Generative AI Research Intern

Background   Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.   UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Corporate background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Internship office background  

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) offers a selected group of outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to ICPSD's work as a center of excellence for the private sector in development. It is designed to provide support to ICPSD’s applied research and policy advisory services and to complement the interns’ practical experience in various issues related to private sector engagement, skills generation, impact investing and other topics of international development. The Programme operates under the rules and regulations of the UNDP Internship Policy.

UNDP ICPSD leads UNDP’s private sector strategy, mobilizing the private sector to engage in development. ICPSD convenes stakeholders from public and private industry as well as foundations to facilitate knowledge sharing and partnerships, catalyzes private sector actors for developing products and initiatives for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation and provides support to raise capital through innovative financing models such as blended finance. 

The SDG AI Lab is a joint initiative of UNDP BPPS (Bureau for Policy and Programme Support) teams, and it is hosted under UNDP ICPSD. The SDG AI Lab provides research, development, and advisory support through cutting-edge digital solutions in harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for sustainable development. The Lab aims to strengthen the UNDP’s internal and its partners’ capacities for the increasing demand for digital transformation.

  Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conduct research on the application of Generative AI, including Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs), to tackle global development challenges such as poverty, inequality, and digital inclusion.
• Draft analytical briefs that communicate project findings, use cases, and methodologies related to Generative AI in a format accessible to the public and development stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs) solutions to tackle issues in the field of economic and international development.
• Assist Power Automate implementation to connect the prompt workflow with Microsoft tools like Outlook, SharePoint, or Teams.
• Provide as needed support to the Technical Specialist as required for, amongst others, participating in meetings, conferences, providing administrative support, drafting meeting minutes and performing other functions and duties.
• Other relevant tasks as deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Education:

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements at the time of application and at the start of the internship:

a) be enrolled in a second university degree programme (Master’s Degree);

b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (Bachelor’s Degree); 

c) have graduated with a university degree in fields such as Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, Econometrics, Mathematics, Economics or similar and, if selected, must start the internship within on