NEW: Non-Staff Consultant – AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (Suriname, Suriname) contract

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station: Suriname

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time) : 2026-02-09

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

I. Background and Justification:

In November 2021, the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was adopted unanimously by Member States. As the first global normative instrument in its field, this global standard aims to harness the positive impact of AI while providing guidelines for Members States to ensure responsible AI development and address its intrinsic risks and societal challenges. This framework emphasizes the protection of human rights and dignity, promoting transparency, fairness, and human oversight in AI systems. It covers essential policy areas such as data governance, environment, gender, education, research, health, and social well-being.

UNESCO is building partnerships with Member States in the Caribbean to operationalize the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI into national institutional and regulatory frameworks, namely by deploying the Readiness Assessment Methodology. Following its implementation in over 70 countries worldwide, the RAM has recently been updated to reflect rapid technological advancements and integrate insights gained from its deployment across diverse national contexts, ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness.

UNESCO seeks an expert to oversee the implementation of the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) in Suriname. The consultant will lead the preparation of a policy- oriented country report, drawing from RAM results and multi-stakeholder consultations. The report aims to inform a comprehensive national AI strategy, and to provide an evidence-based framework on the ethical governance of AI, with medium and long-term priorities identified, aligning with the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. The assessment and resulting report will be structured around the policy action areas of the UNESCO Recommendation. The expert will receive basic training and benefit efrom the technical guidance of the Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology Section (SHS/BIO) of the UNESCO Secretariat, as required.

II. Project Scope:

UNESCO’s aim is to enhance national capacities to carry out the values and the principles of the Recommendation. To fulfill this objective, implementation rests on the Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM). The updated tool consists of a survey, structured around the core policy areas of the UNESCO Recommendation (refer to box below for more details) that will assess the resilience of national frameworks, existing laws, policies and institutions to guide AI developments in the country.

The project will be conducted in Suriname. The consultant will collaborate with national and regional stakeholders, including government ministries, academia, civil society, the private sector. Tasks include mapping of key stakeholders, organizing work sessions, conducting interviews and consultations and preparing a policy-oriented country report based on the RAM findings.

Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)

A critical initial stage in the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI is the deployment of RAM, as mandated by the Recommendation, to assist Member States in identifying their status at specific moments of their readiness trajectory. In recognition of the rapid pace of technological advancements in AI, and to integrate insights from more than 70 countries that have already implemented the tool, the RAM questionnaire has been updated to ensure that it remains relevant, effective, and responsive to evolving national contexts. In its updated version, the RAM is structured around the policy action areas of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, supporting Member States in translating ethical principles into concrete and actionable policies.

The RAM is a macro level instrument that will help countries understand where they stand on the scale of preparedness to implement AI ethically and responsibly for all their citizens, highlighting what institutional and regulatory changes will be needed. Furthermore, the output of the RAM will also help UNESCO tailor the policy reform and institutional capacity building efforts to the needs of different countries. This will ensure that the country has in place human capacity, policies, and regulations to address the challenges brought by AI, such as reinforced traditional biases, and ensure that people and their interest are always at the centre of AI development.

III. Duties and Responsibilities

The aim of this consultancy is to lead the development of research and analytical outputs towards the production of a country policy-oriented report. The report will be based on the evidence gained through the deployment of UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and the key outcomes of national consultations.

The consultant shall be responsible for the piloting of the RAM in Suriname as follows:

1. Provide a RAM implementation timeline in coordination with UNESCO.
2. Carry out a mapping of key stakeholders to be engaged for data collection purposes in the RAM implementation.
3. Facilitate work and liaise with a multidisciplinary National Steering Committee that will oversee the deployment of the RAM from the government’s side, notably led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (EZOTI). The National Steering Committee will be consulted through the project’s implementation.
4. Conduct the RAM questionnaire to gain in-depth understanding of the potential for AI development, the state of the art in the country in terms of institutional and regulatory readiness, as well as the regulatory and institutional gaps to be filled to transform the potential into action.
5. Coordinate broad-based multistakeholder national consultations and/or focus groups to present the results of the readiness assessment and to facilitate discussions leading to the identification of needs, concerns, and policy priorities for government, civil society, academia and the private sector.

6. Prepare a diagnostic report based on the outcomes of the RAM exercise. To this end, lead in data collection, data curation and analysis, ensuring a high level of quality. Where relevant and necessary, articulate regional and/or comparative perspectives and analysis for the purposes of cross-learning and exchange of good practices.

