Individual Consultant at United Nations

 The collaborator will undertake the following activities:

Preparation and refinement

• Review and refine the existing interview protocol
• Identify and prioritize key stakeholders across government, industry, academia, and civil society
• Support development of an interview plan and outreach strategy

Data Collection

• Conduct semi-structured interviews (approx. 40-50) with relevant stakeholders
• Ensure ethical and high-quality data collection practices
• Maintain clear documentation of interviews (notes and/or transcripts)

Analysis

• Analyze interview data using qualitative methods (e.g. thematic coding)
• Identify key patterns in policy processes, actor networks, and decision-making dynamics
• Pay particular attention to linkages between AI governance and food, land, and water systems

Reporting

• Produce a concise analytical report (or contribute to a broader research output)

Summarize key findings, including:

• How AI policy is shaped in practice
• Key actors and influence pathways
• Major trade-offs and governance challenges
• Present findings to the research team and incorporate feedback

 Deliverables

Refined interview protocol

• Stakeholder mapping and interview plan
• Interview dataset (notes/transcripts, cleaned and anonymized)
• Analytical report (approx. 10-15 pages)
• Presentation of findings

Duration

• Estimated duration: 12-16 weeks
• May - November, 2026

Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

• South Africa-based
• MSc (or higher) in sociology, political science, development studies, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience conducting and analyzing qualitative interviews
• Familiarity with AI governance, ethics, or digital policy (preferred)
• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across sectors