In A Nutshell
Focus on supporting the AI+Africa Working Group to create space, structure and momentum for its members to work, learn together and connect with each other and with other networks working on different aspects of AI development and governance in Africa.
Responsibilities
Research, Landscaping, Planning, Trendspotting
- Conduct a participatory research and landscaping exercise to better understand current AI+MERL efforts, existing similar or related efforts, and existing communities of practice on the continent, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Develop a plan for next steps and actions together with the AI+Africa Working Group based on the landscaping.
- Regularly scan newsletters, social media, mainstream media, and other sources to stay abreast of developments related to AI+MERL in African contexts.
- Stay on top of emerging trends, challenges, tools and topics related to AI+MERL in Africa.
Ongoing support for the AI+Africa Working Group
- Work with AI+Africa Working Group members to implement plans for learning and collaborating.
- Identify topics and speakers; plan and organize virtual and in-person events on MERL+AI based on Working Group interests.
- Write and/or work with AI+Africa Working Group Members to write blog posts and thought pieces and Working Group meeting summaries.
- Share relevant articles, links, events with the Working Group.
- Establish metrics and process for monitoring and improving the AI+Africa Working Group together with the overall NLP-CoP.
- Manage Working Group membership, membership list, and Slack channel.
- Seek feedback from the Working Group for continual improvement.
Training and capacity strengthening
- Identify and share relevant external events and opportunities on AI+MERL in Africa.
- Organize and design internal training, capacity strengthening, and learning events and opportunities based on needs and interests as expressed by AI+Africa Working Group Members.
- Identify suitable organizations and individuals to support learning and training on AI+MERL.
Support for wider NLP-CoP and MTI activities
- Engage with other networks and communities of practice to cross-pollinate learning around AI+MERL in Africa.
- Develop concept notes to seek support for training and other Working Group activities.
- Support strategic growth and development of the overall NLP-CoP, with an eye to ensuring representation, participation, and influence of the AI+Africa Working Group in wider CoP efforts.
- Collaborate with other MTI team members and the overall NLP-CoP Community Manager.
Skillset
- 5-7 years of experience in a similar role or doing similar work.
- Excellent writing, communication, organization, engagement.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in international development, human rights, computer science, data science/data management, IT, evaluation, law, ethics, education, or related fields.
- Comfortable and skilled with Office, online meeting platforms, day-to-day use of tech and social media (Office: Word, Power Point, Excel, Teams, Google Drive, Calendars/Scheduling, Slack, LinkedIn, Chatbots, and MERL Tech Tools).
- Experience in several of these areas: monitoring and evaluation, research, learning, emerging AI, community development, international development, humanitarian work, training and capacity strengthening; and interest in learning more about them.