communications Advisory Services and Media and Public Relations. You will also learn more about local communications in Berlin and Brussels. 

The rotation sequence may vary depending on your experience. You will typically start your traineeship in Eschborn or Bonn. You will also spend three months on a work experience placement in a GIZ partner country. The company will take personal preferences into account for this element of the traineeship. Your mentor will advise you in selecting a suitable country of assignment.

 Corporate Communications sees the traineeship as an investment in the unit’s future. Accordingly, it is in the company’s interest to offer PR Traineeship alumni permanent positions. We will discuss the details and opportunities with you at the appropriate time.