Internship: AI and Digital Innovation Intern (open to Sierra Leonean students or recent graduates)

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

For every child, Innovation.

How can you make a difference?

Key Responsibilities

1. Support AI roadmap coordination and use case documentation

• Support follow-up on the SLCO AI Roadmap, including focal points, quick wins, timelines, and action trackers.
• Assist in documenting practical AI use cases across programme and operations sections.
• Support coordination with section focal points to capture AI-related needs, opportunities, challenges, and examples.
• Prepare short meeting notes, action points, and updates from AI-related discussions.

2. Support AI learning, prompt engineering, and knowledge management

• Assist with preparation of materials for AI learning sessions, prompt engineering clinics, and practical demonstrations.
• Help document useful prompts, examples, lessons learned, and simple guidance notes for staff.
• Support the organization of AI resources, templates, presentations, and learning materials on SharePoint or other internal platforms.
• Support feedback collection from AI learning activities and summarize key insights.

3. Support AI/NLP and ecosystem engagement

• Support documentation of AI/NLP actors, national language technology groups, universities, youth innovators, and relevant partners in Sierra Leone.
• Assist with planning and documentation for possible AI/NLP convenings, innovation challenges, hackathons, or youth-facing activities.
• Help prepare draft inputs for AI/NLP concept notes, ecosystem briefs, and meeting summaries.

4. Support related digital innovation and reporting work

• Provide documentation and follow-up support for selected digital innovation workstreams, including DPG/DPI mapping, DPG Academia, DPG Accelerator, CRAT, U-Report, Learning Passport, RapidPro, and other relevant initiatives.
• Assist with maintaining trackers, consolidating updates, and organizing information for reporting, planning, and section coordination.
• Support the preparation of briefs, presentations, meeting notes, and knowledge products showing how AI and digital innovation contribute to results for children.

Prepare an end-of-internship handover note summarizing work completed, key resources, pending actions, and recommendations.

Learning and Professional Development

• Participate in internal learning opportunities and discussions related to responsible AI, digital innovation, data use, and technology for development.
• Engage with the Innovation team, DID, programme sections, and AI focal points to strengthen understanding of how AI and digital tools can support UNICEF’s work for children.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to improve AI learning materials, knowledge products, use case documentation, and digital innovation resources.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within the past two years) from a Bachelor’s or master’s programme in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, ICT, Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business, Innovation, or another relevant field.
• Coursework or training in AI, data science, project management, or technology for development is an asset.

Experience and Other Conditions:

• Previous internship, academic, volunteer, or project experience related to AI, data, digital innovation, research, knowledge management, technology, or project coordination is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, is required.
• Familiarity with generative AI tools and large language models, such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or similar tools, is desirable.
• Familiarity with SharePoint, data visualization tools, GitHub, open-source platforms, or project management tools is desirable.
• Interest in responsible AI, AI for development, Digital Public Goods, Digital Public Infrastructure, open-source solutions, and UNICEF’s mandate for children is desirable.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Have excellent academic performance as demonstrated by recent university or institution records.
• Have no immediate relatives (e.g. father, mother, brother, sister) working in any UNICEF office; and have no other relatives in the line of authority that the intern will report to.

Skills

• Strong interest in responsible AI, digital transformation, innovation, data, and children’s rights.
• Strong writing, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to summarize technical or complex information clearly.
• Good attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to maintain trackers and organize information systematically.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, and take initiative under supervision

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• (1) Builds and maintains partnerships
• (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• (3) Drive to achieve results for impact
• (4) Innovates and embraces change
• (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
• (6) Thinks and acts strategically
• (7) Works collaboratively with others

Remarks:

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable Sierra Leoneans are encouraged to apply.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

How to Apply:

Apply now via the provided link.