Foresight and Polycentric Crisis Analysis

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations. The UN operates in various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development, and human rights, and has a presence in numerous countries worldwide. The organization employs thousands of individuals across different roles and functions, working collaboratively to address global challenges and foster sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The position of Foresight and Polycentric Crisis Analysis is designed to enhance the UN's capacity to navigate complex crises in the Arab States through the integration of foresight methodologies. The role emphasizes the importance of predictive analytics, scenario planning, and horizon scanning as essential tools for anticipating systemic shocks and engaging with various stakeholders, including governments and international financial institutions. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing AI-enabled foresight models that will support the UN's strategic planning and decision-making processes, ultimately contributing to resilience and recovery efforts in the region. This position is critical in transitioning the UN from being a passive consumer of foresight to an active producer of strategic intelligence, thereby reinforcing its role as a convener of foresight dialogues and partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collect and curate multi-source data necessary for training an AI model focused on analysis and foresight, ensuring that the AI is coded to generate outputs that are relevant to the polycentric crisis dynamics in the Arab States.
• Train the AI model to identify cross-boundary and cross-pillar issues within the polycentric crisis framework, making adjustments to preliminary results as needed.
• Develop regional foresight scenarios that map out ripple effects and interdependencies across borders.
• Generate futures intelligence that facilitates collaboration across humanitarian, development, and peace sectors.
• Operationalize foresight as a core leadership capability, integrating it into RC retreats, regional meetings, and interagency scenario exercises.
• Shift the UN's role in the Arab States from a passive consumer of foresight to an active convener and producer of strategic intelligence.
• Strengthen partnerships with regional foresight actors, including GCC platforms, international financial institutions, and think tanks, to co-design foresight dialogues and scenario platforms focused on trade, climate, peace, and resilience.
• Utilize internal UN resources, such as the UNDP Strategy and Futures Team and the PPB AI Lab, to align and enhance foresight capacity across the organization.
• Produce actionable reports that include methodologies, lessons learned, and recommendations for institutionalizing foresight within the RC system.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in computer science, mathematics, data science, engineering, statistics, or a related field. It is essential that all applicants submit a copy of their educational qualifications, as incomplete applications will not be considered. Additionally, a minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as foresight, strategic analysis, scenario planning, or AI-driven data analytics is required. Experience in developing or applying AI models and predictive analytics is highly desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as computer science, mathematics, data science, engineering, or statistics. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of AI and data analytics as they pertain to foresight and crisis analysis.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of professional experience in progressively responsible roles related to foresight, strategic analysis, scenario planning, or AI-driven data analytics. Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of how to apply these skills in real-world contexts, particularly in relation to complex geopolitical and environmental challenges.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Arabic is considered desirable, as it enhances communication and collaboration within the region. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding, while knowledge of a language is rated as 'confident' in at least two of these areas.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and expected to last for a duration of six weeks. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.