The exercise contributes to ensuring that Kazakhstan's investments in AI support not only economic growth and technological advancement, but also the realization of child rights, improved opportunities for young people, stronger social outcomes, and sustainable benefits for future generations. It also generates lessons that may inform AI governance and child-centered digital transformation efforts across Central Asia and the broader ECARO region.
Contract Duration - 5 months
Working arrangement: Home based with mission to Kazakhstan (Astana)
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the Government of Kazakhstan and UNICEF in assessing how alternative global futures may affect the achievement of Kazakhstan's AI Strategy, identifying implications for children, adolescents, and future generations, and defining strategic actions required to achieve a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive AI ecosystem by 2035.
The exercise will not seek to predict a single future. Rather, it will explore a range of plausible AI futures and assess their implications for Kazakhstan. These may include scenarios characterized by intensified technological competition between major powers such as the United States and China; growing public concern and cultural pushback against AI adoption; slower-than-expected technological progress and limited economic returns from AI investments; breakthrough advances that accelerate automation and transform labor markets more rapidly than anticipated; and periods of economic slowdown or recession that affect governments' and businesses' ability to invest in AI. By examining how Kazakhstan's AI ambitions perform across different futures, the exercise will help identify robust strategies, policy choices, and investments that remain relevant under conditions of uncertainty.
The consultancy will seek to answer the following overarching question:
"What kind of future for children and future generations could emerge from Kazakhstan's AI transformation, and what decisions must be made today to help create the most desirable outcomes?"
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: 
External ToR TMC0003558.pdf
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Master’s, PhD or equivalent degree in political science, public policy, sociology, economics, demography, communications, mathematics, futures studies, digital transformation, AI policy, or another relevant field. A Master’s degree may be replaced by two additional years of relevant experience.
- Work Experience:
- At least 5 years of proven experience in strategic foresight, futures thinking, scenario planning or anticipatory governance, preferably in the context of AI or digital transformation.
- At least 5 years of experience in forward-looking policy advice and policy design.
- At least 5 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative construction of trends, horizon scanning, scenario development, systems stress-testing or comparable analytical work.
- Experience working in Central Asia or a similar context is an asset.
- Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Russian is an asset for stakeholder engagement in Kazakhstan and the wider region.
- Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
- Strong understanding of AI governance, digital transformation, responsible AI, data governance and digital inclusion.
- Demonstrated capacity to design and facilitate high-level participatory workshops.
- Ability to translate complex foresight findings into concise policy options and strategic recommendations.
- Strong writing, presentation and visual communication skills.
- Desirables:
- Experience with UNICEF, UN agencies, development partners or government policy processes.
- Experience integrating child rights, equity, youth and future generations perspectives into digital policy or foresight work.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):
- An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
- A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0003558.docx
- Technical proposal requirement:
- Technical proposal of up to 5 pages; proposed quality-control mechanisms; detailed workplan; list of relevant implemented projects; three references from recent projects
Remarks:
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.