Artificial Intelligence Intern - Gulf Area Office, Abu Dhabi

About UNICEF

UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries and territories, working to protect children’s lives, uphold their rights, and support them in reaching their full potential from early childhood through adolescence. The organization is driven by a strong mission-focused culture and offers opportunities for learning, development, and meaningful work that supports children and communities worldwide.

About the internship

This internship is designed for students or recent graduates and provides practical exposure to UNICEF’s work. The role focuses on supporting UNICEF’s engagement with governments in the GCC on artificial intelligence, as well as exploring future partnership models. The assignment is based in the Gulf Area Office in Abu Dhabi for two months.

The broader aim is to help UNICEF understand how AI is shaping childhood, policy, and child protection in the Gulf region, where major AI investments and policy frameworks are evolving quickly. The intern will contribute to research and strategic support around child-centered AI engagement.

Focus areas of the assignment

The internship will contribute to work in three linked areas: governance and evidence-building, piloting and scaling child-centered AI solutions, and using AI in humanitarian contexts while protecting children’s best interests. The assignment also supports UNICEF’s broader AI priorities around program impact, operational efficiency, and child rights advocacy.

Key responsibilities

• Review UNICEF’s AI strategy and turn it into a partner-ready presentation.
• Investigate how GCC countries are approaching AI in relation to children and child rights.
• Help develop a working model for UNICEF engagement with each GCC country through partnership and programme approaches.
• Propose ways to include young people more meaningfully in AI-related discussions.

Minimum requirements

• Applicants should currently be enrolled in, or have graduated within the last two years from, an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. programme, ideally in international development.
• Some exposure to AI-related political or ethical debates, along with a clear interest in artificial intelligence, is expected.
• Candidates must be fluent in the working language of the duty station and proficient in at least one UNICEF working language: English, French, or Spanish.
• Strong academic results, supported by recent university or institutional records, are required.
• Applicants must not have immediate relatives working in any UNICEF office, and must also have no relatives in the reporting line for this internship.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Competencies

• Builds and sustains partnerships.
• Shows self-awareness and ethical judgment.
• Drives results with a focus on impact.
• Adapts well to innovation and change.
• Handles ambiguity and complexity effectively.
• Applies strategic thinking in decision-making.
• Works well in collaborative settings.
• For supervisory roles, nurtures, leads, and manages people.

Inclusion and safeguarding

UNICEF is committed to inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity. Applications are welcomed from qualified candidates of all genders, nationalities, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and from persons with disabilities, including neurodivergent candidates. Reasonable accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace where needed.

The organization maintains a strict zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates must complete background and reference checks, including verification of academic qualifications and employment history.

Additional remarks

Employment decisions are made in line with the UN Charter’s standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Government employees selected for UNICEF roles are generally expected to resign from their government positions before joining. UNICEF does not charge any recruitment or processing fees and will never ask for bank account information during hiring.

Humanitarian response is a core priority, and staff may be asked to support emergency work as needed. Appointments are subject to medical clearance, visa approval where applicable, and any required vaccinations, including against Covid-19 unless a medical exemption applies. Offer decisions may be withdrawn if these conditions are not met in time.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. UNICEF may select an internal or talent-group candidate if suitable. The organization also notes that selected candidates with disabilities may be asked to share supporting documentation confidentially if required for accommodation purposes.