CGIAR

Role Description To provide ongoing support to the IPB (Integrated Partnership Board) EBC (Ethics and Business Conduct) Executive in the implementation of the CGIAR EBC Escalation Framework and the development of related procedural guidance, with a view to ensuring that the Framework and its operationalization are: - legally compliant across relevant jurisdictions - supported by clear, consistent, and practicable procedures - enforceable and aligned with due process requirements - risk‑appropriate, taking into account CGIAR’s federated, multi‑jurisdictional structure The Consultant will support the EBC Executive in translating the Escalation Framework into operational, user‑oriented guidance and tools and will contribute to the ongoing review process. This is not a case management role. This includes: - Developing procedural guidance for the application of escalation processes - Translating Framework provisions into clear operational steps and decision points - Contributing to developing practical guidance for operationalization of escalation, reporting, and information‑handling requirements - Supporting and representing the EBC Function within the working group reviewing the Escalation Framework, including: - Contributing to discussions on implementation challenges and practical application - Providing input on proposed revisions from an operational and implementation perspective - Ensuring that emerging guidance and tools remain aligned with the evolving Framework Deliverables - Implementation Guidance Package - Structured procedural guidelines to support consistent application of the Escalation Framework - Operational Tools and Templates - Practical tools to support implementation, including: - Escalation decision‑making guidance (criteria and thresholds) - Standard templates (e.g. escalation notes, reporting formats, information‑sharing requests) - Checklists for key stages of the escalation process - Practical training materials for use by different USER groups under EBC Escalation Framework - Information Handling and Escalation Guidance - Practical guidance resources on managing and sharing case information, including: - Roles and responsibilities - Minimum information requirements - Safeguards for handling sensitive information - Implementation Toolkit - Consolidated, user‑oriented toolkit to enable consistent operationalization across Centers and the System Organization - Integration Guidance - Practical guidance to align the Escalation Framework with: - Existing investigative and disciplinary processes - Governance and reporting structures - Support to Framework Review Process - Ongoing inputs to the working group reviewing the Framework, including: - Practical implementation considerations - Alignment between guidance materials and proposed revisions - Support to Early Implementation - Iterative refinement of guidance and tools based on feedback during initial rollout Qualifications - 10–15 years of progressive professional experience in areas such as legal advisory, governance, international law, ethics and compliance, or administrative law, preferably within international or multilateral organizations. - Strong expertise at the intersection of legal, ethics, and operational governance, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex frameworks into clear, practical, and user-oriented guidance and tools. - Experience in developing policies, procedures and advising senior management on ethics, legal or governance matters. - Strong analytical and drafting skills, and the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Application Instructions All applications must be submitted online by clicking the 'Apply' button below before 11:59 PM CET on 11 June 2026. If you require assistance or face challenges in submitting your application, please email smo-bidding@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line. Applications submitted through this email will NOT be accepted. Please ensure your resume and cover letter are in English and do not contain your marital status, age, or photograph. Documents provided in a language other than English will not be considered. CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. We look forward to hearing from you!

• Provide product level coordination and hands on delivery enablement for Enterprise AI Transformation. • Ensure that the AI Strategy is translated into a structured, governed, and phased product delivery, with clear milestones, aligned stakeholders, managed risks, and measurable outcomes. • Deliver design, build, configuration, governance, and lifecycle management of AI agents. • Support the integration of AI solutions with enterprise data sources and systems. • Define and maintain AI product workstreams for AI for Management & Governance and AI for Operations. • Establish and operate AI product governance structures, including decision making forums, escalation mechanisms, reporting cadence. • Coordinate and support the delivery of AI products, including executive AI advisers, decision support use cases, scenario modeling, institutional memory, and operational AI solutions. • Identify and manage cross product risks and dependencies. • Support oversight of external vendors and consultants, monitoring delivery against agreed scope, milestones, and outcomes.

