2540 Senior Advisor for AI ecosystem facilitation

Background

Purpose

 

To assess the possibilities for the application of AI in two priority sectors based on analysis of available data.

 

Objective

 

To support the nascent AI ecosystem in Serbia by improving collaboration among public and private sector and academia.

 

Background Information

 

Over the past 10 years, Serbia has made progress in modernizing its strategic and regulatory framework to support development of the information society. With digital transformation of the national economy and public administration high on the government's agenda, Serbia now has a good chance for future-proofing its administration's capabilities for rapid deployment of cost-effective, secure and citizen-focused services, and coordinated implementation of ICT policies. First steps have been made with the establishment of the central Office for IT and e-Government (ITE) and strengthening of the Ministerial Council for IT and Innovative Entrepreneurship, but expectations from these institutions run high and they need an initial push to meet the expectations and demonstrate the ability of the government to deliver.

 

Serbia was the first country in the region to develop and adopt the Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy  for the period 2020-2025 (hereinafter AI strategy) and to established the Institute for AI. The newly established Institute should lead the development of AI and provide the ground for rapid development of innovations and start up ecosystem and attract the new investment.

 

This project aims to support the efforts to build internal capacities of the ITE by establishing an AI implementation unit to strengthen and shape the nascent AI ecosystem in Serbia and improve collaboration among public and private sector and academia. The AI implementation unit seeks to underpin the institutional and legal frameworks for AI, secure effective coordination and monitoring of the AI strategy and assist other institutions in introducing AI use cases in priority sectors (medicine, energy, telecommunications, transport/mobility, smart cities, education, agriculture, justice/ethics, security, environment, public administration). Thus, the project aims at enhancing the digital transformation of Serbia’s economy, in particular through increasing human capital, enhancing the regulatory framework and implementing innovative solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work

 

Within this ToR, UNDP will engage a consultant to assess the possibilities for the application of AI in two priority sectors.

 

Under direct supervision of theProject Manager – Digital Innovations, the Senior Advisor is expected to:

 

• Assess all AI initiatives collected so far by the AI unit at the Office for ITE, and collect and systematize up to date information on their status
• Work together with initiative owners to obtain realistic and comparable estimates of the cost and effort required to bring selected AI initiatives to end users
• Work together with initiative owners to draft high level implementation plans for selected AI initiatives

 

In order to complete the assignment, the consultant is expected to collaborate with UNDP, the Institute for AI Research and Development, and the Office for ITE. All documents created through the work (methodologies, analysis, etc.) will be delivered in English language.

 

Duties, responsibilities and key milestones

 

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

 

No.	Deliverables	Deadline
1.	Mapping and maturity categorization of AI initiatives collected by the AI unit of the Office for ITE (around 30)	1 March 2023
2.	Report on comparable implementation cost estimates (subject to feasibility constraints) for up to five AI initiatives selected by the team that can be used to facilitate portfolio rationalization	31 March 2023
3.	Short implementation plans for a set of up to five selected AI initiatives	30 April 2022

 

All deliverables will have to be quality reviewed by the Portfolio Manager – Competitiveness and Digital Governance and in consultations with the Office for ITE.

Competencies

Competencies

• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work;
• Evidence of ability to express ideas clearly, to work independently and in teams;
• Ability to summarize and systematize complex information and identify priorities for follow up activities;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Focuses on results and responds positively to feedback;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards;
• Full computer literacy.

Required Skills and Experience

The Consultant selected to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following minimal requirements:

 

Education:

• University degree in information technology, mathematics, economy, social sciences, or related field.

 

Work experience:

• 10 years of experience in implementing IT projects;
• Familiarity with the AI ecosystem in Serbia, current AI policies and legislation;
• Experience working in an international organization will be considered as an asset;
• Experience in teamwork and coordination of complex projects/processes that included extensive communication, coordination and facilitation requirements;
• Experience in partnership building at international, national, regional and local level.

 

Language:

• Excellent English and Serbian language speaking and writing skills;

 

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Application Procedure:

 

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 12 February 2023.

 

Application should include: 

 

• CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties).  
• Offeror’s Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/confirmation.docx. The Offeror’s Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs (Offeror’s Letter, including Annex 2, Table A: Breakdown of costs & Table B: Breakdown of costs by deliverables).
• Cover Letter – explaining why you are the most suitable for the work should be included in the CV.

 

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

 

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

 

Note: Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit signed Offeror’s Letter Confirming Interest and Availability including a price for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".

 

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail vacancy.rs@undp.org. The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

 

Financial Proposal:

 

• Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

 

Travel

 

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel.  In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

 

Evaluation

 

1. Cumulative analysis When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and                                                          b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. * Technical Criteria weight; 70% * Financial Criteria weight; 30% Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation Criteria Weight Max. Point Technical-desk review 70% 70 points Criteria A Working experience in the field of data science and/or Machine Learning and/or AI. Relevant working experience must be clearly demonstrated through submitted CV. 40 Criteria B Experience in engaging and working with government bodies in Serbia or regionally in the IT sector (to be demonstrated through CV). 30 Financial 30% 30 points

 

Additional Information:

Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://rs.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/downloads/General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf.

• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc . In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable) and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States. As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their Government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(ii) The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC.

The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required. Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her. The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.