Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.
As a Flagship Catalytic Blended Financing platform of the UN, UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, United Nations Organizations, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. UNCDF’s work is focused on three priority areas, including:
• SME Finance
• Sub-National Finance
• Digital Finance
UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by an Executive Board comprised of UN Member States.
The Digital Transformation and Innovation Unit (DTI) leads UNCDF's enterprise-wide digital transformation, including the integration of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies into UNCDF's investment, programmatic, and operational workflows, while also ensuring compliance with UN AI policy and guidelines. Under UNCDF's Strategic Framework 2026–2029, DTI is responsible for operationalizing a portfolio of AI agents and emerging-technology pilots that strengthen the quality of catalytic capital deployment, accelerate programme delivery, and expand financial inclusion in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and fragile settings.
The Information Technology Analyst - AI and Emerging Technologies will work on the implementation and scaling of the AI portfolio, building on the foundational AI actions and the first deployed AI system (Strategic Alignment Intelligence, or SAI). The position is central to helping to translate UNCDF's strategic AI commitments into a mature, governed, and institutionally embedded ecosystem of digital solutions serving UNCDF's catalytic mandate, while aligning with UN and UNDP AI frameworks.
Duties and Responsibilities
The AI and Emerging Technologies Integration Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation Unit, UNCDF. The incumbent will collaborate closely with the Executive Secretary, Regional Team Leads (RTLs) and the Digital Transformation and Innovation Unit.
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation Unit, the Information Technology Analyst : AI and Emerging Technologies will be responsible for the following key result areas:
1. Operation and continuous development of UNCDF's enterprise AI agent portfolio
- Operate, maintain and improve the portfolio of AI agents deployed across UNCDF's investment, programmatic and operational workflows, including agents supporting investment pipeline analysis, investment proposal review and stress-testing, programme document drafting, donor reporting, market analysis, internal guidance on roles and workflows, and other operational processes..
- Design, prototype, test and deploy new agents on the enterprise AI platforms in use or under institutional adoption, including Google Gemini Enterprise, Salesforce Agentforce, agent development frameworks such as the Google Agent Development Kit, and additional frontier large language model providers and agentic platforms as they are integrated into UNCDF's technology stack, ensuring compliance with broader UN policy on AI governance and related technology.
- Support in identification and prioritizing of new use cases through structured discovery with teams at Headquarters and in Regional Offices, and translate them into technical designs and delivery roadmaps.
- Extend deployed agents beyond retrieval and analysis toward document generation, forecasting and workflow action, including production of analytical outputs and presentation materials directly from institutional data.
- Conduct iterative validation of agent outputs against historical institutional decisions and documented outcomes, record performance metrics, and refine agent reasoning logic and system instructions accordingly.
- Maintain version-controlled technical documentation and user guidance for each deployed agent, and coordinate onboarding across Headquarters and Regional Offices.
2. Enterprise AI architecture, data integration and institutional knowledge infrastructure
- Develop, test and maintain assigned components of the shared technical layer connecting UNCDF AI agents to institutional and external data, including interoperable connectors (Model Context Protocol servers or equivalent) that can be reused across enterprise AI platforms.
- Develop and maintain retrieval and grounding capabilities over UNCDF document repositories, enabling agents to use relevant institutional documentation, results, evaluations and lessons learned with appropriate source attribution.
- Integrate approved external development-finance, macroeconomic and credit-risk data sources into AI-agent workflows, including sources such as the World Bank, OECD, IMF and commercial risk-data providers.
- Contribute technical analysis to UNCDF’s enterprise AI initiatives, including assessment of platform capabilities, licensing approaches, costs, and user-access requirements, to inform management decisions on the multi-platform architecture.
- Work with UNCDF ICT, enterprise-systems teams and relevant UNDP counterparts to implement interoperability, authentication and security requirements, and identify potential duplication across platforms.
3. Integration of emerging technologies beyond AI
- Contribute to UNCDF’s technical exploration and integration of emerging technologies relevant to development finance, including distributed ledger technologies (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric), digital public infrastructure (DPI), digital identity and eKYC systems, tokenization, and programmable-finance applications.
- Design and implement defined feasibility assessments, technical pilots and proofs of concept demonstrating how emerging technologies may accelerate capital deployment, reduce transaction costs and enhance financial inclusion in LDCs, SIDS and fragile settings.
- Translate, when assigned, defined use cases from UNCDF’s priority financial, programmatic and operational areas into technical requirements, implementation options and draft roadmaps, in line with agreed strategic direction and technical architecture.
- Research selected emerging technologies relevant to development finance—such as CBDCs, blockchain-based financial infrastructure and interoperable payment systems—and prepare concise analysis on possible uses for UNCDF.
