Timbuktoo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in some 170 countries and territories, supporting their own solutions to development challenges and developing national and local capacities that will help them achieve human development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated on three main focus areas: Sustainable development; Democratic governance and peacebuilding; Climate and disaster resilience. UNDP helps countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we promote gender equality and the protection of human rights. UNDP has enhanced its support to countries to work towards the eradication of extreme poverty, enabling us to build back better and work towards innovative solutions to the complex global challenges. We have refined our service offering through six signature solutions to provide a more integrated response to the development challenges that we are all facing in this complex global environment. This includes a mix of policy advice, technical assistance, catalytic financing and innovative programmes tailored to country specific needs to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals through six our signature solutions on - poverty, governance, resilience, environment, energy, gender equality.

Context

UNDP Zambia is advancing a connected portfolio of Timbuktoo and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that bridge research, entrepreneurship, digital infrastructure, policy, and investment to accelerate national development priorities. The portfolio is designed to move Zambia from innovation potential to practical implementation by connecting youth innovators, universities, Government, industry, and startups to the tools, infrastructure, and technical support required to build and scale African-led solutions. Under the timbuktoo framework, Zambia anchors a strategic innovation and AI ecosystem comprising: • The Mukuba UniPod at the Copperbelt University (CBU) – a university innovation platform transforming universities into launchpads for youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship, prototyping, skills development, and academia-industry collaboration. • The MineTech Hub at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) – Africa’s sector-focused platform for mining technology, critical minerals, automation, environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and green value chains. • The Artificial Intelligence UniPod at the University of Zambia (UNZA) – a platform to advance artificial intelligence research, data-driven governance, AI skills development, and digital innovation for inclusive and sustainable development. • The Timbuktoo EDGE Programme – a decentralized Artificial Intelligence compute and digital infrastructure initiative designed to strengthen national compute capacity, support data sovereignty, and unlock opportunities for AI, big data, advanced analytics, and emerging technology applications across priority sectors. The EDGE concept positions decentralized infrastructure as a practical response to the power, connectivity, compute access, data sovereignty, and skills bottlenecks that limit inclusive AI adoption. Zambia is one of the identified countries for Timbuktoo EDGE implementation, with the pathway connecting UNDP Country Offices, UniPods, thematic hubs, and shared compute resources to support scalable innovation. The initiative aims to strengthen secure infrastructure, develop digital talent, test and scale AI and digital use cases, build institutional capacity, and connect national pilots to regional innovation networks and global pipelines. The need for a Timbuktoo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant is therefore strategic and operational. As the Timbuktoo portfolio expands, implementation increasingly requires hands-on technical capacity that can translate AI concepts into practical workflows, prototypes, training materials, use-case documentation, reporting tools, and operational support. Without dedicated in-house technical support, AI initiatives risk remaining at the level of strategy, dialogue, or infrastructure procurement rather than being converted into usable pilots, demonstrators, datasets, dashboards, and services for innovators, Government, universities, and ecosystem partners. Overall, this role will build internal AI skills, reduce dependence on external consultants, and help Zambia’s Timbuktoo programmes deliver practical results, stronger local expertise, and better visibility.

