1. Background

UNFPA Morocco is evolving into a thought leader in ethical and inclusive digital transformation, exploring the nexus of human dignity, data innovation, and AI. With Morocco's demographic window, rising digital penetration, and national interest in responsible AI, this consultancy seeks to deepen UNFPA’s role in shaping a human-centered AI ecosystem.

This consultancy builds upon the vision outlined in the "Safeguarding Human Agency in the Age of AI" initiative and the “Double Literacy” curriculum, aiming to operationalize ProSocial AI – artificial intelligence designed to enhance individual and collective wellbeing – through research, stakeholder engagement, and practical pathways for inclusion, particularly for youth and women.

2. Objective

To provide strategic guidance and applied research that positions UNFPA and its partners as regional leaders in ethical AI and hybrid intelligence for human development, while safeguarding human agency in Morocco and North Africa.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

• Research & Insight Generation 
  • Contribute to AI-informed strategies that accelerate progress on Country Program Document (CPD) outputs.
  • Conduct strategic and applied research on ProSocial AI tailored to Morocco’s policy priorities in gender equality, youth empowerment, education, and SRHR.
  • Integrate ethical, psychological, and behavioral dimensions (e.g., “aspirational algorithms,” mindfulness) into AI frameworks.
  • Contribute to the operationalization of the “Double Literacy” model (human and algorithmic literacy).
• Strategic Engagement & Stakeholder Mapping
  • Map key national and regional actors (government, academia, civil society, tech sector, religious institutions) involved in AI policy and practice.
  • Identify strategic alliances to implement inclusive, ethical AI initiatives, including partnerships with e.g.: Rabita, ISESCO, MoE, ADD, and youth platforms like U-Report.
• Design & Facilitation
  • Design and support a regional convening on ProSocial AI and human agency, co-hosted with UNFPA, and selected stakeholders.
  • Develop policy recommendations for positioning Morocco as a pioneer in human-centered AI.
  • Support the adaptation of the “Double Literacy” pilot and curricula, including teacher training and youth engagement pathways.
  • Co-design capacity-building activities for youth, policymakers, and educators.
• Institutional Strengthening
  • Advise on integration of AI ethics into national programs.
  • Support capacity-building of national stakeholders (teachers, digital facilitators, youth workers) to use AI mindfully.
  • Support UNFPA’s positioning as an innovator in ethical, gender-transformative AI systems.

4. Deliverables :

• Inception Report: including preliminary literature review, AI opportunity mapping, and alignment with CPD priorities
• Whitepaper:
  Analysis of ProSocial AI risks, opportunities, ethical standards, and practical applications aligned with UNFPA’s mission.
• Convening Event Report:
  Agenda, speakers, documentation, stakeholder insights, and follow-up roadmap.
• Pilot Literacy Plan:
  Design recommendations and strategic guidance for the roll-out of the Double Literacy model (Phase I), with emphasis on NEET youth and rural adolescent girls.
• Final Report:
  Synthesis of learnings, achievements, and recommendations for scaling and sustainability.

NB: This consultation is scheduled to begin on 7 July 2025 and will last 6 months over a period of one year until 6 July 2026.

5. Payment for deliverables: 

• Inception Report

• Whitepaper (and Synthesis)

• Convening Event Report

• Convening Event Report

• Final Report (and synthesis)

6. Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in human rights law, public policy, social sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in communications, human development, behavioral change, and/or digital governance.
• Demonstrated expertise in ProSocial AI, hybrid intelligence, or ethical tech ecosystems Experience  in international development, inter-governmental platforms and national policy dialogue.
• Strong research, facilitation, and communication skills.
• English and French are mandatory; and Arabic is an asset. Applications with no level in English and in French will be excluded automatically.

7. Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

a. Technical offer 

• Cover letter outlining motivation and experience.
• Updated CV with relevant experience in AI, social impact, advocacy and communications
• Short technical concept note (3–4 pages) proposing their vision for ProSocial AI in Morocco and including Timetable of deliverable.
• List of publications relevant to the topic/requirements of the consultancy (Is an additional asset).

b. Financial Offer

The financial offer, in MAD, shall include for each service the estimated number of days and the daily rates, including travel expenses and all other charges related to the performance of the service.

NB: Any offer that does not present the above-mentioned items will not be considered.

8. Languages of the consultation 

The working languages and deliverables will be in French and/or English. The Synthesis of the Whitepaper and the Final Report are required in French.

9.Evaluation of offers

The evaluation of bids will be conducted in two stages:

• The evaluation of the technical proposal;
• The review of the financial proposal.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Technical offer: score out of 100, with a weighting of 70%.

Financial offer: score out of 100, with a weighting of 30%.

The technical offer will be evaluated based on its degree of compliance with the Terms of Reference.

Candidates are required to ensure their proposals include all elements necessary for their assessment.

The selected candidate will receive an email inviting them to begin the consultation procedures.

Comparative technical analysis of offers:

A technical score (T) out of 100 will be assigned to each offer. Any offer that obtains a technical score lower than the minimum threshold of 70 points (which represents 70% of the maximum technical score of 100 points) will be systematically eliminated from this phase.

Background, Education, and Degrees

Advanced degree in human rights law, public policy, social sciences, or a related field:

• Doctorate / Ph.D.
• Master's degree / Specialized Postgraduate Diploma (DESS) / Engineering Degree 
• Bachelor's degree
• Below Bachelor’s level

10

10

8

5

0

Experience related to the assignment

Minimum 10 years of experience in communications, human development, behavioral change, and/or digital governance:

• > 15 years
• Between 11 and 15 years
• = 10 years
• < 10 years

Experience in international development, inter-governmental platforms and national policy dialogue:

• > 10 years
• = 10 years
• < 10 years

25

15

13

10

0

10

8

5

Expertise and skills related to the assignment

Demonstrated expertise in ProSocial AI, hybrid intelligence, or ethical tech ecosystems 

• > 5 years
• Between 3 and 5 years
• Between 1 and 2 years
• < less than a year

Research, facilitation, and communication skills.

Fluency in English and in French

Arabic is an asset.

35

25

20

15

5

5

4

1

Relevance of the technical concept note

• Approach enhances or adds value to the objectives of the assignment.
• Approach meets the objectives of the assignment with a detailed description of the tasks.
• Approach is consistent with the objectives of the assignment but is only partially detailed.
• A simple restatement of the assignment's objectives.

25

25

2

15

5

List of publications relevant to the topic/requirements of the consultancy

• > 3 publications
• = 3 publications
• 2 publications
• 1 publication 

5

5

4

2

1

Comparative financial analysis of offers:

At the end of the previous phase, each financial offer will be given a score (F) out of 100: a score of 100 will be awarded to the technically compliant offer that is the least expensive (lowest bidder).

Technical-Financial Cumulative Analysis:

The technical (T) and financial (F) scores obtained by each candidate will be weighted by the following coefficients, respectively: 70% for the technical offer and 30% for the financial offer.

N=0.7∗T+0.3∗F

The attachments, in PDF format and in two separate files, must contain the technical proposal (CV, cover letter, technical concept note and list of publications) and the financial proposal.

Any applications received through other channels will not be processed and only applications meeting the above criteria will be considered.