My name is Anastasiia, and I’m currently an intern in Norfund’s Ukraine Fund and Compliance teams. For four months, I’ve had the chance to work across two parts of the organization that are different in focus, but closely connected in how they support responsible investments.
I’m originally from Ukraine and have lived in Norway for the past 2.5 years. Alongside the internship, I’m finishing my final year of a master’s degree at BI Norwegian Business School, in Finance. Balancing work and studies can be intense, but when I got the opportunity to join Norfund, I knew it was one of those rare chances you say yes to. I’m very glad I did.
Two teams, one internship: investing and integrity
A big part of my internship has been with the Ukraine Fund team, which was established less than a year ago after Norfund received the Ukraine mandate. Being part of a new team has been a unique experience: there is a lot to build, a lot to learn, and a strong sense of purpose in the day-to-day work. It’s motivating to contribute to something that can help strengthen Ukraine’s economy and support long-term development, especially as someone who has personal ties to the country. Because the team is still growing, I’ve been able to take on a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. I’ve felt trusted and included in the work, and I’ve also learned what it takes to develop investment activities in a new mandate area. It comes with challenges, but it is also highly rewarding. One thing I especially appreciate about the Ukraine Fund is its broad focus. the team does not specialize in only one investment sector, which means I’ve had the opportunity to see investment work across funds, financial inclusion, agribusiness, and renewable energy.
In parallel, I’ve also been an intern in the Compliance team. Working across both departments has made the internship feel like two learning journeys at once, and it has helped me connect different sides of investment decision-making.
In Compliance, I’ve gained insight into the importance of business integrity, reputation, and responsible processes throughout the investment cycle. It has been especially interesting to see how financial performance and risk are not the only factors that matter, reputation, integrity, and trust are essential for long-term success. Being able to view investments through both a financial lens and a compliance lens has given me a broader understanding of what responsible investing truly looks like in practice.
The intern project: learning across the organization
As part of the internship program, I also worked on an intern project together with five other interns from different departments. Our project focused on researching Norfund’s currency exposure and exploring the applicability of stablecoins in the operational life of the company. Working on this project was a great way to understand Norfund from the inside, not only through my own teams, but through conversations across departments. We spoke with many colleagues, gathered perspectives from different parts of the organization, and learned a lot in a short period of time. Just as importantly, it was a fun and intense collaboration that helped us connect as interns and learn from each other’s backgrounds.
Culture at Norfund: mission-driven and genuinely supportive
One of the most memorable parts of the internship has been the culture at Norfund. People are strongly connected by a shared motivation: contributing to development through investments. At the same time, the environment is surprisingly down-to-earth and open. It’s a place where you can learn from extremely experienced colleagues, but still feel comfortable asking questions and sharing your ideas. It’s also the kind of organization where hierarchy feels less important than collaboration, where an intern can speak with senior colleagues in a casual setting and feel included.
After almost four months, I can honestly say this internship has been one of the most valuable experiences in my professional life so far. I’ve learned a lot, not just technical skills, but also how development finance works in practice, and how balancing returns and impact requires both strong analysis and strong values. I’m proud to be part of what Norfund is doing, and I’m grateful for the chance to contribute, learn, and grow in an environment that combines ambition with purpose