Details
Mission and objectives
The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) provides leadership to the UN Country Team in Turkey and the UN’s programming work in support of national priorities. The RC has a team composed of 10 national staff and 1 international staff, forming the RC Office (RCO), and is based in Ankara.
The RC leads the UNSDCF process and oversees the implementation of the UNSDCF through, among other, the work of the Result Groups. The UNSDCF is underpinned by a financing and resource mobilisation strategy.
This will include the coming one to two years, among other,
1) fully operationalise the result groups and the UNSDCF implementation modalities (e.g. joint work plans, strategic planning, results reporting);
2) enhancing coherence and synergy between programmatic approaches in the UNSDCF and the 3RP to support response to refugees and migrants in Turkey which includes ensuring peaceful co-existence between the refugees and the host communities; and
3) the integration of programmatic approaches to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, which is directly linked with supporting the public health systems and equitable access to health services.
The RC leads the UNSDCF process and oversees the implementation of the UNSDCF through, among other, the work of the Result Groups. The UNSDCF is underpinned by a financing and resource mobilisation strategy.
This will include the coming one to two years, among other,
1) fully operationalise the result groups and the UNSDCF implementation modalities (e.g. joint work plans, strategic planning, results reporting);
2) enhancing coherence and synergy between programmatic approaches in the UNSDCF and the 3RP to support response to refugees and migrants in Turkey which includes ensuring peaceful co-existence between the refugees and the host communities; and
3) the integration of programmatic approaches to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, which is directly linked with supporting the public health systems and equitable access to health services.
Context
The Twelfth Development Plan (2024-2028) sets digital and green transformation as pivotal axes of sustainable development. This national vision focuses on robust AI infrastructure, high-impact R&D ecosystems, and the evolution of digital governance. Aligned with these priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026-2030 positions digital connectivity as a key enabler for all development outcomes.
At the global level, the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation calls on the UN system to lead by example: championing digital public goods, closing persistent digital divides, ensuring that AI is developed in a trustworthy and human-rights-respecting manner, and strengthening the architecture for inclusive, multi-stakeholder digital governance. Regionally, Türkiye plays a strategic role at the intersection of Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, positioning it as a key actor in shaping agendas across neighbouring regions including on digital protection.
Within this context, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports bridging government strategy and national priorities with technical expertise across UN agencies, and support financing and multistakeholder partnerships (IFIs, private sector, academia).
The Digital Transformation, AI and Data Specialist will serve as the RCO’s focal point on digital and emerging technology issues; support the RCO (DMO) in strengthening data-driven coordination across the UN system; and support the UNCT to both practice and promote responsible, inclusive digital transformation throughout the 2026-2030 Cooperation Framework cycle.
At the global level, the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation calls on the UN system to lead by example: championing digital public goods, closing persistent digital divides, ensuring that AI is developed in a trustworthy and human-rights-respecting manner, and strengthening the architecture for inclusive, multi-stakeholder digital governance. Regionally, Türkiye plays a strategic role at the intersection of Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, positioning it as a key actor in shaping agendas across neighbouring regions including on digital protection.
Within this context, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports bridging government strategy and national priorities with technical expertise across UN agencies, and support financing and multistakeholder partnerships (IFIs, private sector, academia).
The Digital Transformation, AI and Data Specialist will serve as the RCO’s focal point on digital and emerging technology issues; support the RCO (DMO) in strengthening data-driven coordination across the UN system; and support the UNCT to both practice and promote responsible, inclusive digital transformation throughout the 2026-2030 Cooperation Framework cycle.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Resident Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Support the UNCT, Results Groups, and RCO in leveraging AI, digital transformation, and data innovation in implementing UNSDCF
- Identify and analyse emerging trends in digital technologies, artificial intelligence and innovation, translating insights into actionable recommendations to UNCT aligned with the Cooperation Framework and UNCT priorities.
- Support UNCT, Results Groups and UN entities in integrating digital, AI and data-driven approaches into programme design, implementation and monitoring, including contributions to Common Country Analysis (CCA) and Cooperation Framework (CF)
- Support development of Joint Programme proposals related to digital transformation and innovation
- Provide data analysis and visualization support
- Support the operationalisation of the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, with particular attention to groups at risk of digital exclusion: women and girls, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and youth not in employment or education or training among others.
