Local Consultant for the Development of Action Plan for the AI Code of Ethics

Result of Service1. Diagnostic report summarizing key findings and stakeholder inputs. 2. Annotated outline and draft action plan of the AI code of ethics. 3. Final version of the action plan of the AI code of ethics. 4. Presentation slides and summary brief. 5. Implementation advisory report. • The report prepared should be in Arabic and in electronic format. • The report submitted should not be less than 30 pages. • A 2 to 4 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 completed 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 shall 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 study. The report submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted, previously published text equalling 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 and MODEE permission. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. Work LocationRemote Expected duration16 weeks Duties and ResponsibilitiesI. GENERAL SCOPE As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in national economies and public life, the implementation of a Code of AI Ethics is essential to ensure that the development and use of AI technologies align with human rights, social values, and long-term national interests. A well-crafted AI ethics framework serves as a foundation for responsible innovation, guiding developers, companies, and institutions toward practices that uphold transparency, fairness, accountability, and inclusivity. It plays a critical role in national development by fostering public trust in AI systems, protecting citizens from potential harm, and promoting equitable access to AI-driven opportunities across all segments of society. Recognizing this need, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) launched the National AI Code of Ethics in 2022. The Code outlines a set of principles and guidelines that emphasize the rule of law, human rights, diversity, and ethical standards in the development and deployment of AI technologies. As part of Jordan’s AI Strategy, the Government of Jordan is committed to promoting responsible, trustworthy, and ethical use of AI. One of the strategy’s objectives is to “Ensure a legislative and regulatory environment that supports the safe deployment of artificial intelligence.” To achieve this objective, the “AI Ethics Monitoring System” project (Project Card - 26), is needed. This project, formally titled \"Development of a Framework and Compliance Procedure for Activating the AI Code of Ethics,\" aims to establish a practical, enforceable framework and monitoring system. It will guide public and private sector entities in implementing and complying with the National AI Code of Ethics. To be effective, the National AI Code of Ethics must be supported by a comprehensive national implementation framework. defining clear goals, assigning roles and responsibilities across government and industry, including capacity-building initiatives, and promoting cross-sector collaboration. It should also provide mechanisms for monitoring, enforcement, and continuous review in response to technological evolution. Without the framework and compliance mechanism, ethical principles risk remaining aspirational and disconnected from real-world applications. A national plan enables countries to institutionalize ethical AI practices in education, public services, innovation policy, and international cooperation. Several countries have led by example in implementing AI ethics frameworks. In the Arab region, the UAE’s “Guiding Principles for Ethical AI ” and Egypt’s “Chart for Responsible AI ” both emphasize the ethical use of AI to support inclusive development and innovation. Outside the region, countries like Singapore and Canada have introduced detailed AI governance frameworks with clear AI code of ethics—such as Singapore’s responsible AI ethical principles of AI and Canada’s responsible AI framework —that provide practical guidance for ethical AI deployment in both public and private sectors. These initiatives could lead to improved public sector accountability, enhanced investor confidence, and increased international partnerships in AI research and development. The United Nations (UN) is involved in enhancing the use of emerging technologies for sustainable development. In September 2024 during the Summit of the Future, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future and its annexes: the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and Declaration on Future Generations. Among its objectives , GDC aims to enhance the international governance of AI for the benefit of humanity. UN-ESCWA, through its technical cooperation program, is committed to provide technical assistance to its member states to boost national efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Development Agenda. Recently, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) in Jordan requested UN-ESCWA’s assistance in developing the action plan including a framework and compliance procedure for activating the AI Code of Ethics in Jordan. The provision of this advisory service is the subject of these terms of reference. II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant shall propose to the designated ESCWA focal point a detailed version of the national action plan for the AI code of ethics in Jordan. The expert will be responsible for the following tasks, organized into four phases: Phase 1: Review and Diagnostic • Review existing national digital documents and the existing frameworks in Jordan, related to digital transformation, innovation, and AI; • Review the AI code of Ethics in Jordan; • Map relevant international best practices in AI ethics (at least 2 selected international and 2 regional cases); • Identify and conduct stakeholder consultations with MoDEE staff and key national actors, and with the national committee related to this topic, and summarize for each meeting/interview the discussed points, their remarks, observations and proposals; • Contribute to sectoral workshops to discuss needs and priorities, if needed; Phase 2: Development and Drafting • Prepare an outline and annotated structure for the action plan of the AI code of ethics. • Draft the action plan of the AI code of ethics, incorporating international standards and national priorities and include practical and scalable compliance mechanisms for monitoring adherence to the Code, and roles and responsibilities for across government and industry; • Ensure alignment with Jordan’s AI strategy and public administration reform agenda. Phase 3: Consultation and Finalization • Present draft action plan of the AI code of ethics to MoDEE and stakeholders for feedback. • Contribute to national workshop (physically or remotely) and capture the main comments and discussions. • Revise and finalize the draft plan based on inputs received. • Prepare a short presentation and briefing note summarizing key elements. Phase 4: Implementation Advisory • Provide recommendations on dissemination, awareness-raising, and training strategies. 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 skillsAn advanced university degree in AI, ICT, technology, engineering, computer science, public administration, ethics, or a related field is required. A Ph.D. degree is desired. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 10 years of experience including 5 years in the domain of digital technologies is required. Previous experience in the development of national policies and plans is required. Proven experience in public administration, governance or ethical frameworks is required. Familiarity with Jordan’s civil service laws and digital transformation efforts is required. Strong analytical and writing skills is required. Experience in facilitating consultations and drafting normative frameworks is desirable. LanguagesEnglish 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 and knowledge of English 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. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.