UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a digital future

UNICEF requires an AI technical expert to develop a GenAI solution using the Microsoft Azure AI platform. The GenAI solution will enable UNICEF staff members to upload a large volume of UNICEF-internal structured and unstructured documents that are domain-specific, submit prompts and get responses as quickly and accurately as possible. UNICEF will grant access to the necessary infrastructure, regulations, and guidance to support the development and operationalization of the GenAI solution.

UNICEF developed UniBot, a GenAI/LLM that is designed to interact with specialized internal knowledge from vetted internal resources as foundational GenAI, in addition to the ability to ingest individual users’ data, which is only available to that specific user to complement the foundational GenAI knowledge to produce high-quality responses. Every UNICEF staff can ask UniBot questions, however only a select group of specialists is allowed to upload additional knowledge. This is done to maintain the quality of the knowledge base and responses.

The UniBot Architecture has four high level components, an ingestion pipeline, a LLM answer flow, a front-end application, and a reporting system. Documents to be included in the knowledge base land in the Azure Storage Container, are transformed / processed by the AI Search Indexer, and placed in the AI Search Index. When a user comes on to the platform to ask a question, that question is routed through the Prompt Flow endpoint, and a response is provided back to the user. Additionally, to support transparency and maintainability, a reporting database and PowerBI reports are built off the application data. Finally, users access all the available features through the frontend application. Refer to Annex 1: UniBot diagram for additional details.

How can you make a difference?

The Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD)  is currently seeking an Azure Artificial Intelligence/ Large Language Models (AI/LLM) Expert Consultant. This role will provide high level of specialization in Generative AI and will operate within the leadership of the UNICEF ICT Division.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the UNICEF ICT Division (ICTD) lead, the consultant will continue the development of UniBot and perform the following activities:

1. Application Architecture Development:

• Develop and add features to GenAI solution that leverages Microsoft Azure AI services such as Azure AI Studio, Azure Cognitive Search, Prompt Flow, etc. integrated with OpenAI’s LLMs such as GPT4 and the data sources mentioned above. Similar experience with Google Vertex or AWS Sage a plus.
• Suggest opensource options if any.

2. Data Management:

• Develop and maintain data pipelines for handling a high volume of structured and unstructured documents uploaded by a user, such as:
  • Upload files and folders
  • SharePoint integration and content transformation
  • Web scraper
• Ensure data security and compliance with relevant UNICEF data protection regulations.

3. User Administration

• Implement roles and users’ groups using Microsoft Entra ID
• Create basic UI for users’ administration.

4. User Interface Development:

• Build a simple, user-friendly UI/UX for UNICEF staff members to upload documents and interact with the GenAI.
• Implement features to automate document upload and chat-based querying.

5. Cost Tracking

• Implement a feature to track and display the cost associated with chat interactions.
• Implement a feature to track backend transactions.
• Implement basic reports with options for duration, frontend and/or backend transactions.

6. Logs, Usage Reports and History

• Log timestamped training events, algorithm change events, prompts, responses, user assessment (thumbs up/down, hallucination, bias, accuracy)
• Implement Provide method(s) to manage log size, backups and archival.
• Create basic usage reports and guidance for PowerBI users.
• Provide users with access to chat history for reference and review.
• Provide the ability to reset the session/start new session.

7. Prompt Engineering and Model Fine tuning:

• Document efficient prompt examples that help the LLMs generate accurate and relevant responses.
• Document the best ways to train and fine-tune LLMs for domain-specific knowledge and applications.
• Employ RAG, Prompt or other techniques to anchor the GenAI responses to the provided data sources and establish techniques to mitigate hallucinations and increase accuracy.

8. Security and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with UNICEF security, ethics, and privacy standards.

9. Testing and Deployment:

• Conduct thorough testing of the chatbot for functionality, accuracy, and security.
• Deploy the solution on UNICEF’s Azure.
• Develop a quality plan template for testing validating and revalidating the solution.

10. Documentation and handoff

• Document the work and application in a simple and detailed manner.
• Provide documentation and basic training for end-users and administrators

Refer to the table below for Assignment details and deliverables schedule.

Reporting structure: The Azure Artificial Intelligence/ Large Language Models (AI/LLM) Expert Consultant will report to the UNICEF ICT Division (ICTD) lead.

Duration of contract:  6 months

Travel: Not applicable

Financial Proposal: 

Please indicate your ability, availability and your overall rate – or rate per deliverable (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a rate will not be considered.  

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, AI and/or other quantitative field, OR equivalency of a minimum 10 years in related field instead of an advanced degree can be considered
• Certifications in Azure AI, AWS Sage Maker, or Google Vertex AI
• Certification in data science.
• Proven experience in Retrieval Augment Generation (RAG) in a cloud computing environment.
• 5 years of experience preferably with Microsoft Azure AI infrastructure, or Google Vertex AI, and AWS Sage Maker.
• Proficient in creating data pipelines and managing large datasets.
• Experience in prompt engineering and implementing AI security measures.
• Knowledge of basic UI/UX design principles. Knowledge in accessibility a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. AtIn UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.