Task Description

The Timbuktoo Artificial Intelligence Assistant will help drive the EDGE AI Compute work by supporting the setup and use of AI projects, documenting how Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and computer systems are used, tracking progress, and helping teams test models and prepare data. S/he will also help turn technical needs into clear reports and implementation plans. The AI Assistant will support the Artificial Intelligence UniPod, Mukuba UniPod, and MineTech Hub by helping run AI clinics, innovation challenges, startup support activities, training sessions, and producing technical briefs and evidence materials. Under the direct supervision of the Timbuktoo Hub Coordinator, and working closely with the MineTech Hub Team, the Mukuba UniPod team, the AI UniPod team and relevant UNDP technical focal points, the AI Assistant will: 1. AI Use Case Development and Technical Implementation Support: • Support identification, scoping, and documentation of AI use cases across the AI UniPod, Mukuba UniPod, MineTech Hub, and EDGE AI Compute initiative. • Assist in translating programme ideas into clear technical briefs, problem statements, data requirements, implementation plans, and prototype concepts. • Support basic data preparation, cleaning, annotation, analysis, and visualization for AI pilots and innovation activities, including dashboards and reporting tools. • Assist with development and testing of lightweight AI prototypes, including generative AI workflows, retrieval-augmented knowledge tools, automation scripts, chatbots, data dashboards, and decision-support tools, where appropriate and under supervision. • Provide technical support to innovators, interns, volunteers, startups, and programme teams during hackathons, design sprints, AI clinics, innovation challenges, trainings, and demo days. 2. EDGE AI Compute Operationalization and Reporting Support: • Support the practical operationalization of the EDGE AI Compute Initiative by helping document infrastructure requirements, local use cases, user needs, compute access workflows, and readiness gaps. • Maintain a simple tracker of EDGE-related activities, use cases, technical requests, partners, trainings, lessons learned, and implementation follow-up actions. • Assist in preparing monthly and quarterly updates on EDGE implementation, including progress against infrastructure, skills development, institutional capacity, use-case testing, and ecosystem engagement objectives. • Support documentation of GPU/compute utilization, user onboarding processes, responsible AI safeguards, data management requirements, and lessons emerging from early pilots. • Assist in preparing briefs, presentations, and internal notes that explain EDGE AI Compute in accessible language for Government, universities, startups, ecosystem partners, and UNDP teams. 3. AI UniPod, Mukuba UniPod and MineTech Hub Programme Support: • Support AI-related programming at the AI UniPod and Mukuba UniPod, including AI skills sessions, student innovation support, AI awareness activities, and prototype development. • Provide hands-on support to MineTech Hub activities where AI, data analytics, drones, automation, geospatial tools, critical minerals intelligence, environmental monitoring, or mining technology use cases are being developed. • Assist with mapping AI and digital skills needs among students, innovators, startups, university staff, and ecosystem partners. • Support preparation of training materials, toolkits, user guides, templates, and standard operating procedures for AI-related activities. • Contribute to knowledge management by documenting promising AI use cases, startup solutions, partner capabilities, technical lessons, and opportunities for scale. 4. Reporting, Knowledge Management and Communications Support: • Draft short technical notes, activity reports, meeting minutes, learning briefs, success stories, and presentation materials on AI, EDGE, UniPods, and Timbuktoo innovation activities. • Support preparation of evidence and data inputs for donor reports, internal UNDP reporting, concept notes, workplans, and partnership briefs. • Maintain organized digital folders, databases, participant lists, activity records, and knowledge products related to AI and EDGE implementation. • Support communication of complex AI and compute concepts in clear, practical language for non-technical audiences. • Ensure that documentation reflects responsible AI principles, data protection, inclusion, gender responsiveness, accessibility, and ethical use of technology. 5. Coordination and Ecosystem Engagement • Support coordination with UNZA, CBU, NISIR, Government counterparts, private sector partners, innovators, startups, and technical experts involved in AI and digital innovation activities. • Assist with logistics and technical preparation for AI workshops, ecosystem consultations, demonstration sessions, stakeholder meetings, and learning exchanges. • Support follow-up on agreed actions from meetings, trainings, and technical sessions, ensuring that next steps are tracked and escalated where needed. • Promote collaboration between the AI UniPod, Mukuba UniPod, MineTech Hub, and EDGE AI Compute Initiative so that infrastructure, skills, and use cases reinforce each other.

Competencies and values

• Achieve Results • Think Innovatively • Learn Continuously • Adapt with Agility • Act with Determination • Engage and Partner • Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Living conditions and remarks

Zambia is a land-linked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods. Lusaka is the capital of the Republic of Zambia. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold during few months, with freezing temperature at times especially during the night. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and other heating options when necessary. As the commercial and cultural centre of Zambia, Lusaka has seen rapid development in recent decades, with reasonable transportation connections and widely spoken English making the city highly attractive to vacationers and experts alike. Unemployment and poverty are issues in the city, and beyond. Key industries for the region and Zambia as a whole, include mining, agriculture, and tourism. Like most Southern African cities, life in Lusaka will require some adjustments for a person moving from outside the region, but the potential rewards and opportunities for experiences are well worth the effort. Lusaka hosts several international organization and embassies/diplomatic missions, therefore there is a very large community of expatriates from around the world. Housing is most of the time readily available and of good standard options are available. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture, and clothing, mostly imported from South Africa, Europe, and China while some ranges of local brands are available at a competitive price to imports. Meat, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are reasonably priced and abundantly available. T The basic infrastructures roads, utilities, and telecommunications are of reasonable standard, although the city experiences power outages from time to time. Medical facilities are still largely inadequate, although several private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Lusaka city limits. For more information, please visit http://zambiatourism.com.