Consultancy: AI Consultant, ICTD SRG, Digital Headquarters New York, USA (6 weeks, onsite)

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a connected world

The overarching strategic goal of UNICEF’s Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) is to transform and build partnerships with our stakeholders to successfully implement UNICEF programmes globally through the use of innovative technology-enabled solutions.

How can you make a difference?

We are looking for a consultant to present to UNICEF technical and non-technical personnel a general overview of AI systems, the reasons for creating a multidisciplinary, cross-functional, and HQ- and Field-based AI Mainstreaming Working Group (AIM WG), and a roadmap for establishing an AIM WG.

The consultant will report to the Senior ICT Business Relationship Manager (Programmes) in the Strategy, Risk Management and Governance Section.

Key responsibilities:

a. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of UNICEF's strategic goals, digital strategy, child safeguarding rules, ethical frameworks and (draft) AI Framework.

b. Develop guiding principles for effective, safe and responsible mainstreaming of AI in UNICEF.

c. Develop a detailed rationale behind the creation of a multidisciplinary, cross-functional, and HQ- and Field-based AI Mainstreaming Working Group (AIM WG) to coordinate the implementation of effective, safe, and responsible AI within UNICEF. The rationale must include the composition of the AIM WG, the position vis-à-vis the AI Framework and other UNICEF policies, data management & governance, the WG composition, roles, and responsibilities, ways of working, and capacity building.

d. Develop a detailed roadmap for establishing the AIM WG, which must include the refinement of processes and artefacts, the evolution of roles and responsibilities, and capacity building targets.

Deliverables:

Work Assignments OverviewDeliverables/OutputsDelivery DeadlineWorkshop as defined above4 hours presentation on mainstreaming AI within UNICEF, including rationale behind and implementation of the AIM WG Roadmap30 October 20231 hour follow up Q&A for colleagues who could not attend the workshop and viewed its recording

1 hour Q&A session3 November 2023Duration of contract: 6 weeks

Travel: the workshop is expected to be held on site

Financial Proposal:

Please indicate your ability, availability and an all inclusive lump sum (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• PHD in AI system development, ethical and responsible AI, data science, emerging technologies
• Proven background in mainstreaming AI and emerging technologies, including ethical and responsible considerations
• Strong background in data management and governance
• Experience in working with large multinational organizations whether in the private section or international organizations.
• Expert at presenting complex topics to technical and non-technical audiences
• Regular article publication about AI

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Application Requirements:

• Interested applicants must apply and complete their profile through UNICEF's Talent Management system and attach a CV and copy of academic credentials. • Applicants are required to attach a financial proposal that includes lumpsum fee for the whole deliverables as indicated in the Work Assignments Overview above. Applications submitted without a financial proposal attachment will not be considered.

*At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.