The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) global organization mandated to leverage the role of the private sector in development. The ICPSD was established in Istanbul, Türkiye based on the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the United Nations Development Program in March 2011. The center is one of the six global thematic policy centers of UNDP, supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. ICPSD leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices all around the world.

The ICPSD SDG AI Lab is a joint initiative of UNDP BPPS (Bureau for Policy and Programme Support) team, and it is hosted under UNDP ICPSD. The SDG AI Lab provides research, development, and advisory support through innovative digital solutions in harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for sustainable development. The Lab aims to strengthen the UNDP’s internal and its partners’ capacities for the increasing demand for digital transformation.

UNDP ICPSD’s SDG AI Lab, UN Technology Bank will jointly implement the ‘Frontier Tech Leaders’ Program for the LDCs (Least Developed Countries) to bridge the digital divide and contribute to the 2030 Agenda of sustainable development. The ‘Frontier Tech Leaders’ Program aims to train the next generation of tech specialists in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to address the challenges facing their communities by developing digital solutions. In this sense, it will inspire youth and provide them with the means for action. With a focus on encouraging young women to pursue education and careers in the field of technology, the Program will contribute to the promotion of gender equality.

The initiative is slated to be implemented in 10 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), engaging a total of 250 young participants. The first cohort commenced in August 2023, and the Frontier Tech Leaders program is set to conclude in August 2025. Participants will benefit from the Machine Learning Bootcamp, involvement in local chapter activities, and participation in the Virtual Digital Business Incubation Program, while also becoming integral members of the global tech leader community. This programme enables young talents to collaboratively devise solutions for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focuses on developing their technical and soft skills, preparing them to emerge as Frontier Tech Leaders

Under the guidance of and reporting directly to the Technical Specialist the Programme Analyst will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following key functions:

• Lead Frontier Tech Leaders participants selection, onboarding and offboarding processes;
• Design and track progress of programme curriculums, timelines, schedules and work plans for all implementations;
• Plan and organize SDG AI Lab online and onsite community events from end-to-end;
• Tracking and managing participants’ activities Coursera and Discord;
• Monitor and sustain high level of participants satisfaction level using student satisfaction surveys, student graduation rates, and graduation surveys.
• Establish mentorship programme, identify mentors and coordinate communication flow between mentors and participants.

Local chapters and country implementation support 

• Establish local chapters standard operational procedures;
• Coordinate and monitor local chapters curriculums, timelines, schedules and community activities;
• Train local chapter volunteers and support their activities.

Partnerships and Outreach

• Establish developer community branding and communications strategies developments;
• Produce communication materials covering the community and its activities;
• Identify and maintain new partnership opportunities with global and local developer communities, academia and private companies.

• Operations Management:  ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
• Project Management: ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communication: ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channel.
• Procurement Management: ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.
• Knowledge Generation: ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Community Management: ability to establish and run a global tech community and understand the needs and challenges faced by adult learners.