Unpaid Internship - AI for Programme Management and Process Innovation Intern

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems.

ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU.

Unpaid Internship - AI for Programme Management and Process Innovation Intern

Vacancy notice no: 2449
Sector: BDT
Department: Regional Offices
Country of contract: Egypt
Duty station: Cairo

Position number: [[positionNumber]]
Grade: [[PositionGrade]]
Type of contract: Internship
Duration of contract: 6 months
Recruitment open to: External
Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 11 November 2026

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT

The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector of the Union. BDT deals mainly with development policies, strategies, programming, projects, as well as technical cooperation activities to enable and foster universal access to affordable, high-quality and secure telecommunications/ICTs and Foster equitable and inclusive use of telecommunications/ICTs to empower people and societies for sustainable development. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of Member States, BDT is organized into four functional areas:

• Operations Coordination Department (Office of the Deputy to the Director) (DDR)
• Projects, Partnerships & Digital Skills Department (PPS)
• Digital Networks & Environment Department (DNE)
• Digital Knowledge Society Department (DKS)

The regional offices provide assistance to the ITU Member States of the Region, ensuring a close relationship and collaboration. To implement the agreed programs and projects, in accordance with the ITU Strategy Plan and the BDT Action Plan, with the active support of all Departments, providing timely information about their development. To provide proper line management and support, the Regional Directors report to the Director of the BDT.

TERMS OF REFERENCE Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator in the ITU Regional Office, and in close collaboration with the Programme Management team and programme officers, the Intern will support:
1. AI-Enabled Programme Management
•Identify programme management tasks and workflows that could be supported or streamlined through artificial intelligence and automation.
• Work with programme officers to understand operational needs and translate them into practical AI-enabled solutions.
• Develop and test AI-assisted workflows for activities such as information consolidation, document review, data extraction, tracking, summarisation and reporting.
• Explore the use of generative AI, AI assistants and agentic workflows to support routine programme management tasks.
• Develop reusable prompts, templates, workflows and AI-assisted tools that can be applied across programme activities.
2. Process Automation and Workflow Improvement
• Map existing programme management processes and identify repetitive or manual tasks suitable for automation.
• Prototype and test automated workflows using appropriate AI, low-code/no-code and digital tools.
• Support the automation of routine processes such as data consolidation, document classification, action tracking, deadline monitoring and information retrieval.
• Develop simple tools or workflows that reduce manual data entry and improve the consistency and traceability of programme information.
• Document existing and improved workflows and identify opportunities for further process optimisation.
3. AI Tools and Prototype Development
• Research, design, configure and test AI-powered tools to address identified programme management needs.
• Develop proof-of-concept AI assistants, copilots, knowledge tools and workflow automations under appropriate supervision.
• Explore applications such as:
o AI-assisted reporting and document drafting;
o programme and project information retrieval;
o automated extraction of information from programme documents;
o meeting and consultation summarisation;
o action-point and follow-up tracking;
o country programme information management;
o automated programme dashboards and trackers;
o knowledge repositories and internal search;
o monitoring and results-tracking support.
• Conduct iterative testing with programme staff and refine prototypes based on user feedback.
4. Data, Knowledge and Information Management
• Assist in organising programme information and datasets in formats suitable for AI-assisted analysis and retrieval.
• Support the development of structured knowledge repositories and internal information systems.
• Explore methods for improving the accessibility and usability of programme documentation through AI-powered search and retrieval.
• Assist in extracting, cleaning, organising and structuring information from programme documents and other internal sources.
• Support the development of AI-enabled tools that can identify trends, gaps, inconsistencies and relevant information across programme portfolios.
5. Monitoring, Reporting and Analysis
• Explore AI-enabled approaches to support the monitoring of programme activities, outputs, deliverables and milestones.
• Develop prototypes that can consolidate information from multiple sources and support the preparation of programme updates and reports.
• Assist in developing automated or semi-automated processes for data validation, aggregation and analysis.
• Test AI-assisted approaches

Technical competencies

Technical Competencies (Examples of technical competencies are knowledge of regulatory frameworks, ERP or project management methodologies, etc.):
• Sound understanding of artificial intelligence, generative AI and large language models, with practical experience using AI assistants and prompt design.
• Hands-on experience with automation and low-code/no-code tools (e.g. Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps, Copilot Studio or similar platforms).
• Strong data skills, including cleaning, structuring and analysing data in Excel; knowledge of Python, SQL, Power BI or similar tools is an asset.
• Ability to map processes, analyse workflows and translate user needs into practical, easy-to-use solutions.
• Awareness of responsible AI principles, data protection, confidentiality and information security.
• Interest in or exposure to programme or project management, monitoring and reporting.
• Ability to document tools and explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical colleagues.

COMPETENCIES

Applying Expertise; Effective Communication; Learning and Knowledge Sharing; Organizational Commitment; Results-Focused, and; Teamwork and Collaboration.

QUALIFICATION REQUIRED

Experience: At least 1 year of relevant work experience (including internships and volunteering) involving AI, data, automation, digital tools or programme/project management; international experience is an asset. Examples of AI tools, automations or data projects previously developed (e.g. a portfolio or code repository) would be an advantage.

Education: Studies in a field related to Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Engineering, Business or Public Administration, Project Management, Development Studies, International Relations, or related fields. Candidates combining technical skills with an interest in programme management are particularly encouraged.

Language: Excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of a second ITU official language, particularly Arabic or French, would be an advantage.

REMUNERATION INFORMATION

Unpaid internship

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that a non-remunerated internship at ITU does not carry the same conditions of employment as a short-term or fixed-term position. Medical insurance, travel, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.

ITU Internship Requirements

To be eligible for an internship at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), candidates must:
• Be under 30 years of age (Exceptions may be considered for candidates pursuing a Ph.D.).
• Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate programme, or be a recent graduate(within six months prior to the start of the internship).
• Be a citizen of a Member State of ITU.

Training and Learning Elements:
The intern will acquire world-class knowledge and experience of:
• Practical application of AI, generative AI and automation to programme management in a UN context.
• Programme Management within the UN system and full-cycle engagement of ITU programmes.
• Design, prototyping and user testing of digital tools and workflows with real users.
• Responsible AI, data protection and quality assurance in an international organisation.
• Subject-matter exposure to ITU’s thematic priorities and regional ICT

INFORMATION ON RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU career website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account - @itu.int - should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.