Programme Associate - Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development (D4SD Hub)

The D4SD Hub (Digital for Sustainable Development Hub) is a regional platform for inclusive digital transformation in the Arab States and Africa, jointly established by the Government of Morocco and UNDP, and officially launched in September 2025. Anchored in the «Digital Morocco 2030» strategy and the «AI Made in Morocco» roadmap, the Hub supports countries in the region in mobilizing artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure (DPI) to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

- AI & Data Science;
- Digital Talent Development;
- Digital Public Infrastructure, Policy & Regulatory Harmonization, and Sectoral Digital Integration (health, education, environment, among others).

The Hub's governance was formally established in June 2026 through the inaugural meeting of its High-Level Advisory Board, which brings together governments, international organizations, academia and the private sector around the region's digital transformation priorities.

Morocco and other countries in the region face a persistent shortage of technical and regulatory capacity to design, procure and govern AI systems responsibly. Public administrations often lack the in-house skills to translate national AI ambitions into safe, effective and locally-owned digital solutions.
In this context, the D4SD Hub has developed a capacity-building programme for government officials, combining a non-technical track for decision-makers (AI literacy, procurement, risk assessment) and a technical track for AI practitioners (hands-on tool development, bias detection, explainability), alongside knowledge products, pilot projects and partnerships supporting responsible and sovereign AI adoption across the region.

The Hub works closely with UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA), the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the UN Office of Information and Communications Technology (UN OICT) and national institutions to expand its partnerships, mobilize technical expertise and operationalize its regional service offer.

Within this dynamic and fast-evolving environment, the UN Volunteer will contribute directly to the coordination, knowledge management and outreach activities of the D4SD Hub, working alongside a small, agile team at the interface of AI policy, capacity-building and international partnerships.
This assignment offers a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and multilateral cooperation, within a newly established regional hub of strategic importance to Morocco and its partners.

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme and Operations) and the day-to-day supervision of the Programme Analyst – D4SD, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1- Support to the AI Capacity-Building Programme
- Support the design and contextual adaptation of training materials for the Hub's two-track capacity-building programme (non-technical track for decision-makers and technical track for AI practitioners).
- Support the organization and logistics of training cohorts and workshops for government officials across ministries and partner countries.
- Contribute to monitoring participants' action plans and to compiling feedback and lessons learned from each cohort.
- Prepare data tables, fact sheets and summary materials on AI governance trends, use cases and challenges relevant to the public sector.
- Contribute to identifying institutional and technical constraints limiting the adoption of responsible AI practices in partner administrations.

2- Support to Hub Coordination and Partnerships
- Support coordination with the D4SD High-Level Advisory Board and international partners, including UNDP HQ, RBAS, RBA, UNOSSC and UN OICT.
- Contribute to drafting briefing notes, concept notes, presentations and other programme documents for the Hub's governance and partnership activities.
- Support the monitoring of the Hub's annual work plan, reporting requirements and follow-up on recommendations from missions and meetings.
- Contribute to research and knowledge products on AI governance frameworks, digital public infrastructure and digital public goods relevant to the Hub's sectoral pilots (health, agriculture, social protection, among others).

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.