Result of Service

The total number of substantive pages of the report prepared should be a minimum of 30 pages, in Arabic;

A 2 to 3 pages executive summary of the report; The completed parts should be edited and saved in MS-Word (*.docx file) or an alternate compatible format. Note that PDF format will not be accepted. It should include a table of contents to be automatically updated followed by a list of all tables and figures. The various parts should be submitted in electronic form and sent to the email of the designated focal point. Attention is kindly drawn to the need to ensure that the final draft of the outputs be thoroughly reviewed prior to submission and to indicate the sources of tables and diagrams. References to reports and other substantive material should be clearly indicated within the text and noted at the end. It is also essential to send, with the complete output, photocopies or scans of at least the first page of books, reports and bulletins, used as reference material as well as copies of the pages quoted. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. Their contents cannot and must not be presented, discussed or published without the express authorization of ESCWA. The consultant should keep in mind that UN-ESCWA routinely checks all deliverables for plagiarism using readily available electronic tools. All previously published content, even if written by the selected consultant, must be clearly referenced where required within the text and end-noted at the end of the report. The report submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted previously published text equaling more than 20 per cent of the total number of pages. The consultant shall not publish or announce or reveal the content of the report, partly or entirely, on social media or any other public channel, without ESCWA permission.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

16 weeks

Duties and Responsibilities

GENERAL SCOPE Artificial intelligence (AI) has a great role in promoting comprehensive social and economic development of various sectors and in accelerating the achievement of SDGs. In the context of national sustainable development, the role of AI and companies engaged in AI technologies cannot be overstated. AI offers innovative solutions to pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. By leveraging AI for sustainable development initiatives, countries can optimize resource management, enhance energy efficiency, and address critical issues such as climate change and poverty alleviation. Companies working in AI contribute to the advancement of sustainable practices through the development of smart infrastructure, precision agriculture, renewable energy systems, and more. Their efforts not only drive economic growth but also foster a more resilient and equitable society for future generations. Respecting national criteria and standards is important to ensure the effective performance of companies, particularly in the realm of AI. Adherence to these criteria and standards helps mitigate risks associated with privacy breaches, algorithmic bias, and societal harm. By upholding national criteria, companies demonstrate their commitment to responsible AI practices and earn the trust of stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and the public. An example of a certification standard is the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). It plays a pivotal role in driving business growth and economic development within a country. CMMI provides a framework for assessing and improving the maturity of an organization's processes across various domains, including software development, project management, and service delivery. Furthermore, CMMI certification serves as a testament to a company's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, instilling confidence among investors, customers, and partners. The European Union (EU) is considering legislation on AI. The Act would classify AI systems by risk and mandate various development and use requirements. It focuses primarily on strengthening rules around data quality, transparency, human oversight and accountability. It also aims to address ethical questions and implementation challenges in various sectors ranging from healthcare and education to finance and energy. UN-ESCWA, through its technical cooperation program, is committed to providing technical assistance to its member states to boost national efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Development Agenda. In order to build the system that supports AI in Mauritania, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Modernization of Admin (MTNMA) set the goal of enhancing the investment and entrepreneurship environment in AI as one of the most important strategic goals. One of the initiatives is to stimulate investment and entrepreneurship in AI. As a first step, national standards and criteria must be prepared to classify entities working in the field of AI. Recently, the MTNMA in Mauritania requested UN-ESCWA’s assistance in developing the national AI classification framework. The provision of this advisory service is the subject of these terms of reference. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant shall propose to the designated UN-ESCWA focal point a detailed version of the needed framework. The proposed draft should include the following sections: 1. Review national digital documents and the existing policies in Mauritania related to AI, digital transformation, and other related national development plans; 2. Review best regional and international best practices related to ICT companies’ classification (at least 3 selected regional/international cases). This includes the review of CMMI, EU AI law, US Executive orders on AI, the outputs of the UN Advisory board on AI. 3. Identify main stockholders from public and private sectors, and conduct one-to-one meetings with them; 4. Contribute to meetings and workshops to discuss needs and priorities (if needed); 5. Summary of national meetings and workshops conducted with main national stakeholders; 6. Suggest a national classification framework for AI companies in Mauritania along with recommendations on realistic implementation actions, that build on gap analysis, national needs and international practices. Those practical recommendations will include details of evaluation procedures, scoring scheme, and tools to be used to automate the assessment; In addition, the consultant would also ensure the following activities: 1. Present the draft report in a national workshop (physically or remotely) and capture the main comments and discussions; 2. Update the draft proposal according to all feedback and comments received during the reviewing process by ESCWA and MTNMA. ESCWA promotes gender equality and integration of youth through its publications and therefore the consultant should pay attention, with the help of ESCWA staff, to gender considerations and youth dimension throughout the research work to ensure that the report gives equal attention to the needs of both men and women, as well as girls and boys. Writing should use gender-sensitive language.

Qualifications/special skills

A master's degree or equivlant in ICT, AI, computer science or a related field is required. A Ph.D. degree is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 5 years of experience and research in the domain of digital technologies is required. Previous experience in the delivery of research papers is desirable. Previous experience in companies’ classification systems is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in written and spoken Arabic is required; Knowledge of the English or French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Development of Artificial Intelligence Classification Criteria in Mauritania