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OVERVIEW
Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)
Duty Station: Other cities
Job Family: Social and Human Sciences
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 31-03-2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
BACKGROUND
UNESCO has the mandate to promote the development of science and technology from an ethical and human rights approach. Under this framework in November 2021, UNESCO developed the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which the 193 Member States adopted by acclamation at the 41st session of its General Conference and spearheading its implementation by the Member States through innovative tools and methodologies, such as the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and the Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA). Through the application of these tools, UNESCO is changing the business model that drives AI, going beyond principles to develop a range of concrete and practical solutions to ensure fair, inclusive, sustainable and equitable outcomes of AI.
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) has played a pivotal role in supporting UNESCO’s efforts to position ethics as the cornerstone of building AI governance. Through the implementation of two projects (2023 and 2024), UNESCO has facilitated a multistakeholder process of evidence gathering through national consultation and the deployment of RAM in Brazil, Chile, Morocco and Senegal in the first phase and in the ongoing phase in Argentina, India, Indonesia, Tanzania and Türkiye. The partnership also advances key knowledge products that will further reinforce capacity-building efforts on the ground and empower stakeholders to navigate the complex AI landscape.
The goal of the new project—Scaling Inclusive, Human Rights-Based Ethical AI Governance (2025)—is to consolidate the results delivered to date, build on the achievements made, expand the reach and depth of diagnostic and policy development efforts, and deploy globally the tools, methodologies, knowledge and experiences from the recent efforts of building AI governance ecosystem. The actions will be organised around three main pillars/expected outcomes: a. empowering civil society, b. expanding and deepening engagement with countries for ethics of AI through RAMs and other tools; c. producing new knowledge on AI governance.
The UNESCO W4EAI platform is a pioneering initiative to promote the active participation of women throughout the Artificial Intelligence lifecycle and its governance, ensuring gender equality and inclusivity of AI systems. The platform advocates for integrating diverse perspectives into discussions on AI policies and ethics at both the global and regional levels. The aim of this consultancy is to develop an Outlook Study on AI and Gender and Supporting the Coordination of the W4EAI Expert Platform. The consultant will provide expert technical support on gender and artificial intelligence issues, contributing to the daily activities of the W4EAI platform. The consultant will focus on research, engagement with key stakeholders, and capacity-building efforts to foster gender equality and ethical AI governance. Additionally, the consultant will support key initiatives related to gender and AI, as well as the preparation of international events.
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
The Consultant will work under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences Sector (ADG/SHS) and under the direct supervision of the Head of Ethics of AI Unit at UNESCO Headquarters. The consultant will lead the production of an “Outlook Study” on Gender and Artificial Intelligence.
The outputs and activities the Consultant will engage in are:
Research and Analysis:
• Develop an “Outlook Study” on Gender and Artificial Intelligence, with a deadline of October 2025.
• Prepare materials for capacity-building workshops (presentations, guides, and supplementary materials).
• Support the inclusion of a gender perspective in the Meta-Analysis of RAMs report, needing a cross-cutting analysis of all completed RAM reports.
• Coordinate and lead the inclusion and modification of the gender perspective in UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), ensuring alignment with the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
• Coordinate and oversee other documents or papers produced by the W4EAI platform.
Technical Assistance:
• Provide ongoing technical support on issues related to gender and artificial intelligence.
Event Preparation:
• Collaborate on organising the upcoming international conference of the Women4Ethical AI (W4EAI) platform.
Contributing to the ongoing work of the Ethics of AI Unit:
• Identifying synergies between the Outlook and the knowledge and experience from the relevant projects on ethics of AI being delivered around the world, including capacity building for AI governance for different countries. The goal is to enrich and cross-fertilise the overall work.
• Contribute to ongoing research and analysis conducted by the Ethics of AI team in AI policy and governance.
• Participate in meetings and present the work to different stakeholders.
• Support the team by preparing different materials such as speeches, presentations, blogs, white papers, etc.
Long Description
The duration of the contract is 9 months (until December 31st, 2025) with a monthly payment. The consultant may work remotely and shall attend missions in person related to the project implementation. The exact dates are to be confirmed by the Secretariat in due course.
Before submitting the Employment History form (Word file) to the “My Employment History Form / My Documents” section of the online application, the candidate must add the following elements at the end of the file:
• A one-page statement laying out how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment and explaining how they would approach the work.
• The salary expectations for the assignment, which should be quoted in US dollars on a monthly basis for a 9-month period (full-time working).
Only applications with the above-requested information can be considered.
Please note that the consultant salary expectations must be expressed in gross amounts. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties in accordance with local laws. UNESCO will not reimburse any taxes, duties or other contributions for which the Individual Specialist may be liable in respect of any payments made to him/her under the terms of this contract.
Long Description
DELIVERABLES
• An “Outlook Study” on Gender and AI, to be delivered by October 2025.
• Materials for capacity-building workshops (presentations, guides, and supplementary materials).
• Contribution to the Meta-Analysis of RAMs report with the gender perspective.
• Contributions to UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology revision, bringing the gender perspective.
• Monthly reports detailing activities and linking outputs to deliverables.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)
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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• University degree in the governance of artificial intelligence, ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence or digital technologies, law and technology, computer science, data science, computational social science, or other related fields.
Work Experience
• A minimum of five years of professional experience on the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies at the national and/or international level. A PhD can count as work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting policy-oriented reports, toolkits, or frameworks for policymakers and other stakeholders.
Skills and competencies
• Very good understanding of artificial intelligence’s ethical, legal, social and governance issues and related digital technologies.
• Proven expertise in research on gender and AI ethics or related topics.
• Excellent knowledge about the dynamics of governance of AI, including policies, legislative and regulatory frameworks, institutional mechanisms, organisational structures and processes, and initiatives by different stakeholders in this field. This includes broad familiarity with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, as well as the ability to translate lessons learned and good practices into practical guidance for policymakers.
• Proven ability to conduct high-quality policy research, synthesise complex information, and produce clear, concise, and impactful reports or toolkits.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple interrelated deliverables within tight deadlines.
Languages
• Excellent knowledge of English (spoken and written).
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• Advanced university degree (PhD) in the governance of artificial intelligence, ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence or digital technologies, law and technology, computer science, data science, computational social science, or other related fields.
Work Experience
• Experience conducting research and analysis and/or implementing programmes/projects on the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies is strongly desirable.
• Experience in producing policy-oriented reports, toolkits, or recommendations is strongly desirable.
Languages
• Knowledge of another UNESCO official language (French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, or Chinese).
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.
UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
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