WBG Pioneer - AI Solutions Intern

Description

WBG Pioneers, the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high impact learning experience at the heart of global development. Participants gain hands on experience in a diverse and dynamic environment, contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and connect with international professionals working to end poverty on a livable planet.

Description

WBG Pioneers, the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high impact learning experience at the heart of global development. Participants gain hands on experience in a diverse and dynamic environment, contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and connect with international professionals working to end poverty on a livable planet.

Background/Organizational Context

The Information and Technology Solutions (ITS) Vice Presidential Unit (VPU) enables the World Bank Group to achieve its mission of ending extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet by delivering transformative information and technologies to its staff working in over 150+ locations. For more information on ITS, see this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=VTFGffa1Y7w

The Enablement Unit is dedicated to uplifting the World Bank Group’s enterprise maturity in data, information, and AI by driving technology-related capability-building, adoption, and innovation in the business areas across the institution. This unit leads the design and delivery of literacy programs, self-service platforms and practices, and citizen enablement initiatives, ensuring that staff and business units are empowered to leverage data, AI and knowledge technology responsibly and effectively. Through strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and community-building, the Enablement Unit fosters a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

The AI Solutions Intern plays a pivotal role within the AI Studio, serving as a bridge between the World Bank Group's business units and the evolving landscape of AI-enabled citizen development. Operating at the intersection of business acumen and applied AI, this role supports staff across the institution in conceptualizing, building, and scaling AI-driven solutions - from early-stage experimentation through to handoff to scaling. Under the guidance of the AI Enablement Lead and other staff, the Intern will support staff through the Studio's structured prototyping process (Discover, Design, Build, Evaluate), connecting them with the right tools, expertise, and governance frameworks to bring high-value ideas to life.

Key Responsibilities:

Solution Design

• Translate business needs into simple, implementable AI solutions

• Advise teams on appropriate technical solutions

• Collaborate with teams to create lightweight solution architectures when appropriate (no overengineering)

• Support in determining which tools and frameworks to use, ensure alignment with existing standards, and contribute ideas for new tools and approaches where appropriate

• Promote standard approaches and reuse

AI Studio Pipeline

• Support use case intake and scoping, ensuring solutions address business needs

• Assess feasibility, complexity, and tool fit

• Support in guiding use cases from idea → prototype → deployment

Governance & Risk

• Ensure data privacy and confidentiality rules are followed

• Adhere to AI governance and risk guidelines

Learning Support

• Share knowledge on how to use existing tools (mAI, Copilot, data platforms) effectively

• Enable citizen development projects by providing hands-on guidance to staff using low-code/no-code and rapid prototyping tools (e.g., Copilot Studio, Next.js),.

• Support AI clinics and targeted training sessions that build AI literacy across staff, equipping teams with practical skills to experiment with and responsibly deploy AI solutions in their day-to-day work.

Selection Criteria

• Candidates must be currently enrolled in, or in the final year of, an undergraduate program

• Candidates must have 0–6 years of relevant professional experience

• Academic background must align with the requirements outlined in the job description, preferrably in STEM-related areas (e.g. STEM-related disciplines such as Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or other closely related academic fields)

• Demonstrated interest in development work and the World Bank Group’s mission

• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills

• Effective written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work effectively in diverse, team-based environments

• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines

• Proficiency in English; additional languages may be required depending on the role

WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.  Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.