Internship Dynamic at CBI

Would you like to work on sustainable sectors? Do you have affinity with communication, sustainability, and development cooperation? Then CBI is looking for you!

At the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO), you have the opportunity to work as an intern at the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) in The Hague. You will participate in projects aimed at supporting entrepreneurs from developing countries in entering the European market, gaining insight into international trade, export development, and sustainable economic growth.

As a dynamic intern at CBI, you will work on different assignments simultaneously and closely collaborate with program managers and project staff. Your tasks may include:

• Supporting project managers in the execution of international projects
• Participating in large international projects, taking responsibility for tasks such as attending meetings and co-writing research documents
• Analyzing market opportunities and gathering market information
• Supporting Business Export Coaching processes or sector-wide pilots and interventions, including maintaining contact with external experts and partner organizations, providing logistical support, and contributing to the organization and supervision of trade fairs, training courses, and other events
• Supporting processes aimed at improving the export climate in project countries, such as maintaining contact with Business Support Organisations, trade associations, and Chambers of Commerce
• Collecting and preparing documents for meetings and correspondence
• Contributing to reports and presentations
• Participating in events in the Netherlands, such as international trade fairs and workshops
• Administrative and organizational tasks
• Contributing to communication and promotion of CBI activities, including creating content and managing social media:
  • Drafting and posting social media messages on channels such as LinkedIn and Facebook
  • Maintaining a content calendar and coordinating information and ideas with content specialists, program managers, and other parties

Why CBI?

• CBI has held a unique position in the world for 50 years, leading in sharing knowledge and expertise with entrepreneurs in developing countries
• We work on relevant themes such as sustainability, social responsibility, gender equality, and youth employment. You can help CBI realize transitions around these themes!
• As an intern, you will have ample space for personal development:
  • An internship supervisor will support you in formulating your objectives, questions, and developing your competencies
  • Assignments are tailored to your areas of interest and the needs of the organization
• Working at CBI means working in an international context, balancing development cooperation and international business. We also organize informal activities outside working hours
• A dynamic and international working environment
• Room for your own initiative and development
• Guidance from experienced professionals
• Opportunity to gain relevant work experience within the government

What else do we offer?

Internship Allowance
If your internship at the Rijk lasts longer than one month, you are entitled to an internship allowance. The allowance is based on a five-day workweek (40 hours per week). For internships of less than 40 hours per week, the allowance is calculated proportionally.

Travel Allowance
If you cannot use an OV-student card for travel between your home and the internship location, you may receive a travel allowance according to the commuting rules for government employees. For business trips, the rules for domestic and international business travel for government employees apply. For train travel, you travel second class.

Vacation Hours
For internships of one month or longer, you are entitled to vacation hours. You accrue 160 vacation hours per year for a 40-hour workweek. For internships of less than 40 hours per week, vacation hours are calculated proportionally.

Who are we looking for?

• You are registered with a Dutch educational institution for the entire internship period
• You are pursuing a relevant higher professional (hbo) or academic (wo) education, for example in internationally oriented studies, economics, history, communication, political science, etc.
• You have an interest in international trade and/or development aid and sustainable development
• You have knowledge of and/or affinity with digital media (a plus)
• You have a good command of English (spoken and written)
• Knowledge of French is a plus
• You have a working knowledge of Dutch (speaking and reading at least B2), as general meetings are in Dutch. Writing in Dutch is not required
• You are eligible to work in The Netherlands
• You are proactive, eager to learn, and communicative
• You possess the following competencies:
  • Planning and organizing: you set priorities for yourself or others
  • Flexibility: you choose an approach that fits the situation
  • Collaboration: you help others where necessary

About Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)

The world changes every day, and so do we. With more than 6,000 RVO employees, we work every day for tomorrow. We support, advise, and stimulate enterprising Netherlands. We help with innovation and sustainability, both nationally and internationally, because our work does not stop at the border. Together, we work on:

• The sustainability of our energy supply
• Combating climate change
• A transition to a sustainable agriculture and food system
• A strong digital economy

These are major challenges, but we believe they are possible. That is why we connect entrepreneurs, governments, and organizations to build the Netherlands of tomorrow. We do it together.

What do we do?
We make government policy accessible and executable, from information, advice, and financing to offering a listening ear for entrepreneurs and organizations. This is just a small part of what we do. Enterprising Netherlands is incredibly versatile, and so are we.

Department Description
CBI aims to contribute to sustainability transitions in sectors in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East by stimulating the export of products and services, particularly to Europe, together with local and international private and public partners. We focus on exporting niche products and services that offer economic opportunities for local SMEs, more decent work, and better environmental treatment. Examples include exporting organic agricultural products, semi-finished products instead of raw materials, and sustainable 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). Each project focuses on one or more sustainability issues, with special attention to women and young people. We use systems thinking to contribute to sector sustainability. Although not widely known in the Netherlands, we have a strong reputation in many developing countries for uniquely linking market forces with sustainability challenges. We implement our strategy with a focus on sustainability, systems thinking, collaboration, and co-creative and iterative work. Our portfolio includes 40-50 multi-year projects in more than 25 countries, managed by about 60 people across three teams. CBI is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is a department of RVO.

Special Requirements

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is required for this position.

RVO supports hybrid working. You can do your work from any location (home, office, or elsewhere), but your presence at the RVO office in The Hague may be required in certain situations. For this position, the expectation is an average of 2 days per week at the office.

The start and end date of your internship can be agreed upon in consultation.

More information about this vacancy
Camiel Drenthstage@cbi.eu