4. AI governance, responsible deployment and risk management
- Contribute to the development and implementation of UNCDF’s internal AI governance framework, in alignment with the UN’s policies and governance framework, including model-selection criteria, prompt governance, data-handling protocols, human-in-the-loop requirements and escalation procedures for higher-risk use cases.
- Review proposed AI use cases and deployments against applicable UN-system guidance, including the UN Principles for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence, the Global Digital Compact, and relevant UNDP/UNCDF data-protection and cybersecurity policies.
- Support the preparation and maintenance of responsible-AI monitoring documentation and basic evaluation materials, including benchmark results, limitation disclosures and validation records.
- Identify and document potential risks associated with AI integration, escalate significant issues to the supervisor, and contribute to practical mitigation measures and management briefings.
5. Partnerships, capacity building and knowledge management
- Support the Digital Transformation and Innovation unit in engagement with external AI and emerging-technology providers, including research, meeting coordination and follow-up related to potential partnerships and collaboration with relevant UN-system entities.
- Contribute to development and delivery of practical user-orientation, prompt-engineering and role-specific training sessions and materials to help UNCDF personnel use approved AI tools effectively.
- Prepare and maintain technical and programme documentation, including architecture diagrams, decision logs, reports, and updates to UNCDF’s AI priorities.
- Participate in relevant internal UN-system forums on AI for development finance, and support the preparation of materials presenting UNCDF’s work.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
|
Digital |
Systems thinking & transformation |
issue. Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping systems and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information; power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it. Being able to identify intervention points to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for desirable effects. Understand that change is nonlinear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence. |
| 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 multistakeholder environment like the UN. |
| Digital | Blockchain advice | Knowledge of how blockchain works, and ability to advise on the opportunities and challenges for governments and society. |
| Business Direction & Strategy | Systems 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. |
| Business Development | Knowledge Generation | Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. |
| Digital |
Creative facilitation |
Ability to design workshops that considers and addresses multiple interests, agendas, worldviews; set out clear objectives and engaging activities; select appropriate tools, materials, resources that are needed to enable or support the activities. Ability to swiftly build rapport with participants and create a safe space (on- and offline) where they feel comfortable to share their views, concerns, experiences and reflections; supporting this with a range of tools to stimulate active participation. Ability to facilitate inclusive conversations, ability to work with a diverse set of people with different backgrounds, seniority and expert levels, using different approaches tailored to fit the people in the room, drawing out the perspectives and ideas of each individual and making decisions through deliberation and discussion across a group. Ability to pace a session, adjust to the abilities and energy levels of attendees and the nature or purpose of an exercise. Being flexible and able to improvise; adapting and changing approaches in response to the needs, while staying true to the intent and objectives of the session. |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Economics, Finance, Development Studies, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, International Development, or a related field is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Required:
- Minimum of two (2) years (with master's degree) or four (4) years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant professional experience in the design and management of innovation, technology or development programmes, projects or partnerships, including demonstrated hands-on experience designing, developing or deploying AI systems or other emerging technologies in a development, public-sector or multilateral context.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing and operating multi-agent AI systems, including using orchestration frameworks such as LangGraph, Google ADK, or equivalent platform-native agent builders (e.g., Microsoft Copilot Studio multi-agent configurations).
- Working knowledge of at least two enterprise AI platforms from across the current market (e.g., Google Gemini Enterprise, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Salesforce AgentForce, or equivalent frontier-model agentic platforms).
- Proficiency in Python, with demonstrated experience deploying AI-powered applications on modern cloud platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform, Vercel, AWS, or equivalent), including familiarity with serverless hosting, authentication integration, and AI SDK / LLM API integration.
- Demonstrated technical knowledge of blockchain / distributed ledger technologies (e.g., Hyperledger Fabric etc).
- Demonstrated ability to translate institutional workflows (e.g., investment review, programme documentation, donor reporting) into structured AI agent designs.
Desired:
- Experience combining a technical (Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science) foundation with a policy, economics, or development issue focus.
- Experience within the UN system, an International Financial Institution (IFI), or a development finance institution, particularly in work related to LDCs, SIDS, or fragile settings.
- Experience with UN system guidance on responsible and ethical AI, including the UN Principles for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence and the Global Digital Compact.
- Experience evaluating AI systems through controlled studies, benchmarking, or structured validation protocols.
- Experience with data analysis tools such as STATA and spatial tools such as ArcGIS.
- Working experience with blended finance, catalytic capital, and development-finance instruments (grants, reimbursable grants, concessional loans, guarantees, first-loss tranches).
Language(s):
- Fluency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.
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.
Use of AI by candidates
Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
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