7. Organize a mid-term update call with the UNESCO Office and Government counterpart, between 6 to 8 weeks after the project launch. This should take stock of the process and research carried out thus far, discuss challenges if any, and proposals for solutions to address them. The mid-term update should be followed by a recapitulative email of the meeting, particularly if significant points need to be addressed.

8. Organize a validation workshop, together with the UNESCO Office and Government counterpart, to present the draft country report based on the RAM implementation. This will also be an opportunity to receive feedback from a broader set of stakeholders and possibly provide advice or recommendations at the sub-regional level for national frameworks in keeping with developments in AI. At this stage, additional follow-up with experts may be necessary to support the process and access further data to inform a national report.

9. Draft the final policy-oriented country report presenting the findings of the updated RAM questionnaire. Depending on the country context, this report may be complementary to the existing national AI strategy or serve as the blueprint for establishing such a strategy/roadmap where one does not exist or updating it. The report will feature recommendations concerning the regulatory and other policy reforms, institutional design, and capacity-development programmes needed for effective and responsible governance of AI in the country, based on the short- and long-term priorities identified, and using the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence as an overall framework. The report should follow the format which will be provided by UNESCO, and should include qualitative and quantitative information, relevant data visualizations, examples of good practices, highlights, etc. A contact list of the main stakeholders having participated in the exercise should feature at the end of the final report, to facilitate follow-up.

10. Support UNESCO and the government counterpart in the organization of the launch of the report with national representatives and main stakeholders. The consultant will present the results of the report. This will also be the opportunity to share that the process is intended to be renewed regularly to track progress over time.

11. Participation in high-level national, regional, or global events organized by UNESCO may be required, to showcase the outcome of the project.

12. Ensure overall coordination with the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (EZOTI), national stakeholders, and other relevant stakeholders involved throughout the RAM process.

IV. Deliverables:

The aim of this consultancy is to lead the development of research and analytical outputs to produce an AI policy and action-oriented country report. The report will be based on the evidence brought to light and knowledge gained through the deployment of UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and the key outcomes of the broad national consultations. The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:

1. Diagnostic Report, in English, on the country’s readiness and identified challenges following UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology. The report should also include as annexes: the implementation timeline and a provisional mapping of key stakeholders to consult throughout the process.
2. Synthesis Report, in English, on the key outcomes from the multistakeholder national consultations and/or focus groups, stemming from the diagnostic report, and progress achieved based on the results obtained in the RAM exercise. The synthesis report should also include a) updated list of individuals divided in key stakeholder groups, with contact details, following consultations carried out, b) the recapitulative email stemming from the mid-term update and c) pragmatic feedback for potential adjustments to the methodology as required, to fulfill national needs in the RAM implementation.
3. Policy-oriented Country Report, in English, presenting the findings of the RAM exercise and incorporating the feedback from the validation workshop. The report will feature recommendations on policies and approaches needed in the country for an effective ethical governance of AI, informing an overall national AI strategy, and based on identified medium-term objectives and long-term priorities.

Education

Advanced university degree (PhD, or minimum a specialized Master’s or equivalent) in governance of artificial intelligence, or ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence or digital technologies, or law enforcement and technology, or other relevant, related fields.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of professional or research experience in the Technology industry, ICTs and within the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies, at national and/or international level. Experience with the relevant government agencies in the implementing country is a plus.

Proven experience in conducting research and analysis and/or implementing programmes/projects on the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies, as well as standards related to these issues. Experience in producing policy-oriented reports or recommendations is required.

Understanding of the development framework in the Caribbean sub-region, including on issues related to artificial intelligence and frontier technologies.

Skills/Competencies

A very good understanding of the ethical, legal, social and governance issues of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies.

Excellent knowledge on the contexts and dynamics of governance of AI in the implementing country, including policies, legislative and regulatory frameworks, institutional mechanisms, organizational structures and processes, and initiatives by different stakeholders in this field.

Experience in undertaking policy review and assessments, both qualitatively and quantitatively, on topics related to governance of AI or related digital technologies.

Proven ability to draft clearly, objectively and concisely and to produce high quality policy-oriented analysis and synthesis documents.

Tact, discretion and diplomacy are required in dealing with Stakeholders.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and Dutch is required. Knowledge of another local Caribbean language is a valuable addition.

Please include with the application (within the same file):

1) An up-to-date CV.

2) An indication of the methodological approach you would adopt to carry out the assignment.

3) Financial proposal (overall cost) for the assignment, expressed per deliverable and as an overall lump-sum, in USD.