Consultancy – Planning and co-ordination consultant – frontier technology – Global Office of Research and Foresight – approx. 120 working days (Remote/Work from home)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, answers

This project was envisaged as a continuation of the previous UNICEF Innocenti initiatives on AI and Children Policy Guidance and Good Governance of Children’s Data. The project brings into focus children’s rights and needs regarding frontier technologies, including edtech, neurotech, fintech, and others; and aims to address policy implications of the use of these technologies in different sectors. The linkages between these emerging applications of technology cannot be ignored: they offer huge opportunities but also create risks. They rely on vast amounts of data to power their applications and collect vast amounts through their use. Data sharing emerges as an important aspect of all of these applications that, if properly implemented, can both benefit the economy and individuals.
The initiative brings together several groups of experts who have an advisory role and will guide the implementation of these activities. It also builds on the work of UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and Data and Analytics (Responsible Data for Children) and aims to bring diverse perspectives and views on the implications of frontier tech for children. The project has a strong foresight component that will include a horizon scan of trends likely to affect future generations.

How can you make a difference? 

The main goal of this consultancy is to support the planning, coordination and delivery of the project and provide support to policy specialists undertaking these initiatives.
The concrete objectives will include:
• Planning and Organizational support: Supporting the specialists leading the three components by organizing regular meetings, documenting outcomes, monitoring the implementation of activities and donor reporting.
• Background analysis and writing/editorial support for various papers produced by the specialists including the technology foresight, synthetic biology and data governance products. Editorial support when requested.
• Supporting the organization of events, meetings and consultations, including the event in Finland in June 2025

Major areas of work and responsibility

a) Planning of key activities, events, timelines, and processes in support of the above-mentioned objectives
b) Consultation with a range of actors (internal and external) in support of the objectives above and coordination of project related product pipeline
c) Background analysis and co-drafting of related documents and reports including consolidating input from all stakeholders and reviewers.

Supervision

d) The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Policy Specialist and the Chief of Foresight and Policy

Methodologies and Tools

e) Methodologies to be used: literature review and analysis of trends.

For further information, please see the full Terms of Reference:  TOR consultant on frontier technology.pdf

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in sociology, law, political science, anthropology or related fields. 
  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience related to analysis of social and political trends, development of participatory methodologies, and other relevant areas are required.
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Strong planning, monitoring and organizing skills.
• Excellent knowledge of emerging digital trends is required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset. 

Desirable qualifications:

• Previous work experience in a similar field.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s processes and procedures

For every Child, you demonstrate:

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.