Consultancy Contract. Project Start Date: May 2026. Project Duration: Six (6) months - Extension possible contingent on expansion of use cases Deadline for Applications: 20 April 2026 at midnight CET About CGIAR CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. Background and Objectives The CGIAR System Organization (SO) is implementing an AI Strategy to enable an Enterprise AI Transformation that strengthens governance, improves executive decision making, and increases operational efficiency in a highly volatile funding environment. While the SO benefits from a strong, Microsoft centered digital backbone, decision making and operational processes remain fragmented and largely retrospective, limiting the organization’s ability to anticipate risks, respond proactively, and reduce leadership burden. The AI Strategy introduces an AI enabled executive decision and operations layer that integrates data across core enterprise platforms—including ERP, CRM, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), collaboration tools, and other enterprise and specialist systems introduced over time. The objective is to move beyond descriptive reporting toward proactive, model driven steering, using AI advisers to support leadership, strengthen institutional memory, and improve governance and operational outcomes across the organization. The objective of this consultancy is to provide product level coordination and hands on delivery enablement for Enterprise AI Transformation. The consultant will ensure that the AI Strategy is translated into a structured, governed, and phased product delivery, with clear milestones, aligned stakeholders, managed risks, and measurable outcomes. The role combines two complementary dimensions: - Working Agents Delivery: hands on delivery of the design, build, and operation of AI solutions, leveraging Microsoft low code platforms (notably Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry), in close collaboration with internal teams and external vendors. - AI product coordination: structuring, coordinating, and governing AI initiatives across the System Organization to ensure coherence, prioritization, and alignment with enterprise governance and strategic objectives; and external vendors. 2. Scope of Work Reporting to the Senior Manager, Digital Transformation, and in close coordination with Finance, Governance, People & Culture, ICT, and senior leadership, the consultant will be responsible for the following: 2.1 Delivery Coordination and Technical Enablement - Deliver design, build, configuration, governance, and lifecycle management of AI agents, with a strong focus on Microsoft low code platforms (notably Copilot Studio and Foundry) and related Microsoft technologies. Where appropriate, identify and coordinate the involvement of additional specialist expertise to support complex or highly specialized components. - Support the integration of AI solutions with enterprise data sources and systems, ensuring architectural coherence, security, compliance, and alignment with enterprise data and AI standards. 2.2 AI Product Structuring and Governance - Translate the approved AI Strategy into a set of clearly defined Enterprise AI Transformation products, aligned with the agreed phased roadmap and governance model. - Define and maintain AI product workstreams for AI for Management & Governance and AI for Operations, including clear scope, sequencing, dependencies, and success criteria. - Establish and operate AI product governance structures, including decision making forums, escalation mechanisms, reporting cadence, and alignment with existing enterprise governance bodies. Act as the primary coordination point between external vendors, internal technical teams, and business stakeholders, ensuring clarity of scope, roles, and delivery expectations. - Coordinate and support the delivery of AI products, including executive AI advisers, decision support use cases, scenario modelling, institutional memory, and operational AI solutions. 2.3 Risk, Dependency, and Change Management - Identify and manage cross product risks and dependencies, including data readiness, security, capacity, and adoption risks. - Support change management activities to enable adoption of AI solutions, with a focus on senior leadership and governance users. 2.4 Vendor and Investment Oversight - Support oversight of external vendors and consultants, monitoring delivery against agreed scope, milestones, and outcomes. - Track delivery against the approved investment envelope and flag deviations or risks early. 3. Deliverables Indicative deliverables include: - Working agents in Copilot Studio and Foundry - Enterprise AI Transformation Product Plan - AI Product governance and reporting framework - Consolidated risk, dependency, and issue register - Regular status reports and executive dashboards - Inventory of deployed AI agents and documented AI use cases (as applicable) - Phase end reviews and lessons learned documentation Deliverables will be refined and agreed at contract inception 4. Timelines 5. Key Performance Indicators The consultant’s performance will be measured against the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The technical lead will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on these KPIs. Renewal or re contracting will be conditional on documented performance against these indicators. - Quality of Work: Accuracy, completeness, and overall quality of submitted deliverables, including product plans, AI use cases, governance artefacts, and documentation. - Timeliness: Ability to meet agreed milestones and deadlines as outlined in the 6 month delivery timeline and any subsequently approved workplan. - Client and Stakeholder Satisfaction: Feedback from key stakeholders (senior leadership, governance users, functional teams, and technical counterparts) regarding professionalism, effectiveness, and collaboration. - Adherence to Scope and Budget: Delivery of agreed outputs within the approved scope, level of effort, and budget, with proactive management and early escalation of risks or deviations.

• Prepare an initial strategy, mid-term update, and final report for the contract. • Engage with the DRBD team on a weekly basis through structured meetings. • Stay abreast of the regional and market-level political landscapes, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) and private funding trends. Including bilateral and triangular cooperation. • Source and assess potential funding opportunities in the region to expand the funding base for CGIAR research and operations. • Consolidate learning and data on funding opportunities and effective practices across the partnership to build a knowledge base that supports strategic development and capacity building. • Develop and lead funder specific donor relation strategies targeting Asia-Pacific portfolio of donors (including Governments, Development Banks, and specialized Funds). • Identify key events and moments where CGIAR and regional partners can advance shared objectives. • Advise management on emerging opportunities and challenges related to donor funding to inform resource development and planning. • Lead the implementation of the donor relations strategies and stewardship activities aligned to Asia-Pacific priorities, sensitive to political landscape, cultural nuances, and familiar with the local funding landscapes to achieve ambitious funding targets. • Collaborate with CGIAR champions and centers, research and innovation programs, and other internal stakeholders to share information and insights on donor interests, funding opportunities, and emerging research activities/projects to align research with funding. • Actively engage with key stakeholders in the region, including governments, parliaments, civil society, foundations and other relevant public and private organizations. • Cultivate and support a network of champions and advocates in the region to grow awareness and investment pipelines. • Deliver targeted engagement strategy for Asia-Pacific by the end of month 1. • Present engagement strategies to DRBD team by the end of month 1. • Activate markets engaged plans from month 2-6. • Provide weekly updates and participate in market meetings on a weekly basis. • Support documentation and engagement schedules for leadership visits and engagements at international fora as needed. • Deliver final report by end of month 6.