IOM

Direct from IOM careers

Intern - Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) (I)

Valencia, Spain·Posted today

Apply on IOM careers ↗

Full job description

Position details

Vacancy type: Internship
Recruiting type: Intern
Contract type: Internship (2-6 months)
Initial contract duration: 6 months
Office or unit: HQ
Location: Valencia, Spain
Application deadline: 2026-09-14T21:59:00+00:00

Context

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations and the leading UN agency in the field of migration. Working closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners, IOM promotes humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It saves lives and protects people on the move, drives solutions to displacement, and facilitates pathways for regular migration, while providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees can thrive professionally and feel valued. By creating such an environment, IOM aims to better harness the full potential of migration and strengthen its support to people on the move.

IOM invites candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply and provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process when required. Learn more about IOM’s workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration

The Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities. Interns must be between 20 and 36 years old and should have less than two years of relevant working experience.

In general, the Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who:

a) have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities;

b) are holding a scholarship for internship placements in international organizations and/or for whom internship is required to complete their studies; or

c) are sponsored by governmental/non governmental institutions and/or academia to work in specific areas relevant to both IOM and the sponsor.

d) are either enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) or have graduated in the last 12 months.

e) are between 20 and 36 years of age.

Background Information

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enables the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver on its global mission through secure, reliable, and innovative digital solutions. ICT provides the technology, data, cybersecurity, communications, and digital workplace services that support more than 170 country offices and operations worldwide. The Department partners closely with business units and field missions to translate operational needs into effective digital capabilities, ensuring that staff can deliver assistance to migrants and communities efficiently, securely, and at scale.

ICT plays a central role in advancing IOM’s digital transformation agenda by strengthening organizational resilience, enabling data-driven decision-making, and fostering responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Department oversees enterprise platforms, digital products, cybersecurity, technology governance, data and AI capabilities, software development, user support services, and digital skills enablement. Through these efforts, ICT helps simplify business processes, improve collaboration, enhance service delivery, and ensure that technology remains a strategic enabler of IOM’s humanitarian and development objectives.

Responsibilities

Supervision

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Information Officer and the direct supervision of the different heads of units: Chief, Technology Officer, Chief, Operations and Mission Engagement Solutions, Head, Resources Management, Senior Information Security Officer, the ICT AI Intern will support the exploration, development, and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across business processes and enterprise applications. The role focuses on identifying opportunities to embed AI into existing systems and workflows, including operational and financial processes.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

A. AI opportunity identification and process analysis

Support the review of existing enterprise applications, business workflows, and operational processes to identify tasks that are repetitive, manual, or rules based and therefore suitable for AI or automation.
Assist in mapping current process steps, inputs, outputs, and pain points, and help estimate the potential time savings, quality gains, or risks associated with each AI opportunity.
Draft structured AI use case descriptions covering the business problem, proposed approach, data requirements, expected benefits, and any data protection or information security considerations, for review by the supervising unit.
Maintain a consolidated log of identified use cases and their status, supporting prioritization discussions with ICT and business stakeholders.
Participate in requirements gathering sessions with business and technical colleagues and help translate business needs into clear functional requirements.

B. AI solution prototyping and development

Support the design and build of AI prototypes and proofs of concept using ICT approved tooling.
Assist in developing simple AI solutions such as conversational assistants, document processing and summarization tools, and data extraction workflows.
Contribute to the configuration and testing of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) scenarios, including document preparation, indexing, prompt drafting, and evaluation of response quality.
Support the integration of AI components with existing systems, APIs, and data sources, under the guidance of ICT developers.
Help document prototype architecture, configuration settings, and known limitations so that solutions can be reviewed, reproduced, or handed over.

C. AI-assisted development, automation, and testing

Use approved AI-assisted development tools to support code generation, code review, technical documentation, and test case preparation.
Support the automation of repetitive internal ICT tasks, such as reporting, data preparation, and routine administrative workflows.
Assist in testing AI outputs for accuracy, consistency, and appropriateness, recording issues and contributing to improvements.
Contribute to the development of internal guidance and reusable assets, such as prompt templates and short how-to notes, that help colleagues apply AI tools effectively and responsibly.

D. Research, documentation, and knowledge sharing

Research emerging AI tools, platforms, and practices relevant to IOM's operating context, and prepare concise written summaries and comparisons for the team.
Prepare presentations, briefing notes, and demonstration material on AI use cases and pilot results for technical and non-technical audiences.
Support knowledge sharing across ICT units by documenting lessons learned and contributing to internal repositories and collaboration spaces, including SharePoint.
Apply IOM policies on data protection, information security, and the responsible and ethical use of AI in all assigned tasks, escalating concerns to the supervisor.

E. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Learning Objectives

Build practical knowledge of AI-supported operational improvement by helping map workflows and identify opportunities for automation.
Strengthen technical skills in artificial intelligence and automation by assisting with the design, testing, and development of simple automation solutions.
Improve data management and analytical skills by supporting the organization, cleaning, and basic analysis of data, as well as the preparation of dashboards and reports.
Develop documentation and knowledge-sharing skills by documenting tools and prototypes developed.

Training Components and Learning Elements

The Intern will gain experience in working in an international multicultural environment, within the United Nations system.
Gain experience in organization, management, and international cooperation activities.
Gain a better understanding of IOM’s work, as an inter-governmental organization in the field of Migration, and work on formulating and editing institutional strategies, priorities and workplans.
The Intern can also access online training courses at the disposal of all IOM staff.
The Intern will have the possibility to interact with IOM staff within Headquarters and IOM Missions.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Applicants should be currently enrolled in, or have recently completed, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the following fields:

Computer Science, Data Science,
Artificial Intelligence, or a related field;
Information Technology or Digital Innovation;
Business Administration, with a demonstrated focus on digital transformation, business analysis, or process improvement; or
International Relations or a related discipline, with a demonstrated interest in technology and data
Coursework, academic projects, or a thesis covering machine learning, data analytics, software development, or process automation is an advantage.

Experience

Previous experience in the United Nations system, an international organization, or a non-governmental organization.

Skills

Practical exposure to programming through academic projects, internships, personal projects, or coursework, ideally in Python, JavaScript, or a comparable language;
Familiarity with generative AI tools and concepts, such as large language models, prompt design, or Retrieval Augmented Generation, gained through study, certification, or hands-on experimentation;
Exposure to cloud services, in particular Microsoft Azure, or to low-code and no-code platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform and Copilot Studio;
Familiarity with SharePoint, content management systems, or digital learning tools;
Basic programming knowledge, exposure to AI is a plus; and,
Excellent writing and communication skills.

Languages

For this internship, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of French, Spanish or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese and Russian) is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Eligibility and Selection

In general, the Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who:

a) have interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities;

b) are either enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme

(minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) or have graduated in the last 12 months.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and additional enquiries will only be addressed if the candidate is shortlisted.
Please consider the cost of living in the duty station prior to applying.

Required Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

Depending on experience and location, interns are granted a small monthly stipend to help offset costs. Interns benefiting from an internship allowance or scholarship granted by their university or other sponsoring body that includes financial remuneration or credits for coursework will not be eligible for the stipend.

IOM covers Interns against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the internship. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Interns are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies

Listing sourced from IOM careers. Applications are handled entirely by the employer.