UNDP : Data & AI Project Analyst – New York
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Location:
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Salary:negotiable / YEAR
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Job type:CONTRACTOR
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Posted:1 day ago
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Category:Innovation and Knowledge Management, Programme and Project Management, Research and Data
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Deadline:19/01/2025
JOB DESCRIPTION
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
At UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), we are on a mission to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions around the world. UNDP is the United Nations’ global sustainable development organization working across 170 countries with 17,000 staff.
Digital technology is one of the most fundamental drivers of change this century. Digital not only provides new opportunities and challenges for development, but it is also fundamentally changing the context in which development is taking place. Since the launch of its first Digital Strategy in 2019, UNDP has been on an ambitious transformation journey to harness the potential of digital technology for development. We are now in the next phase of our digital transformation, implementing the Digital Strategy 2022-2025, which puts forth a vision to create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.
The Chief Digital Office (CDO) at UNDP is leading this effort with the goal of embedding digital technology in the development projects that we implement, supporting government partners to build inclusive digital eco-systems, and transforming the organization internally to enable these changes.
Project Description:
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development and UNDP’s Local Language Accelerator Programme are designed to strengthen AI ecosystems in Africa and beyond.
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a collaborative initiative accelerating sustainable AI-driven industrial growth in Africa. It focuses on four key foundations of local AI ecosystems: (1) Inclusive and representative datasets, (2) Local AI talent development, (3) Affordable green computing infrastructure, and (4) Enabling environments for responsible AI adoption. Aligned with the commitment to equal partnership with African countries as in the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan, the AI Hub targets sectors including energy, agriculture, health, water, education and training, and infrastructure to harness AI’s transformative potential. Complementing existing G7 initiatives and aligning with global AI efforts, the AI Hub serves as a multi-stakeholder platform to steer local, regional, and global private sector collective action across the African continent, ensuring AI benefits all.
The Local Language Accelerator Programme focuses on accelerating inclusive access to and local use of data in under-resourced languages to ensure digital products are available in local languages, natively spoken by 1.2 billion people.
Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting into the Data Lead, Digital & AI Programmes at the Chief Digital Office, the incumbent will be responsible for below:
Result 1: Support implementation of the Local Language Accelerator Programme
Key results include a deep understanding of challenges and solutions in the Language AI space and UNDP’s role in that field, a strong implementation outcome from the country engagements and trusted, engaged relationships with key partners of the programme.
Result 2: Contribute to the AI Hub for Sustainable Development
Key results include concrete recommendations for strategy and activities of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, with a focus on Language AI, an engaged community around the AI Hub and compelling communication products around the Hub and Language AI.
Responsibilities:
The Data & AI Project Analyst will be responsible for the following duties:
- Conduct analyses on challenges and solutions for accelerating the uptake of Language AI in Africa and beyond,
- Support the implementation of country programmes on Language AI globally and consolidate lessons learned
- Coordinate the community engagement of participants of the Local Language Partnerships Accelerator Pilot and stakeholders from other communities
- Support stakeholder management with AI experts, funders and other potential partners.
- Coordinate with the CDO Communications Specialist to contribute to knowledge products such as blogs and white papers and internal documents on AI and Language AI specifically
- Coordinate monitoring and evaluation of the work.
- Provide partnership, administrative, and programming support to the Data Lead in managing the CDO’s Country Digital programmes delivery.
- Contribute to the design and strategic planning of data and partnership related initiatives to be implemented by the Country Digital Transformation team, including through setting up the meetings with key stakeholders, and the preparation of the relevant materials.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation
Competencies
Core
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
Digital – Co-creation: Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice or create knowledge together; Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into them as a source of creativity; Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing.
Digital – Data privacy and digital ethics: Knowledge of ethical usage of digital technology (e.g. AI, robotics, automation) and data. Ability to assess ethical implications when using, combining or sharing data, when building or implementing AI systems, and when advising on robotisation and automation etc. Ability to design privacy protocols to ensure data is protected and used for legitimate purposes without unnecessary privacy risks.
Digital – Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies
Digital – Digital Ecosystems: Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society
Business Management – Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management – Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management – Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum education requirements:
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Data Science, Management, Economics, Finance or a related field. OR
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience:
- Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
- Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in AI and data governance.
Required skills:
- Experience in working on AI and data governance related projects.
- Demonstrated understanding of Natural Language Processing and language data.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting research and writing reports.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
- Demonstrated experience in data analysis is desired.
- Presentation skills are desired.
- Experience working with the UN or other large scale development organizations is desirable.
Required language(s):
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
To apply, the following documents shall be required from the applicants:
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
- A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
- Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Scam warning
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements
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