Job ID: 30015 UNDP CareersContract Type: International Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA-10)Location: Home-basedBureau: Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS)Practice Area: InnovationDuration: 10 months (131 working days; no renewal)Schedule: Full-timeApplication Deadline: 21 November 2025, 06:59 AM (GMT) About UNDP The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in nearly 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. Guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP partners with governments, civil society, and the private sector to create a fairer, more sustainable future one where prosperity and planetary health advance together, leaving no one behind. Digital technology is one of the greatest drivers of transformation in the 21st century. Recognizing this, UNDP launched its Digital Strategy 2019–2021, followed by the Digital Strategy 2022–2025, to harness the power of digital for development. This strategy envisions a world in which digital innovation becomes an empowering force for people and the planet. Leading this global digital transformation effort is the Digital, AI & Innovation (DAI) Hub, a network of innovators, technologists, and changemakers advancing digital inclusion, responsible AI, and innovation across all UNDP country offices. Background Within the DAI Hub, UNDP leads the Local Language Accelerator Programme, an initiative supported by UNDP’s AI Sprint and co-implemented with regional and global partners, including the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, endorsed by the G7 leaders. The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a collaborative effort promoting AI-driven sustainable growth across Africa. It supports 14 partner countries—ranging from Algeria to Tanzania—to build AI foundations in six key sectors: energy, agriculture, health, water, education, and infrastructure. The Hub aligns with the African Union’s AI Strategy, fostering an inclusive and prosperous digital future. The Local Language Accelerator Programme complements this mission by closing the “language gap” in artificial intelligence. It aims to accelerate access to and use of digital tools in low-resource languages, enabling digital inclusivity for more than 3 billion native speakers. The programme supports advocacy, partnerships, and strategic investments at the global, regional, and local levels. Position Purpose The Strategy Expert for Linguistic Diversity in AI will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing UNDP’s work on language inclusion within the AI ecosystem. The incumbent will co-lead the Local Language Accelerator Programme and spearhead the “Every Language Matters” global campaign—strengthening advocacy, partnerships, and policy commitments across countries. This role reports to the Data Capability Lead, Digital & AI Programmes, within the DAI Hub at UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. Duties and Responsibilities The Strategy Expert will be responsible for driving strategic, programmatic, and partnership outcomes to promote linguistic diversity in AI globally. 1. Co-Manage and Implement the Local Language Accelerator Programme Develop strategic recommendations for the programme’s direction, delivery, and scale-up. Oversee implementation across at least nine (9) participating countries, ensuring inclusive AI ecosystem development. Supervise and guide the Data & AI Project Analyst to achieve measurable results. Cultivate and maintain partnerships with governments, funders, and technical collaborators. Contribute to resource mobilization efforts for the DAI Hub on linguistic diversity in AI. 2. Design and Lead UNDP’s Global Campaign “Every Language Matters” Collaborate with the Knowledge & Strategy team to define and deliver the campaign strategy. Secure commitments from at least five (5) governments to advance language inclusion in digital policy. Organize and lead two (2) major advocacy events featuring high-level participation and cross-sector engagement. 3. Contribute to Knowledge Products and Global Thought Leadership Produce and co-author blogs, white papers, and policy briefs on linguistic diversity in AI. Engage with international experts and partners to shape global advocacy narratives. Represent UNDP in global fora and dialogues on AI, language equity, and digital transformation. 4. Other Duties Perform additional functions aligned with the team’s strategic objectives to ensure programme efficiency and impact. Required Qualifications Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Administration, International Development, Law, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science, or related fields. A first-level university degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree. Experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant experience (or 7 years with a Bachelor’s) in international development, AI or data innovation, or public sector digital transformation. Proven track record of managing multi-year, multi-stakeholder projects. Experience engaging with policymakers, both in government and the private sector. Experience mentoring or guiding junior team members. Deep understanding of linguistic diversity challenges in AI and inclusive digital ecosystems. Desired Experience and Skills: Background in advocacy campaign design or implementation. Knowledge of digital public infrastructure and inclusive digital transformation. Experience synthesizing research for policy and strategy development. Prior experience with the UN system or large-scale development organizations. Proven ability in resource mobilization. Strengths in systems thinking, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving. Languages Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a low-resource/indigenous language is a strong asset. Core Competencies Achieve Results: Balances speed and accuracy, scales up solutions. Think Innovatively: Embraces new ideas and systems thinking. Learn Continuously: Seeks learning opportunities and supports team growth. Adapt with Agility: Adjusts to change with flexibility and resilience. Act with Determination: Perseveres beyond barriers to achieve impact. Engage and Partner: Demonstrates political savvy and builds strong networks. Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Creates inclusive spaces for collaboration. Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies Entrepreneurial Thinking: Identifies opportunities and creates client-oriented solutions. Negotiation and Influence: Facilitates consensus and builds win-win outcomes. Partnership Management: Engages effectively with governments, private sector, and civil society. Results-Based Management: Implements strategies focused on measurable outcomes. AI Thought Leadership: Understands global AI trends, ethics, and data governance. Co-Creation and Facilitation: Designs inclusive, participatory collaboration processes. Advocacy Strategy: Develops campaigns that drive meaningful policy change. Contract and Equal Opportunity Statement This is a short-term IPSA position (131 working days over 10 months). The role is home-based with potential virtual collaboration across time zones. UNDP is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. UNDP maintains a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. UNDP reserves the right to select multiple candidates or consider applicants for similar future positions. No application fees are charged at any stage of recruitment. For details on the IPSA modality, see the International Personnel Service Agreement Policy Document. Posting Date: 6 November 2025Closing Date: 21 November 2025 (06:59 AM GMT) APPLY NOW UNDP – Empowering People, Protecting the Planet, Ensuring Prosperity for All. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the offering organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. 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