Internship – Desk research on the humanitarian implications of the use of AI in warfare

Join MSF OCG as a Desk research Intern on the humanitarian implications of the use of AI in warfare!

We are looking for passionate candidates ready to contribute to our humanitarian mission.

Below, you will find the job details and the qualifications we are looking for.

This internship is part of an academic training program, a professional training program, or a socio-professional integration program, and must comply with the conditions set by the Employment Market Supervisory Council (CSME). The duration of the internship, as defined by the tripartite agreement, is 6 to 12 months at 100%

Inclusivity and Diversity at MSF

Do your qualifications and experience not exactly match all requirements of the job?

At MSF OCG, we are committed to an inclusive culture that supports and amplifies the diverse voices of our staff members. We strive to create workplaces where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together to advance MSF's social mission and create better outcomes for our patients and the communities we work with.

We understand that some people may hesitate to apply for employment if they don't meet all listed job requirements. Research shows that this is especially true for women. If you believe your profile is a good match for this position, we invite you to apply even if you don’t fulfil every listed qualification.

We encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability status, and all other diversity characteristics.

MSF does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. All selected candidates will undergo reference checks.

Context & mission

The UREPH (Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices) of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland was created in 2006 and aims to improve the way MSF projects are implemented in the field and to participate in critical thinking on humanitarian and medical action, notably by producing publications and organizing conferences and debates. The UREPH conducts research with the objective of improving the understanding of operational issues, along with contributing to analytical and reflective positioning on humanitarian stakes and practices.

At a time of rapid technological change, MSF like many other organizations is grappling with the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on its operational environment, and possibly as well directly on its work.[1] There is a need to better understand the potential risks around IHL obligations of precautions and proportionality associated with the use of digital technologies of warfare, including the use of artificial intelligence in military decision-making. More specifically, the growing reliance on weapon systems with varying degrees of autonomy and on systems that use artificial intelligence to inform decisions on who or what to attack and how, systems that are “trained” on and “learn” from data, has potential repercussions on humanitarian action which are not yet fully understood.[2] AI-decision-support systems can have a significant impact on human decisions about who or what to attack and where, when and how, in different ways: by applying image-classification technology to identify and classify potential targets, or by using predictive analytics to forecast a warring party’s response to an attack. There are also worrying trends in contemporary armed conflicts in relation to the use of cyber operations by state and non-state actors to disrupt digital governance infrastructure, essential services, and economies; as well as in relation to the use of digital communication tools which extend the reach and scale of information operations that potentially fuel violence and violations of IHL.[3]

In this project, MSF is seeking a literature review to inform its understanding of such systems and their areas of application, especially for military and defence purposes. The review will present recent technological advances and current uses (notably “AI targeting”), as well as the issues (ethical, practical, legal) raised by the widespread use of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems including drones and loitering munitions[4] for humanitarian action. It will also look into potential disruptions of essential services for civilian populations which depend on digital communication services, for example information about where to take refuge or obtain goods and services essential to their survival, such as electricity, water or medical care.

The UREPH intern will work under the supervision of a dedicated UREPH team member and in close collaboration with the entire team. The research is expected to answer: i) what are the different types of use of AI in warfare and the impact of the digitalization of conflict on people’s needs and on the risks and threats they might face, ii) what are the ethical issues and potential dangers associated with the use of AI for military and defence purposes for humanitarian actors, iii) what are the potential mitigation measures to reduce MSF’s exposure and/or protect those caught up in conflict from these dangers.

Educational objectives & Responsibilities

Such desk research on a very topical area of interest will give the intern exposure to a range of issues MSF (and the humanitarian sector at large) is confronted to in its daily work in the field. It is an opportunity to learn about the various ethical dimensions of humanitarian action, as well as to gain insight into specific provisions of IHL.

• Perform a literature review from which to support an analysis of how the use of AI has changed and will continue changing military decision-making in ways that could affect the work of humanitarian organisations like MSF.
• Identify transformative applications of AI-supported systems in the humanitarian sector, as well as the unique risks they pose both from a legal and an ethical viewpoint, for example in terms of preserving time and space for human deliberation, or in terms of mitigating civilian harm.
• Explore specific applications of AI-decision-support systems which could serve to replicate or exacerbate unlawful or otherwise harmful effects of targeting methodologies and other warring policies that do not comply with IHL.
• Highlight other organisations’ approaches to these issues and explore their applicability to MSF’s modus operandi.
• Produce a summary report about the main implications and issues at stake for MSF.

Your profile

• Have a tripartite internship agreement
• Master’s degree, in progress, in international relations, political science, public affairs, or equivalent
• Keen interest in humanitarian action
• Excellent research and writing skills, with an ability to summarise
• Fluent in both English and French
• Command of usual computer tools (MS Office, 365)
• Autonomy, flexibility and team spirit
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment

Terms of the internship

• A tripartite internship agreement is mandatory
• 6 months, according to internship agreement
• Full time (40h/week)
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland
• Start date : As Soon As Possible
• Gross monthly remuneration 2'000.- CHF

How to apply

Candidates are invited to submit their application exclusively through our recruitment platform, following these guidelines:

• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
• Documents must be submitted in either English or French.

The application deadline is February 23rd, 2025.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if we receive a sufficient number of quality applications.

APPLY HERE

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please note that we do not wish to use the services of recruitment or placement agencies.

[1] “AI is the use of computer systems to carry out tasks that require cognition, planning, reasoning or learning – tasks often associated with human intelligence.” Artificial intelligence | International Committee of the Red Cross

[2] While AI technology can be incorporated in autonomous weapon systems, one of the most prominent military applications of AI is in ‘decision-support systems’. These are computerized tools that bring together data sources – such as satellite imagery, sensor data, social media feeds or mobile phone signals – and present analyses, recommendations or predictions based on them to decision makers. 2024 ICRC IHL Challenges Report | ICRC, p.64.

[3] 2024 ICRC IHL Challenges Report | ICRC, p.57.

[4] A kind of aerial weapon that can hover over, detect and dive onto targets, and detonates on impact.