The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN agency for migration, recruits interns throughout the year in its country offices and headquarters around the world. Many IOM internships pay a monthly stipend. This guide explains how the programme works, what you need, and how to find openings that are live right now.
Note on the “Diaspora Engagement – IOM Italy” internship: this role has been advertised in past rounds (for example, with a December 2024 deadline), but we couldn’t find a current 2026 vacancy for it on IOM’s recruitment portal. IOM Italy’s diaspora unit is currently advertising a consultancy instead: Diaspora Humanitarian Training, home-based with travel to Rome, closing 5 November 2026. That role needs 5+ years of experience and fluent Italian. Watch IOM’s careers portal for new internship rounds.
At a Glance
| Organisation | International Organization for Migration (UN migration agency) |
| Locations | IOM offices worldwide, including many in Africa |
| Duration | Usually 2–6 months, sometimes extendable |
| Pay | A monthly stipend for many internships, depending on location and the vacancy |
| Applications | All year round, through IOM’s e-Recruitment portal |
Internships Reported Open Now
These IOM internships were listed as open, with deadlines in early November 2026. Confirm each one on IOM’s portal, as aggregator dates can be wrong:
- Intern (Programme Engagement and Health Information), Pekanbaru, Indonesia (CFCV/2026/040): closes 2 Nov 2026
- Procurement Intern, Manila, Philippines (INT 011/2026): closes 2 Nov 2026
- Intern (Refugee Care Unit), Medan, Indonesia (CFCV/2026/037): closes 1 Nov 2026
- Intern (Health Information and Program Engagement), Surabaya, Indonesia (CFCV/2026/039): closes 1 Nov 2026
Several other roles, including a Resources Management Intern in Gaborone, Botswana, closed in late October. New African and global openings are posted regularly, so check the portal every week.
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in a UN agency, working on migration, health, displacement, data or operations
- A monthly stipend for many positions, which varies by duty station
- Coverage under IOM’s occupational accident and illness plan, as stated in past vacancy notices
- Mentoring, a UN network and a strong addition to your CV for development careers
Interns usually arrange their own medical insurance for non-work illness and may need to cover travel and visa costs. Check each vacancy.
Eligibility
Requirements vary by vacancy. Typical conditions include:
- Being a current student or a recent graduate in a relevant field, such as international relations, migration, public health, law, social sciences, logistics or IT.
- Limited professional experience. Some notices have asked for less than two years of relevant work.
- An age range stated in some notices, for example 20–36 for the IOM Italy internship.
- Fluent English. Some posts also need French, Spanish, Portuguese or a local language.
- A valid work or residence permit for the duty station, where required.
How to Apply
- Go to IOM’s careers page and open the e-Recruitment portal.
- Filter vacancies by “Intern” and by location, including African duty stations.
- Create a profile and upload your CV and motivation letter, tailored to each vacancy.
- Apply before the closing date. IOM doesn’t accept late applications.
IOM Careers: official vacancies and e-Recruitment portal
Stay safe: IOM never charges a fee at any stage of recruitment.
Tips
- Check the portal weekly. Internship windows are often short, sometimes just 7–14 days.
- Apply in your own region. African country offices often recruit locally based interns.
- Match the keywords in the vacancy, such as displacement tracking, health information or procurement.
- Show your languages and field experience, for example volunteering with refugees, community health or data collection.
