Digital, AI and Innovation Internship: Global Call for 2026

The internship supports UNDP's Digital, AI and Innovation Hub by assisting in research, programme delivery, data policy, analytics, partnerships, communications, process efficiency, product design, and knowledge management. The role offers exposure to systems transformation, digital public infrastructure, data and AI, and innovation to accelerate sustainable development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and draft analytical content on systems transformation, innovation, and emerging policy approaches.
• Contribute to horizon scanning and synthesis of global and regional trends relevant to policy innovation and system change.
• Contribute to the design, documentation, and refinement of innovative policy and programme approaches.
• Design, test, and document innovative policy and programme approaches aimed at system-level change.
• Collect, curate, and disseminate knowledge products and thought leadership on innovation and systems transformation to align regional efforts and scale innovation.
• Contribute to the delivery of digital, data, and AI initiatives with UNDP Country Offices.
• Develop capacity-building materials on digital, data, and AI for governments and partners.
• Coordinate activities related to national digital, data, and AI strategies.
• Draft practical toolkits, guidance notes, and implementation resources for Country Offices.
• Organize and deliver webinars, trainings, and learning sessions.
• Conduct research on data governance frameworks, data protection, and responsible data use.
• Contribute to advisory on development of national data strategies and data governance frameworks.
• Draft policy briefs, background notes, and analytical summaries on data-related topics.
• Track global and multilateral processes related to data and digital governance.
• Contribute to UNDP positioning and advocacy on data policy and digital rights.
• Collect, clean, and analyze quantitative and qualitative datasets.
• Develop dashboards, trackers, and data visualizations for monitoring and reporting.
• Analyze progress of Digital Strategy implementation using data-driven approaches.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes.
• Translate data findings into concise, actionable insights for internal use.
• Research potential new partners including technology companies, foundations, non-profits, alliances, etc., and help identify new opportunities and areas of collaboration.
• Contribute to strategic communications, outreach to and engagement of partners, and subsequent partnership development, including drafting concept notes, communications materials, proposals, pitch decks, project documents, memorandum of understanding (MoU), outreach materials and other documents.
• Take part in engagement in global, multilateral and UN interagency processes, including through drafting statements and speeches, attending meetings at the UN, and helping to organize meetings and events.
• Assist in UNDP positioning and thought leadership on digital, AI and innovation including through conducting research, compiling information on, and analyzing key technology and digital issues, particularly related to digital development, transformation and capacity-building.
• Develop strategic communications by planning and producing compelling content for communications channels like social media, newsletters, blogs and internal UNDP platforms.
• Contribute to the research and mapping of key media outlets, influential potential content partners, and trending topics in digital & technology.
• Track project workplans, milestones, and deliverables for DAI Hub projects.
• Contribute to planning for HR, procurement, and resourcing processes in line with UNDP policies and guidelines.
• Develop SOPs, internal guidance, trackers, and dashboards.
• Contribute to planning, monitoring, and reporting of operational and resourcing plans.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and propose process improvements.
• Participate in the design of digital products such as apps, platforms, web apps, and AI tools to enable UNDP's work in countries, working with ‘client’ teams to define success and product requirements.
• Contribute to the scoping, and proposal writing for new digital products for UNDP thematic teams.
• Support the building of digital products, including working with software developers, client teams, and product managers.
• Assist with contract development and invoicing of product development work.
• Conduct user testing and improvement of digital products.
• Assist with the implementation of digital products in countries, working with local implementation teams and UNDP thematic teams to ensure quality delivery and outcomes.
• Maintain and regularly update content on UNDP knowledge platforms (including SparkBlue and SharePoint).
• Conduct desk research and synthesis on digital, data, and AI topics to support KM products and communications.
• Draft knowledge summaries, background notes, and briefing materials.
• Support content curation and dissemination of internal newsletters.
• Curate and maintain digital- and data-related knowledge products and repositories.
• Manage content for digital guides, internal platforms, and knowledge databases.
• Coordinate dissemination of research and thought pieces across UNDP units.

Requirements

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), or.
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (undergraduate; minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
• Have graduated with a university degree (first university degree, or second university degree or equivalent, or higher) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
• Interest/Experience in one of the workstream areas is desirable.
• Database management skills.
• Detail-oriented, preferably with previous administrative and office management experience.
• Eager to learn new things and gradually adapt the theory into practical work.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deliver in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands.
• Ability to collaborate with and achieve actionable results.
• Excellent ability to multi-task in a high-demand and fast-paced work context.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Skills

• Database Management
• Administrative Support
• Office Management
• Research Assistance
• Programme Delivery
• Data Policy
• Data Analytics
• Partnership Development
• Communications
• Process Efficiency
• Product Design
• Knowledge Management
• Digital Public Infrastructure
• Systems Transformation
• AI and Innovation
• Multi-tasking Skills
• High-pressure Work
• Independent Work
• Collaborative Work

Languages

English