Consultant (AI for the Public Sector)

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 05-AUG-2025

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

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Communication and Information Sector’s mission is to promote freedom of expression, media development and media literate societies, and to build knowledge societies through fostering universal access to information, innovation for sustainable development and the preservation of documentary heritage. (The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO's wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and Public Engagement.)

Background

The Recommendation on the Ethics of AI was adopted by all 193 Member States of UNESCO in November 2021. This normative instrument sets the global standard for Al, articulating the fundamental ethical values and principles for its development and use, and providing detailed and actionable guidance on how to apply them in a wide range of policy areas that are being transformed by Al, including data governance, environment, gender, economy and labor, culture, and education and research, among others. 

The Recommendation recognizes the public sector as key stakeholder in AI development, deployment, and governance. Public institutions can ensure their use of AI is transparent, explainable, responsible, accountable, privacy-friendly, and with human oversight. AI integration into public sector operations also offers transformative opportunities for improving governance, decision-making, and service delivery. However, effective adoption requires civil servants to develop competencies in digital transformation, AI governance and practical applications of AI. UNESCO's AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants provide foundational guidance for addressing these needs. 

UNESCO and partners launched the Schools of Public Administration and Actors for Research and Knowledge on AI (SPARK-AI Alliance), a global network collaborating on training civil servants in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation. Faced with common challenges—such as cultural resistance to innovation, inadequate digital infrastructure, and persistent skills shortages in AI and data governance—the SPARK-AI Alliance fosters international collaboration to build robust institutional capabilities among civil servants globally. Through this alliance, public sector organizations are empowered to meet the demands of digital transformation and drive meaningful change. 

Long Description

The public sector is also deemed a priority to regional governmental actors. In Africa, the African Union’s (AU) Continental AI Strategy has identified the promotion of AI in the public sector for better delivery of public services to citizens and businesses as a major priority for the continent’s sustainable development and achievement of the Agenda 2063. Following the above, the Rabat Declaration mobilized the African stakeholder community to commit to a consensus and agree on three guiding principles for institutions across the continent: 

1. Work towards the development of a common framework for global and inclusive AI governance. 

2. Harnessing AI in the public sector and for the African common good. 

3. To ensure the development and ethical use of AI, based on human rights, for the benefit of all. 

In support of the AU Continental AI Strategy and the Rabat Consensus, UNESCO and Ai Movement (a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO) have jointly devised the “Implementation Program of the Recommendation of the African Rabat Consensus on Artificial Intelligence.” UNESCO will be providing sustained technical assistance to African countries for the effective implementation of the Rabat Consensus and the AU AI Strategy, to implement five major lines of action: 

1. Development of a training program on AI for public sector executives. 

2. Development of MOOC on AI for public sector executives. 

3. Delivery of project-based online training cycles on AI for public sectors executives. 

4. Delivery of targeted, immersive, and onsite training for public sector executives. 

5. Establishment of a network of experts to advance AI cooperation among public sector and training institutions in the continent. 

The Communication and Information Sector is primarily responsible for activities 1, 2 and 5 above and will be developing capacity building tools for public sector executives related to AI for the Public Sector over a period of three years. 

Long Description

Terms of Reference 

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the Director of the Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation (CI/DPT), and the Chief of Section for Digital Policies and Digital Transformation (CI/DPT/DIT) and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist responsible for the activity, the consultant will specifically assist with and undertake the following tasks: 

1. Support project management and coordination for the project outcome concerning the public sector within the overall framework of the project, that includes tasks related to communication, outreach, networking, monitoring and reporting to the donor. 
2. Support development of the UNESCO Curriculum on AI for the Public Sector in collaboration with experts and UNESCO Category 2 Centres in Brazil, Morocco and Slovenia. 
3. Assist with project management in development of curriculum and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on AI for the Public Sector in Africa. 

4. Support the development of new partnerships and networks with public sector entities, academia, civil society, private sector, technical community and others to strengthen AI for the public sector in Africa and globally. 

5. Implement capacity building initiatives based on UNESCO’s  AI and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants in coordination with UNESCO field offices.  

6. Conduct research and provide technical advice related to digital transformation in the public sector through the preparation of policy briefs, organization of events and participation in conferences. 

7. Support the functions of the SPARK-AI Alliance by support trainings in the form of in-person and online workshops and the development of Massive Open Online Courses, competency framework adaptation, creation of a knowledge hub and development of a global network of schools of public administration on AI.

Deliverables

• Monthly progress reports on the implementation of the tasks listed above.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law, technology, public policy, project management or other related fields. 

Work Experience

• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional work experience in international organizations, international development or technology policy roles. 

• Minimum 1 year of experience in project management and coordination in the United Nations system or at the international level.   

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent project management, coordination and communication skills. Analytical, drafting and presentation skills. 

• Good understanding of working in diverse and multi-cultural environments. 
• Good Partnership development and fundraising.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English (written and oral).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Any certification or experience in the development of online learning resources like Massive Open Online Courses/instructional design will be an advantage. 

Work Experience

• Experience with capacity building and digital development projects in Africa or Latin America. 

• Experience with capacity building and digital development in public sector institutions.
• Experience with partnerships and fundraising.

Languages

• Good Knowledge of French and/or Spanish.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file).   At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:

Part 1: Technical Proposal

1. an up-to-date curriculum vitae (max 2 pages); 

2. a statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment (1 page); 

3. a one page note on the approach to project management and the different steps involved in development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on AI in the Public Sector.  

Part 2: Financial Proposal

1. A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted in EUR (or USD) and expressed on a monthly basis (with maximum of 3,100 EUR per month) - the overall cost of the assignment, expressed as an overall lump-sum for a period of eleven months.  

Additional Information:

• The person should be based in Paris, France or has legal papers to live and work in France. No visa support is possible, and no travel cost covered by UNESCO.  
• The role requires full-time commitment.  
• The position may involve extensive travel on work-related missions that would be paid for by UNESCO.  
• This consultant contract is for a period of 11 months, with estimated start date 1 September 2025 subject to availability of funds.
• Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview. 
• Applications submitted without the Technical and Financial proposal will not be considered.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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