Starting next year, African youth will have an opportunity to gain technical and leadership skills through a new Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) internship programme called Africa’s Promise.
MCC’s new initiative, announced on Thursday by President Barack Obama at a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) 'town hall' in Washington, DC, in the US, will expand opportunities for African youth between the ages 18 and 35.
Africa’s Promise interns will support large-scale development projects that make up MCC-funded compact programmes, with a focus on reducing poverty through economic growth.
Interns will learn best practices on project management – including financial and public sector management – in the local country context and be exposed to targeted professional development and networking opportunities in both the public and private sectors.
“By increasing opportunities for young men and women across Africa to gain important job skills, MCC is supporting and empowering them to build a better tomorrow for their communities,” said MCC CEO Dana J Hyde.
Hyde added that, for Africa to reach its full potential, it will need experienced public sector leaders who can write the next chapter in Africa’s story.
Africa’s Promise internships will be established and run by the host government implementing entity for MCC compacts, typically known as a Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
Internships will start in 2017 in MCC’s respective MCA offices across Africa, which may include countries like Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Niger and Zambia.
Interns will support the implementation of MCC projects in areas like clean water, electricity, land rights and education. Through its investments, MCC expands access to vital services and connects people to jobs, markets and opportunities.