Consultancy: AI Expert Advisor (AI Task Force) - ICTD Digital Headquarters (6 months, remote)

Consultant IT & Telecom

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

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: 1.The AI strategy (which is in development) will define the parameters for using AI in a responsible matter at UNICEF. The consultant will: a. Help the AI TF provide informed feedback to the teams developing the AI strategy and other strategic guidance. In particular, the consultant will help the AI TF formulate the terms of reference of additional strategic and governance bodies required for optimal operationalization of AI. b. help the AI TF operationalize the concepts defined in the AI strategy and other guidance in the most effective and efficient way. c. Prepare contributions to interagency high-level committees on AI.

2.To support AI systems’ development and operation, the consultant will: a. Provide best practices and guidance on the different aspect of the development of AI systems, including: i.AI System Business Case template ii.AI System development methodology iii. Data management Iv. Training, testing, and validation strategies V. Ethical impact analysis VI. Identification of potential technology partners

3.To help augment AI knowledge and capacity within UNICEF, the consultant will: a. Facilitate the establishment of partnerships with leading AI-focused organizations. b. Identify quality training resources and potential training partners c. Conduct webinars, draft blog posts, curate AI knowledge resources

Work Assignment Overview

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Budget estimate

1.Support the AI TF’s strategy-related work. Facilitate UNICEF’s contribution to the HLCM AI Task Force.

Provide expert advice on:

-Guidelines and governance processes not in place yet, but needed by the AI TF to operate efficiently.

-Talking points for UNICEF’s contributors to the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) on AI.

Over the duration of the contract.

7.5%

2.Help develop a 12-month sliding workplan.

Provide periodic inputs to the workplan structure and priorities that reflect changes in the AI landscape and in UNICEF’s environment.

-Help establish a first workplan based on these ToR within the first 4 weeks of the contact.

-Provide 2 updates over the duration of the contract.

12.5%

3.Support business case development for AI systems.

-Provide an initial AI Business Case template based on the existing UNICEF Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) templates and industry best practices. The consultant will ensure that AI aspects such as responsible AI, testing strategy, security, and others are properly reflected in the template.

-Support Business Relationship Managers (BRMs) and project teams produce the AI business cases of on up to 6 AI initiatives. Use lessons learned to refine the AI Business Case template.

-Initial AI Business Case Template within the first 2 weeks of the contract.

-Facilitate the production of up to 6 AI Business Case and refine the AI Business Case template over the duration of the contract.

15%

4.Help produce an AI System Development Methodology.

-Work with the AI TF, ICTD Project Management Office (PMO), and other key actors to create an AI System Development Methodology based on existing UNICEF methodologies and industry best practices.

-Refine the AI System Development Methodology by reflecting the lessons learned from the 6 AI initiatives mentioned above.

-Initial AI System Development Methodology within the first 4 weeks of the contract.

-Refinement over the duration of the contract.

15%

5.Conduct market research

Produce 3 market research reports in areas selected by the AI TF leadership team, including UNICEF’s Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight (GORAF) and other key stakeholders.

Over the duration of contract.

10%

6.Identify leads for partnerships

Identify at least 2 potential partners in the field of AI that UNICEF could leverage on AI strategic priorities. Collaborate with the AI TF, Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), and UNICEF USA (the UNICEF’s National Committee for the US) and other key stakeholders to establish initial engagement and develop Partnership Concept Notes.

Over the duration of the contract.

7.5%

7.AI comms, capacity building and awareness raising

12 blogposts, and/or presentations and/or webinars, and/or other communications materials.

Over the duration of the contract.

7.5%

8.AI capacity building (People)

-Identify free or low-cost quality AI technical curriculum for UNICEF software developers.

-Develop and deliver UNICEF-specific training plans: UNICEF Staff. Best use of AI (Copilot, UniBot (GenAI facility developed by ICTD), automations, productivity, etc).

-Business Relationship function (including BRMs and Business Analysts). Proficiency in the AI topics in the AI Business Case template.

-Programming Officers. Leverage AI for programmes (AI-powered PPPX, programme formulation, high-quality training data).

-Develop, deliver, and keep up to date UNICEF-specific training resources on prompting for: General use of UniBot.

-The audiences mentioned above.

-AI technical curriculum within 2 weeks of the start of the contract. Updates over the duration of the contract.

-Training on UniBot prompting within the first 2 weeks of the contract.

-Staff training within 6 weeks of the start of the contract. Updates over the duration of the contract.

-First BRM training on basic elements of the initial AI Business Case Template within the first 2 weeks. Follow-up trainings after major iterations of the AI Business Case Template. Updates over the duration of the contract.

-Programming Officers training as soon as applicable. Updates over the duration of the contract.

25%

Financial Proposal:

Please indicate your ability, availability and your overall rate – or rate per deliverable (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a rate will not be considered.

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

• PHD in information and communication technology, AI, as well as any quantitative field such as data science, finance, economics

Proven background in mainstreaming AI and emerging technologies, including ethical and responsible considerations.

•Deep understanding of AI concepts, techniques, and applicability, including Models, Responsible AI, Interpretability, Bias mitigation, security, ethics, privacy and others.

•Very strong background in data management and governance.

•Expert at presenting complex topics to technical and nontechnical audiences.

•Very experienced in research and training. An academic background is advantageous.

•Regular publication of articles about AI.

•Experience in working on AI with large multinational organizations whether in the private sector or in international organizations. Experience with UNICEF is advantageous.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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.

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.

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Added 14 hours ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unicef.org