2. Support the digitalization of UN operational and programmatic processes
- Identify opportunities for applying AI across programme design and delivery, monitoring and evaluation, data management and reporting, communications and knowledge management, and administrative process automation
- Support the RCO with the design and development of AI-enabled tools and prototypes to drive innovation and efficiency in the UN Türkiye in collaboration with diverse working groups
3. Inclusive and ethical use of AI and data & accessibility
- Support the establishment of an ethical framework for AI use within the RCO and UNCT, ensuring alignment with UN principles on human rights, data privacy, transparency, and accountability
- Promote and ensure universal accessibility standards including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) across all UN-supported digital initiatives and content
4. Knowledge management and internal capacity building
- Assess existing data management systems and digital tools within the UNCT and contribute to strengthened knowledge management and sharing.
- Organize and deliver workshops, training sessions, knowledge sharing sessions, and practical labs on AI fundamentals and use cases, digital tools for development, data analytics, and digital accessibility
- Support the development of training materials, user guides, technical documentation tailored to UN staff and national partners
- Document and disseminate best practices, case studies, and lessons learned
- Support the maintenance, optimization, and secure use of collaboration platforms (e.g., shared workspaces, cloud tools), and data management systems
5. Partnership
- Support the RCO (PDF / UNIC) collaboration with universities, startups, private sector actors, public institutions aligning with the NDP and CF
- Support the development of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in digital transformation
- Collaborate with regional and global UN teams working on AI, data science, and digital innovation
6. Communication
- Support advocacy on digital transformation, AI for development, and inclusive digital ecosystems and contribute to communication products including briefs, articles, visual content, and technical notes
7. Support RCO in other tasks as required.
1. Support the UNCT, Results Groups, and RCO in leveraging AI, digital transformation, and data innovation in implementing UNSDCF
- Identify and analyse emerging trends in digital technologies, artificial intelligence and innovation, translating insights into actionable recommendations to UNCT aligned with the Cooperation Framework and UNCT priorities.
- Support UNCT, Results Groups and UN entities in integrating digital, AI and data-driven approaches into programme design, implementation and monitoring, including contributions to Common Country Analysis (CCA) and Cooperation Framework (CF)
- Support development of Joint Programme proposals related to digital transformation and innovation
- Provide data analysis and visualization support
- Support the operationalisation of the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, with particular attention to groups at risk of digital exclusion: women and girls, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and youth not in employment or education or training among others.
2. Support the digitalization of UN operational and programmatic processes
- Identify opportunities for applying AI across programme design and delivery, monitoring and evaluation, data management and reporting, communications and knowledge management, and administrative process automation
- Support the RCO with the design and development of AI-enabled tools and prototypes to drive innovation and efficiency in the UN Türkiye in collaboration with diverse working groups
3. Inclusive and ethical use of AI and data & accessibility
- Support the establishment of an ethical framework for AI use within the RCO and UNCT, ensuring alignment with UN principles on human rights, data privacy, transparency, and accountability
- Promote and ensure universal accessibility standards including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) across all UN-supported digital initiatives and content
4. Knowledge management and internal capacity building
- Assess existing data management systems and digital tools within the UNCT and contribute to strengthened knowledge management and sharing.
- Organize and deliver workshops, training sessions, knowledge sharing sessions, and practical labs on AI fundamentals and use cases, digital tools for development, data analytics, and digital accessibility
- Support the development of training materials, user guides, technical documentation tailored to UN staff and national partners
- Document and disseminate best practices, case studies, and lessons learned
- Support the maintenance, optimization, and secure use of collaboration platforms (e.g., shared workspaces, cloud tools), and data management systems
5. Partnership
- Support the RCO (PDF / UNIC) collaboration with universities, startups, private sector actors, public institutions aligning with the NDP and CF
- Support the development of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in digital transformation
- Collaborate with regional and global UN teams working on AI, data science, and digital innovation
6. Communication
- Support advocacy on digital transformation, AI for development, and inclusive digital ecosystems and contribute to communication products including briefs, articles, visual content, and technical notes
7. Support RCO in other tasks as required.
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