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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.
The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and deliverables:
1)Mapping of AI Key Stakeholders:
The consultant will conduct comprehensive desk research to map the landscape of key stakeholders involved in AI development and governance across the Gulf region, with a focus on KSA, UAE and Qatar. This will include identifying government agencies, national AI bodies, private sector entities, philanthropic foundations, academic institutions, and multilateral actors based in the region. The mapping will capture each stakeholder’s strategic priorities, AI-related initiatives or strategies (where available), and areas of focus (eg. governance, data, cybersecurity, health, other) as well as relevance to UN engagement. Based on this analysis, the consultant will provide strategic recommendations on which stakeholders prioritize engagement, identifying entry points, shared principles, and potential partnership opportunities.
Deliverable 1:
Foundational (internal use): Stakeholder mapping for KSA, UAE and Qatar ( 8 days).
2) In-Depth Analysis of Selected Stakeholders:
Building on the initial mapping, the consultant will conduct a deeper analysis of a shortlist of high-potential stakeholders (3-4 stakeholders) identified in consultation with the UNICEF team. This may include direct engagement through interviews or consultations to gain insights into institutional mandates, partnership modalities, current AI-related activities, and interest in collaboration with UNICEF. The analysis will explore alignment with UNICEF values such as inclusion, equity, and responsible AI governance. The findings will support tailored engagement strategies with each selected entity, including recommendations on areas for collaboration, resource mobilization, and modes of partnership.
Deliverable 2:
In-depth analysis for 3-4 key stakeholders (strategic brief). ( 6 days)
3) Strategy development
Based on the stakeholder mapping and in-depth analysis, the consultant will develop a short strategy document (3-5 pages) to guide UNICEF’s engagement on AI partnerships in the Gulf region. The strategy will outline clear objectives, engagement priorities, and proposed modalities for collaboration with different categories of stakeholders (e.g., government, private sector, academia, foundations). It will clearly articulate what UNICEF brings to AI conversations in the Gulf beyond child rights clarifying UNICEF’s unique value proposition (UVP) in the Gulf. The Strategy will consider regional dynamics, investment trends, and sensitivities, offering practical recommendations for sequencing, resource mobilization, and partnership management. Additionally, given the sensitivities around AI (e.g., surveillance, misuse, reputational risks), the consultant will map potential risks and propose mitigation measures. This ensures that the strategy is aligned with UNICEF’s neutrality, safeguarding, and accountability principles.
Deliverable 3:
Strategic (internal/external): Gulf AI Partnership Strategy (3–5 pages). ( 10 days)
4) Fundraising and Resources Mobilization Opportunities:
Identify 3 opportunities of resource mobilization for UNICEF both locally and globally across different stakeholder categories (government, foundations civil societies etc..) linking to UNICEF programmes and strategies supporting child rights. Develop 3 concept notes outlining the resource mobilization opportunities highlighting a clear engagement modality, potential funding opportunities, entry points and contacts. The concept notes should explicitly tie into GAO’s programme and GAO’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy/targets (public and private).
Deliverables 4:
Catalytic (external-facing): 3 high-quality concept notes. ( 4 Days).
5) Reflection Workshop
The consultant will organize a workshop for relevant UNICEF colleagues (GAO, MENARO, ICTD, AI Hub, OOI etc..) to present key findings for the mapping & analysis and walk them through AI strategy and identified resource mobilization opportunities. Finally, the consultant will gather feedback and guidance from relevant colleagues to further finetune the deliverables.
Deliverable 5 :
Capacity-Building: Reflection workshop to socialize findings. ( 2 Days).
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 8th 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.
