Industry Practice Research for the AI Governance for Humanity Lab Initiative

Host entity: ODET

Application deadline: 18/08/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN ODET) was established on 1 January 2025, with a mandate to: (a) advise the senior leadership of the United Nations on key trends in technology, so as to guide the strategic approach taken by the Organization on such issues; (b) serve as advocate and focal point for digital cooperation, through engagement with Member States, the technology industry, civil society and other stakeholders; (c) facilitate multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on digital and emerging technologies; (d) strengthen system-wide coordination within and across the United Nations system on digital and emerging technologies; (e) support the follow-up and implementation of the Global Digital Compact (A/RES/79/1 Annex 1).

Through the Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, UN ODET also leads the implementation of the Secretary-General's vision on digital cooperation by working closely with various UN entities and multi-stakeholder groups, facilitating dialogue to accelerate global digital cooperation, seizing on the opportunities that are presented by technology - while mitigating the risks - so that progress towards achieving the Goals by 2030 can be made collectively, as well as carrying out other related duties and responsibilities assigned by the Secretary-General, including follow up actions from the Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and the report "Our Common Agenda".

Assignment context

The AI Governance for Humanity Lab is part of an Initiative in support of the realization of the vision put forward by the Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.

Its objectives include mobilizing multistakeholder networks around agile and networked international AI governance as AI technologies evolve, establishing and catalysing new norms of information-sharing between key nodes in these networks and supporting informed and impactful AI cooperation at the global level.

As part of this initiative, ODET is seeking volunteers to conduct research and analysis as a follow-up to the first report, Private-sector AI governance in practice: insights, challenges and emerging cooperation approaches, produced as an input for the first AI Dialogue on AI Governance held in July.

The Online Volunteers will work closely with ODET's Programme Management Officer (Head of the AI Governance for Humanity Lab) and will have the opportunity to contribute to a flagship UN initiative in the digital governance space.

Task description

Under the guidance of the Programme Management Officer (Head of the AI Governance for Humanity Lab), the Online Volunteer will:

Research questions and desk research (Two volunteers): Contribute specific research questions, defined in consultation with ODET, as a follow-up to the Lab’s insight report on private-sector AI governance in practice. Conduct desk research and analysis to identify existing initiatives, organisations, methodologies, standards, technologies and frameworks that could support feasibility studies on emerging cooperation approaches, including, but not limited to, AI governance sandboxes, shared AI incident reporting and learning mechanisms, AI governance resources and tools, and dynamic AI system governance.

Brief reports (Two volunteers): Prepare short brief reports for each selected topic, summarising relevant evidence, gaps, feasibility considerations and potential cooperation opportunities, and identifying examples that may inform future Lab activities.

Workshop preparation (Two volunteers): Develop workshop concepts, guiding questions and draft programmes for convening relevant stakeholders across regions and sectors, with a view to testing interest, surfacing practical experience and identifying possible next steps for selected feasibility studies.

Estimated deliverables (Combined): a set of specific research questions for selected cooperation approaches; 4–6 short brief reports summarising relevant evidence, gaps, feasibility considerations and potential cooperation opportunities; 1-2 draft workshop programmes and supporting materials; and 1 concise synthesis note identifying areas where further feasibility study or partner engagement could be taken forward by the Lab.

Skills and experience

- Proven track record guiding policy decision in the global technology industry, particularly related to technology governance or related areas

- Experience in policy research and analysis, with a track record of developing research questions and conceptual frameworks in the field of technology governance or related areas

- Familiarity with AI governance, emerging technologies, regulatory sandboxes and global regulatory trends, including translating legislation and regulation into internal corporate policies and technical interventions

- Experience in facilitating interviews, workshops and consultations with diverse stakeholders, ideally including technology industry representatives across multiple geographies

- Previous experience working with international organizations, multilateral processes, or the global technology industry is an asset

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and capacity to engage effectively with senior industry experts and policymakers

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.