Artificial Intelligence Specialist (Home-Based)

Office/Unit/Project Description 

At UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), we are on a mission to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions around the world. UNDP is the United Nations' global sustainable development organization working across 170 countries with 17,000 staff.

Digital technology is one of the most fundamental drivers of changes this century. Digital not only provides new opportunities and challenges for development, but it is also fundamentally changing the context in which development is taking place. Since the launch of its first Digital Strategy in 2019, UNDP has been on an ambitious transformation journey to harness the potential of digital technology for development. We are now in the next phase of our digital transformation, implementing the Digital Strategy 2022-2025, which puts forth a vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet. 

The Chief Digital Office at UNDP is leading this effort with the goal of embedding digital technology in the development projects that we implement, supporting government partners to build inclusive digital eco-systems, and transforming the organization internally to enable these changes.

Project Description:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both unprecedented opportunities and challenges for global development. As AI technologies rapidly evolve, they have the potential to accelerate progress across multiple Sustainable Development Goals—from healthcare and education to climate action and economic growth. However, without appropriate governance frameworks and inclusive deployment strategies, these same technologies risk exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new vulnerabilities in developing contexts.

The Artificial Intelligence Specialist will be instrumental in shaping UNDP's approach to AI for development, working across the organization to build capacity, develop strategic frameworks, and implement AI solutions that advance human development while adhering to principles of inclusivity, transparency, and ethical responsibility. The role involves managing the AI capability within UNDP's Country Digital Transformation team, collaborating with country offices, regional hubs, and global units to ensure AI technologies are deployed effectively and responsibly in diverse development contexts.

Scope of Work 

Contribute to AI Strategy:

• Contribute to strategy for AI, while contributing to Data, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and Digital Transformation Journeys of countries. This includes ongoing development of critical frameworks, models, guides related to AI.
• Serve as the AI thematic expert for the organization, providing technical guidance on emerging AI technologies and their applications for sustainable development.
• Liaise with UNDP country offices on digital transformation initiatives, with particular focus on incorporating AI solutions that align with national development priorities.
• Support AI projects across the team and provide advisory support for AI Landscape Assessments and national AI strategies, including guidance on delivery models, methodologies, and implementation approaches.
• Contribute to UNDP's ability to spot trends across our network to help UNDP stay ahead of the frontier issues of AI and digital development.
• Liaise with other capability leads to support the development of cohesive offers, proposals, programmes, and projects.
• Accountability for a coherent suite of offers delivering to the AI capability's objectives.

Deliver on strategic development of AI programme capabilities:

• Develop and execute the digital transformation priorities, establishing touchpoints and processes for sourcing & implementing new AI ideas, tracking existing workstreams, and ongoing team management.
• Design new approaches for connecting countries and stakeholders to harness AI development opportunities and mitigate risks and challenges, playing to UNDP's strengths and value proposition.
• Deliver cross-functional AI projects across the organization, ensuring coordination between technical teams, policy advisors, and country offices.
• Contribute to the digital transformation network to scale and support thematic, regional and country teams in co-designing impactful AI and digital development programmes.
• Ensure the strategic development of the AI programme capabilities at UNDP to create a cohesive and/or coordinated approach where necessary.

Support effective talent management:

• Contribute ideas regarding the refinement, streamlining and scaling of talent for AI and digital programmes.
• Manage AI projects/programmes funded by donors, ensuring timely reporting and results.
• Liaise with HR colleagues to ensure excellent talent pipeline and hiring for AI roles, including resource optimization working with other parts of digital transformation areas which prioritizes utilization of existing resources.
• Manage the current pipeline and work with other teams to ensure the overall financial sustainability of the AI capability.

Provide inputs for advocacy, thought leadership and knowledge management:

• Design creative approaches to identifying target audiences and devising grassroots and/or digital campaigns to communicate UNDP's work in AI.
• Provide expertise on frontier AI issues, distilling uncovered trends to shape the future of AI for development.
• Actively engage in global AI forums, conferences, and high-level discussions to position the organization as a thought leader in responsible AI for development.
• Liaise with key stakeholders in relevant events to spotlight attention to the opportunities and challenges of AI development and set directions for the future.

Drive strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation:

• Support in the co-designing AI programmes with funders and partners.
• Coordinate partnerships relevant to AI and digital transformation, ensuring UNDP's value-add and value proposition of partners to contribute to scale support to countries.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation. 

Institutional Arrangement

The Artificial Intelligence Specialist will report to the Head of Programmes in UNDP’s Chief Digital Office (CDO).

Competencies Core

• Achieve Results:                   LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:               LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:             LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:               LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:      LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:            LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Digital 

• Artificial intelligence thought leadership: Deep understanding of current and emerging trends in AI, along with their social, ethical, and economic implications, including data privacy and human rights. Ability to engage with industry experts, government representatives, and academics to stay updated on latest trends and to form partnerships. Strong skills in conducting and interpreting research to support thought leadership initiatives, including white papers, policy briefs, or case studies. Understanding of global trends and cultural nuances, as they relate to the field of AI. Familiarity with international laws and standards regarding technology, particularly in a multi- stakeholder environment like the UN.
• Policy/regulations for digital and emerging technology: Ability to design or advise on regulations and policy for digital and emerging technology.
• Digital ecosystems: Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society.

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management  

• Project management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Partnerships management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
• Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, International Relations, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Leadership, Innovation, Global Thought or Policy, or a related field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience 

• A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience working in digital policy or artificial intelligence policy in the private or non-profit sector is required. 

Required skills 

• Demonstrated experience in project management.
• Demonstrated experience in artificial intelligence for sustainable development.
• Demonstrated experience in engaging with policymakers in public or private sector within the scope of digital transformation/data 

Desired skills 

• Demonstrated experience in conducting research and developing strategic recommendations within the scope of digital or artificial intelligence is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in capturing and synthesizing information on an ongoing basis to produce analysis and recommendations is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization is desired.
• Experience working with the UN or other large scale development organizations is desired. 
• Experience in talent management for AI roles is an advantage

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish), or a local language, is advantageous. 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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