Back Internship – Migration Policy and Diaspora Engagement

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  The Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities. Interns must be between 20 and 36 years old and should have less than two years of relevant working experience. 
  In general, the Internship Programme aims at attracting talented students and graduates who:
  a) have a specific interest in, or whose studies have covered, areas relevant to IOM programmes and activities; b) are holding a scholarship for internship placements in international organizations and/or for whom internship is required to complete their studies; or c) are sponsored by governmental/non governmental institutions and/or academia to work in specific areas relevant to both IOM and the sponsor. d) are either enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) or have graduated in the last 12 months. e) are between 20 and 36 years of age.
  Background Information

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supports the Government of Cameroon in advancing migration governance, peacebuilding, and development in line with IOM’s global strategic vision—saving lives and protecting people on the move; driving solutions to displacement; and facilitating pathways for regular migration.

In Cameroon, ongoing crises in the Far North, North-West, and South-West regions continue to generate displacement, strain social cohesion, and contribute to irregular and mixed migration flows. At the same time, the Cameroonian diaspora represents an underutilized asset for peacebuilding, investment, and development.

This internship will contribute to IOM’s efforts to:

• Leverage diaspora networks for peace and development.
• Strengthen the humanitarian–development–peace nexus in border and displacement contexts.
• Generate knowledge to guide future programmatic entry points in underserved regions.
• Mainstream cross-cutting priorities such as youth engagement, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, in alignment with the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). Supervision

  The intern will work under the joint supervision of:

  • The Migration Policy Analyst, and
  • The Nexus and Durable Solutions Coordinator.

    Regular check-ins will be organized to provide guidance, validate progress, and ensure consistency with IOM’s strategic vision.

    Learning Objectives

    The internship will provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and strategic insight into the work of IOM in Cameroon and the broader UN system. The intern will gain exposure to:
    IOM’s policy and programmatic work at the intersection of migration, peace, and development.
    
     

    • Diaspora engagement strategies, influence diplomacy, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
      Operational dynamics of project design, implementation, and follow-up, including administrative and monitoring functions within a UN context.
    • Inter-agency and government coordination mechanisms supporting peacebuilding, migration governance, and regional cooperation.
    • Application of cross-cutting lenses - youth, gender, and social cohesion - in program design and analysis. Training Components and Learning Elements

      The intern will deliver the following outputs:

      1. Policy Brief (10–12 pages): on engaging the Cameroonian diaspora in Gulf countries for peacebuilding, countering hate speech, and promoting social cohesion.
      2. Comprehensive Mapping Report (15–20 pages): documenting Cameroonian diaspora presence and opportunities across sectors (public, private, foundations, municipalities, international organizations, sports, cultural networks).
      3. Analytical Note (8–10 pages): on border–peace linkages in the Cameroon–Nigeria context, with recommendations aligned to DDR.
      4. Strategic Note (10–12 pages): on IOM entry points in the North-West region, analyzing crisis–migration linkages (regular and irregular).
      5. Cross-Cutting Integration Note (6–8 pages): outlining how youth engagement, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the National Action Plan on YPS can be mainstreamed across all deliverables.
      6. Consolidating key contributions to project coordination, activity follow-up, and documentation, ensuring smooth implementation and monitoring of the unit’s initiatives while easing the team’s workload. Education
         • Ongoing or recently completed Master’s degree in Migration Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Peace and Security, Development Studies, or a related field.   Experience 2 years   Skills
           • Strong analytical, research, and drafting skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely.
           • Familiarity with migration governance, diaspora engagement, peacebuilding, and/or the humanitarian–development–peace nexus.
           • Excellent communication skills in both English and French (written and spoken).
           • Organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and support administrative follow-up.
           • Capacity to work independently while maintaining a collaborative, team-oriented approach.   Languages xxx Add in details xxx IOM’s official languages are English, French and Spanish. Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.   Travel required xxx Add in details xxx   Required Competencies   IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.   Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:
           • Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
         • Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
      7. Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
    • Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
  • Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated. Core Competencies – behavioural indicators
  • Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.