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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to educate

UNICEF is dedicated to promoting and protecting children’s rights in the digital age, where new technologies such as AI are rapidly transforming our world. While AI has the potential to revolutionize the world and the lives of children, by supporting UNICEF's mission to uphold child rights and SDG targets, AI also poses significant risks, such as discrimination, misinformation, and widening the digital divide. The full potential of AI can only be unlocked if communities have access to the necessary technology, tools, education, and infrastructure. By prioritizing digital inclusion and upskilling efforts, UNICEF works to enable marginalized communities to participate and benefit from the growing digital landscape, creating an equitable foundation for AI to be a force for good for every child.

UNICEF’s unique position means that UNICEF can act as the connector between partners, such as governments and private technology companies, to help harness the power of AI to support children whilst mitigating risks. UNICEF’s AI strategy has been designed upon collaborative ways of working and based on key principles, including but not limited to: AI for Children’s Good – Developing AI as a tool to deliver positive, responsible and sustainable impact for children underpins everything in the strategy; Responsible and Safe – Ensure UNICEF’s approach to AI is driven by the best interests of children and anchored to clear and practical approaches for assessing responsibility, ethics, safety and risk; Scalable – Focus on delivering a strategy that can deliver scalable impact for children.

The Gulf region has emerged as a rapidly advancing hub for AI, driven by strong governmental visions, significant investment, and a growing ecosystem of innovation. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have launched national AI strategies and dedicated institutions to accelerate the development and deployment of AI technologies across sectors. This momentum is further supported by public-private partnerships, philanthropic foundations, and international collaborations aimed at positioning the region as a global leader in responsible and transformative AI. As a result, a diverse range of stakeholders— government agencies, academic institutions, private sector firms, and civil society actors — are increasingly active in shaping the region’s AI landscape.Partners are crucial in activating UNICEF’s ambition to enhance programme impact, improve operational efficiency and effectiveness, and support advocacy efforts and mobilize resources. Partners can help UNICEF to (i) build the evidence base for AI advocacy goals; (ii) design, develop, and deploy AI solutions; (iii) advocate for and build mechanisms for child safeguarding; (iv) bring children or duty-bearer perspectives into AI solution design; and (v) secure resources for UNICEF’s AI ambition.

To advance AI-related partnerships in the Gulf region, UNICEF is seeking the services of a consultant to map and analyze partnership opportunities. The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Gulf Area Office and UNICEF ICT Division.

How can you make a difference? 

Based on the UNICEF’s AI Strategy AI Policy Guidance, Procedure on Engagement with Business, UNICEF’s Fundraising Strategy and other relevant UNICEF guidance, as well wider UN initiatives for partnerships in a digital world, such as the UN Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, UN2.0 and the Global Digital Compact, the consultant will equip UNICEF with an AI partnership strategy in the region.

The consultant will enable GAO to strategically position UNICEF as a trusted, neutral, and child-focused partner in the Gulf AI ecosystem, equipping the office with the evidence, entry points, and narratives required to mobilize resources and shape responsible AI initiatives that advance child rights.

The consultant will research AI-related opportunities with private and public stakeholders. The mapping and in-depth research report will provide UNICEF with concrete entry points for potential shared-value partnerships and fundraising opportunities in support of implementing UNICEF‘s AI Strategy. 

Finally, the AI partnership strategy for the Gulf region will help effective partnership development and resource mobilization and provide UNICEF with key content and messages that resonate with potential partners in the region. The consultant’s outputs will provide UNICEF GAO with tailored narratives and talking points for different audiences in the Gulf (government, private sector, philanthropy, academia). This will help UNICEF speak the language of partners and reinforce UNICEF’s strategic positioning as a trusted valued partner in AI

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

•  A university degree in one of the following fields is required: ICT, international development, public administration, business management, communication, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and/or international level in a combination of the following:
•  Experience of working on partnerships, resource mobilization, public or private grant-making bodies or organizations, partnerships development, programming, communications, project management, proposal development and reporting.
• Solid understanding of AI and/or experience with AI / digital technology related partnerships.
• An understanding of corporate partnerships and private sector fundraising is an asset.
• Experience and interest in AI and technological and digital dynamics in the Gulf region as well as applied to UNICEF programme areas is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.