Internship Market Information at CBI

Are you interested in market research and supporting SMEs from Africa, Asia and the Middle East in making informed decisions about doing business in Europe? Are you passionate about international trade, sustainability and development cooperation? Do you want to contribute to sustainable economic development in developing countries? Then CBI has an exciting internship for you!

What you’ll do

As a Market Intelligence intern, you will work closely with programme managers on various international projects and assignments. You’ll contribute to market research, data analysis and stakeholder engagement to help SMEs access European markets. Your main tasks include:

• Participate in large international projects, taking responsibility for sub-tasks, such as contributing to consultations and co-writing research documents.
• Support the Market Intelligence team, attend meetings, strengthen knowledge on relevant stakeholders and market developments.
• Conduct market and country research to identify trends and map export opportunities in Europe for companies from developing countries.
• Analyse market data and trends in various sectors.
• Assist in the development of new market studies, and analyse the results.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports and presentations for companies and stakeholders.
• Help to expand CBI’s network in Europe and in the target countries (e.g. support with the outreach to, and development of new partnerships with suppliers, external experts and Business Support Organisations, such as sector associations and Chambers of Commerce).
• Contribute to efforts to increase the outreach and visualisation of the CBI market information studies.
• Participate in events in the Netherlands, such as trade fairs and workshops.
• Provide administrative and organisational support.
• Work on projects aimed at improving access to the European market.

In addition, you may assist with the development of new Business Export Coaching projects within CBI by supporting the development of new projects, participating in interviews with relevant stakeholders, and assisting in writing the business case.

Why join CBI?

A unique organisation
For over 50 years, CBI has supported sustainable economic development through export. We’ve worked with more than 10,000 SMEs from 70 countries, connecting them to European buyers and partners. If you’re interested in sustainability, social responsibility, gender equality or youth employment, CBI offers a meaningful environment to contribute to these transitions.

Room for growth
As a CBI intern, you’ll develop professional skills, build an international network and gain valuable government-sector experience. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor to guide you in setting learning goals and developing competencies. Tasks are assigned based on your interests and CBI’s needs, and you’ll have the flexibility to expand your focus areas during the internship. There is plenty of room for your own initiative and development.

International and inspiring environment
At CBI, you’ll work in an international context where development cooperation meets global business. Collaboration, curiosity and innovation drive our work. You will be guided by experienced professionals.

A great place to work
We value a positive, inclusive atmosphere. Besides meaningful work, we also have fun — from team lunches to informal activities like a pub quiz — giving you the chance to connect with colleagues across the organisation.

What do we offer?

• A varied and educational internship within an internationally oriented organisation.
• Guidance by experienced professionals.
• Room for your own initiative and development.
• An internship allowance in accordance with RVO guidelines.
• If your internship at the Rijksoverheid lasts longer than one month, you are entitled to an internship allowance based on a 40-hour work week. For internships of less than 40 hours per week, the allowance is calculated proportionally.
• If you cannot use a student public transport card for travel between your home and the internship location, you may be eligible for a travel allowance according to the rules for civil servants. For business trips, the rules for domestic and international business travel for civil servants apply. For train travel, you travel second class.
• For internships of one month or longer, you are entitled to 160 vacation hours per year based on a 40-hour work week. For internships of less than 40 hours per week, vacation hours are calculated proportionally.

What do we ask?

• You are enrolled with a Dutch educational institution during the entire internship period.
• You are enrolled in a relevant higher professional (HBO) or academic (WO) education with an international orientation, in fields such as economics, business administration, international relations, public administration, agribusiness, African studies, data sciences, or similar.
• You are passionate about international trade and/or development aid and sustainable development.
• You are analytically strong, detail-oriented, and work accurately.
• You have knowledge of and/or affinity for market research and/or data analysis (a plus).
• You have excellent command of both spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of French is a plus.
• You should have a working knowledge of spoken and written Dutch (at least B1 level) as our general meetings take place in Dutch. Writing skills in Dutch are not required.
• You must be eligible to work in the Netherlands.

Functional competencies:

• Planning and organising: you are able to set priorities effectively for yourself or others.
• Analytical and detail-oriented: you have a keen eye for detail and approach tasks with a structured, analytical mindset.
• Proactive and solution driven: you focus on finding solutions and actively seek opportunities for improvement.
• Strong communication and teamwork: you communicate clearly and collaborate well with others, offering support when needed.

Department description
CBI aims to contribute to sustainability transitions in sectors in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We do this by stimulating the export of products and services, particularly to Europe, together with local and international private and public partners. We focus on the export of niche products and services that offer economic opportunities for local SMEs as well as opportunities for more decent work in the sector and better treatment of the environment. For example, consider the export of organic variants of agricultural products, semi-finished products instead of raw materials and sustainable variants of textiles. In this way, we use export as a means to contribute to sustainability transitions.We contribute in particular to SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). In each project, we focus on one or more sustainability issues. We pay particular attention to issues concerning women and young people. In order to contribute to the sustainability of sectors, we use systems thinking.We have a portfolio of between 40 and 50 multi-year projects in more than 25 countries. We work on these with approximately 60 people, divided over three teams.At CBI, you will join the Market Intelligence team (MI team). The MI team is a small but close team consisting of 4 programme managers and 1 project officer. Together the team is responsible for publishing high quality market studies across 13 different sectors on the CBI website. The studies primarily focus on exporting to Europe with SMEs from low- and middle-income countries as their main target group.CBI is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and part of RVO.

RVO supports hybrid working. You will be allowed to work from any location (from home, at the office or elsewhere). However, your presence at the RVO office in The Hague may be required in particular instances. For this position, we expect you to be at least 2 days per week at the RVO office.
The start and end date of your internship can be agreed upon in consultation.

Camiel Drenth
stage@cbi.eu

Are you enthusiastic about this internship and do you want to contribute to international trade and development? We look forward to your application!