OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station: [[Country-based or with possibility of travel]]

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 23-MAR-2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Lead expert for the preparation of AI readiness country report

Participating Countries: Chile, Mexico, Morocco, Senegal

In November 2021, 193 Member States of UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This global standard aims to leverage the positive impact of AI while addressing its inherent risks. Countries around the world are now in the process of implementing the Recommendation, with UNESCO supporting them through various capacity-building efforts. UNESCO is partnering with McGovern Foundation on Harnessing the Power of AI to Promote Equal Opportunities in the Digital World initiative, to translate the Recommendation into national institutional and regulatory frameworks and to build a national consensus on the shared vision for AI. At the initial stage, the project will be piloted in four countries: Chile, Mexico, Morocco and Senegal, within a nine-month period. 

UNESCO is seeking senior experts to oversee the implementation of the project in the country, including all research and analytical components, and to lead the preparation of a policy-oriented country reports. These reports will build on the results derived from UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and reflect the outcomes of the multi-stakeholder national consultations to be organized in the framework of this report. The aim of the report will be to inform the country’s comprehensive national AI strategy and to provide an evidence-based framework on the ethical governance of AI, with short-and long-term priorities identified, and using the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI as a blueprint.  

The expert will work under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Sector (ADG/SHS), and direct supervision of the Chief of Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology Section and the Programme Specialist in the responsible field office of UNESCO.  

Candidates may team up to submit their joint applications for this consultancy. 

Scope of the Work


The aim of this consultancy is to lead the development of research and analytical outputs towards the production of a policy-oriented country report. The Report will be based on the evidence gained through the deployment of UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and the key outcomes of the broad national consultations. More specifically, the lead expert will be responsible for:
a.    Facilitating the work of a multidisciplinary national steering committee that will oversee the project implementation from the government’s side. 
b.    Facilitating the deployment of RAM, to gain in-depth understanding of the potential for AI development, the state of the art in the country in terms of institutional and regulatory readiness, as well as the regulatory and institutional gaps to be filled to transform the potential into action. 
c.    Preparing diagnostic report based on the outcomes of the RAM exercise. 
d.    Participating as an expert in the broad-based national consultations, to present the results of the readiness assessment and to facilitate discussions leading to the identification of needs, concerns, and policy priorities for the civil society.
e.    Drafting the final policy-oriented country report to inform the national AI strategy. Depending on the country context, this report may be complementary to the existing national AI strategy or serve as the blueprint for establishing such a strategy where one does not exist, and will feature recommendations concerning the regulatory and other policy reforms needed for an effective governance of AI in the country, based on the short- and long-term priorities identified, and using the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence as an overall framework. 
f.    Participating in the high-level National Forum on AI to showcase the outcome of the project.

Long Description

Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)

A critical initial stage in the implementation of the Recommendation is the deployment of RAM, as mandated by the Recommendation, to assist Member States in identifying their status at specific moments of their readiness trajectory along a continuum of dimensions (legal/regulatory, social/cultural, technical/infrastructural, economic and scientific/educational). 

The RAM is a macro level instrument that will help countries understand where they stand on the scale of preparedness to implement AI ethically and responsibly for all their citizens, highlighting what institutional and regulatory changes will be needed. Furthermore, the output of the RAM will also help UNESCO tailor the policy reform and institutional capacity building efforts to the needs of different countries. This will ensure that the country has in place human capacity, policies, and regulations to address the challenges brought by AI such as reinforcing traditional biases and ensure that people and their interest are always at the centre of AI development.

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) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education
•    Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in governance of artificial intelligence, ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence or digital technologies, law and technology, or other related fields. 
 

Work experience
•    A minimum of ten years of professional experience on the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies, at national and/or international level. Experiences with the relevant government agency in the implementing country is a plus. 
•    Proven experience in conducting research and analysis and/or implementing programmes/projects on the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies, as well as standards related to these issues. Experiences in producing policy-oriented report or recommendations are strongly desirable. 
 

Skills/Competencies
•    Very good understanding of the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies
•    Excellent knowledge about the dynamics of governance of AI in the implementing country, including policies, legislative and regulatory frameworks, institutional mechanisms, organizational structures and processes, and initiatives by different stakeholders in this field. 
•    Experiences in undertaking policy review and assessments both qualitatively and quantitatively on topics related to governance of AI or related digital technologies
•    Proven ability to draft clearly and concisely and to produce high quality policy-oriented analysis and synthesis documents
 

Languages
•    Excellent knowledge of English and Spanish or French.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit their detailed CV in English accompanied by a financial proposal using the standard template quoted in USD. Please also include in the candidatures all relevant works in the past that are of relevance to the topic. 
Expressions of interest should be submitted by e-mail to: ai-ethics@unesco.org clearly indicating “Call for lead experts on preparation of country report” in the subject.
Selection will be based on the candidate’s level of expertise and experience and his/her ability to meet fully the requirements as defined in the Job Opening.
 

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