Job Description
Duration: 2-6 months
Job Description
Intern – Programme Support Unit (PSU)
Duty Station: IOM Djibouti
Type of Appointment: Internship
Background
The Programme Support Unit (PSU) plays a central role in enhancing the effectiveness, coordination, and impact of IOM Djibouti’s operations. Under the leadership of the Unit Head, PSU ensures the integration of the Mission’s programmatic and policy efforts with IOM’s global and regional strategies.
Beyond administrative support, the PSU acts as a strategic enabler, assisting project managers in navigating project development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The Unit promotes inter-departmental coordination, facilitates information sharing, and ensures all stakeholders remain aligned and informed.
By identifying emerging risks and opportunities, PSU supports adaptive programming and contributes to building a culture of learning, innovation, and continuous improvement. To respond to an expanding workload, IOM Djibouti seeks a highly motivated Intern to support PSU in administrative, communications, and logistical tasks.
Supervision
The Intern will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission, the Head of Programmes, and the direct supervision of the National Policy & Liaison Officer.
Responsibilities
The Intern will support the PSU in the following areas:
- Draft, format, and proofread official correspondence (letters, emails, briefing notes) for ministries, embassies, donors, and partners.
- Maintain organized physical and electronic filing systems for correspondence, reports, and schedules; track action items and follow up on deadlines.
- Draft communications and briefing materials for the Chief of Mission, including meeting notes, preparation briefs, and talking points.
- Assist in the preparation of agendas, minutes, and follow-up notes for PSU and Mission-wide meetings.
- Develop PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets, and other visibility materials for internal and external use.
- Contribute to drafting programme documents, donor reports, proposals, and other materials in line with IOM standards.
- Conduct research on funding opportunities and support the drafting of donor profiles and engagement materials.
- Support logistical coordination for donor/partner visits, workshops, and events (e.g. preparing agendas, coordinating invites, booking venues, preparing briefing kits).
- Maintain and update program databases, correspondence logs, and digital repositories (e.g. SharePoint, PRIMA).
- Assist in drafting summaries, newsletters, press releases, and public communications to enhance IOM visibility.
- Provide administrative support to the Chief of Mission, including travel arrangements, calendar management, protocol coordination, and document tracking.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Training Components and Learning Elements
The Intern will:
- Gain experience working in a multicultural, international environment within the UN system.
- Acquire practical knowledge of international cooperation, migration programming, and organizational management.
- Understand IOM’s mandate, operations, and strategic planning.
- Access IOM’s internal learning platform and e-courses.
- Engage with staff from IOM Headquarters and other field missions.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility criteria at the time of application:
- Enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in International Relations, Public Administration, Communications, Project Management, or related fields.
- Enrolled in a Master’s programme in a relevant discipline.
- Graduated from a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme within the last 12 months prior to the internship start date.
Experience
- Prior internship or experience in administrative support, communications, or programme management in an international, governmental, or NGO setting is an asset.
- Experience with drafting official correspondence, managing filing systems, event coordination, or donor engagement is an advantage.
Skills
- Excellent writing and formatting skills in English and French.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).
- Familiarity with SharePoint, Canva, or similar tools is desirable.
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Attention to detail and discretion in handling sensitive information.
Languages
- Fluency in French and English is required (oral and written).
- Knowledge of additional IOM/UN official languages is an asset.
Required Competencies
IOM’s Core Values
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences.
- Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts consistently with organizational principles.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates competence, commitment, and sound judgment.
- Courage: Willingness to stand up for principles and take risks when necessary.
- Empathy: Treats others with compassion and respect.
Core Competencies
- Teamwork: Promotes effective collaboration within and across units.
- Delivering Results: Produces timely, quality outputs and meets deadlines.
- Managing and Sharing Knowledge: Demonstrates a learning mindset.
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for actions and delegated tasks.
- Communication: Communicates clearly and effectively, adapting tone to the audience.
(For details, see IOM Competency Framework)
Additional Information
- The internship is subject to funding confirmation.
- Appointment is conditional on medical clearance, residency/visa verification, and government authorization, where applicable.
- Interns may receive a small monthly stipend depending on duty station and funding availability.
- Interns with an external allowance or university funding are not eligible for an IOM stipend.
- Interns are covered for occupational injury/illness, but must provide proof of medical insurance for non-occupational matters.
- IOM applies a zero-tolerance policy to misconduct, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
- No fees are charged at any stage of the recruitment process.
- Applications must be submitted through the IOM online recruitment platform, which allows applicants to track application status.
Deadline: August 12, 2025
