Service contract in ethics of Artificial Intelligence

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Service Contract

Level :  SB2

Hiring Unit : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station : Montevideo

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC−3 Time) : 08/11/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo leads the Organization’s work in Social and Human Sciences for Latin America and the Caribbean in the area of Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Within this mandate, it supports Member States in implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021), the first global standard in this field, and more recently the Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology (2025).

In the region, UNESCO accompanies the ministerial process on AI ethics — including the Third Ministerial and High-Level Authorities Summit held in Santo Domingo in June 2026 and its 2026–2027 Regional Roadmap — and works with governments on Readiness Assessments (RAM) and training for public servants, with the private sector through the Business Council for the Ethics of AI, and with young people through a regional youth network. This work is carried out in partnership with CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the European Union and other partners.

Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo and the direct supervision of the Regional Specialist of SHS for LAC, the incumbent will support the coordination, implementation and follow-up of UNESCO’s AI ethics programme in the region.

MAIN TASKS AND SERVICES

1. Support the follow-up of the 2026–2027 Regional Roadmap on AI ethics with the pro tempore presidency and CAF, including tracking working group progress and the finalization of products under UNESCO’s responsibility.

1. 2. Support the implementation of Readiness Assessment (RAM) processes in the region, including coordination with consultants and national counterparts, organization of consultations and follow-up of deliverables.
2. 3. Support the implementation and follow-up of AI ethics training programmes for national and subnational public servants.

4. Support UNESCO’s role in the Executive Secretariat of the Business Council for the Ethics of AI – Uruguay Chapter, including peer-learning sessions, training activities and uptake of the Ethical Impact Assessment (EIA).

5. Support the activities of the Youth Network for the Ethics of AI in Latin America and the Caribbean.

6. Contribute to partner relations and reporting (including CAF and the European Union), and to the drafting of terms of reference for new consultancies.

7. Contribute to knowledge products and communication materials (policy notes, blog posts, presentations, talking points) on AI ethics and, as relevant, neurotechnology.

8. Support the organization of workshops, meetings with authorities and experts, and public events, and provide administrative follow-up (contracts, budget tracking, progress reports).

9. Liaise with UNESCO Headquarters, field offices and category 1 institutes, as relevant.

EXPECTED RESULTS

1. Timely and quality support provided to the Regional Specialist of SHS in the implementation of the AI ethics programme in LAC.

2. UNESCO’s commitments under the 2026–2027 Regional Roadmap followed up, and pending 2024–2025 products finalized and disseminated.

3. RAM processes (including Bolivia) supported and delivered according to agreed workplans.

4. Training programmes for public servants (including Uruguay’s departmental governments) implemented, followed up and reported on.

5. Business Council (Uruguay Chapter) and Youth Network activities organized as planned.

6. Partner reports, knowledge products and event materials prepared to a high standard and on time.

DURATION OF THE CONTRACT

The contract is offered for an initial period of 6 months, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

   

  For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public policy, law, political or social sciences, economics, computer science, science and technology studies, or a related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in digital policy, technology governance, ethics of AI or related fields, including in Latin America and the Caribbean.

- Experience supporting the coordination of projects in multi-stakeholder settings (governments, international organizations, private sector, academia or civil society).

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

- Good knowledge of AI governance and ethics debates, and of public policy processes in LAC.

- Strong drafting and analytical skills, including the ability to prepare clear policy-oriented documents and presentations.

- Strong organizational skills and ability to follow up on multiple activities and deadlines at the same time.

- Ability to work effectively in multicultural teams and with a wide range of partners.

LANGUAGES

- Excellent written and spoken Spanish.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

- Professional experience in public agencies or other international or development organizations.

- Experience in designing or delivering training programmes for public servants.

- Experience working with the private sector on responsible technology or corporate governance initiatives.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

- Knowledge of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and its implementation tools (RAM, EIA).

- Familiarity with neurotechnology or other frontier technology policy debates.

LANGUAGES

- Working knowledge of English.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

All interested candidates are required to submit the following documents by the deadline indicated above, quoting the post title in the subject line:

- An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.

- A letter of interest (cover letter).

- A sample of written work in Spanish or English (e.g. policy brief, report, article).

A shortlist of candidates will be drawn up based on the criteria in the vacancy notice. Only applications with the above-requested qualifications will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview and may be asked to complete a written assessment.

Only candidates entitled to work in Uruguay are eligible to apply.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.