Applications Invited for UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship

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About the Organization

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on pressing global challenges related to disarmament, arms control and international security.

We develop innovative ideas to tackle the most pressing security issues of our world. Our research expertise frames complex challenges in accessible ways and promotes an inclusive dialogue to find creative and effective solutions. Our work aims to provide the foundations for meaningful collective action towards a more secure world.

About the Fellowship

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become an omnipresent governance challenge, including within the arena of international security and disarmament. While there is no formal UN process to specifically discuss AI in this context apart from the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, AI is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion within other UN cybersecurity, disarmament and counter-terrorism processes.

However, a common feature of international security processes is the underrepresentation of women. UNIDIR research shows that, on average, only a third of the diplomats accredited to arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament forums are women.

As a result, these forums not only lack equitable participation, they also become susceptible to oversights around the gender-specific impacts of weapons and violence. Our research also highlights that effective capacity-building may be one measure to help rectify this vis-à-vis governance of AI.

To redress gender inequalities and promote inclusive and effective policymaking, UNIDIR is convening the 2025 edition of the Women in AI Fellowship. This is designed as a capacity-building intervention that endows women diplomats with up-to-the-minute knowledge of the policy, legal and technical aspects of AI, including its gendered implications. Women in AI Fellows acquire the knowhow, skills, resources and networks required to engage effectively in multilateral AI discussion in the field of international peace and security.

Structure

The Women in AI Fellowship comprises a week-long, in-person training in Geneva. The Fellowship is structured around three key pillars for a holistic and effective programme of learning:

• Education – UNIDIR provides the Fellows with a substantive introduction to AI technology, including its strengths and limitations; an overview of the possible and observed use cases of AI in security applications; related international security concerns surrounding AI; background to and current multilateral discussions around AI policy and governance; and insights into the link between gender and military AI. Learning activities are led by UNIDIR researchers in collaboration with relevant experts and stakeholder organizations.
• Exploration – Apart from lectures, UNIDIR facilitates the Fellows’ interactions with stakeholders engaging in practical applications of AI in technical and academic settings. This will allow Fellows to receive targeted briefings and to gain a better sense of the ecosystems involved in AI design, development, deployment and governance.
• Networking – UNIDIR also streamlines Fellows’ engagements with relevant stakeholders to enable the forging of strong connections with the diplomatic community, the private sector and civil society. This includes a) the organization of a reception with the diplomatic community in Geneva, and b) a series of virtual meetings with a group of multi-sectoral experts working at the intersections of gender, security and technology. The Fellows also benefit from and become part of the UNIDIR Expert Network on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain.

Eligibility

The Fellowship is open to women diplomats who:

• Aare junior to mid-career level
• Are representatives of UN Member States
• Have a strong command of both written and spoken English
• Have an interest in security, technology and/or gender

How to Apply

Monday, 3 February – Deadline for submission of applications (midnight, Geneva time)

UN Member States are invited to nominate women diplomats to the Fellowship, and candidates also have the option of applying directly.

Interested applicants or their diplomatic representations are invited to submit the following supporting documents by email to sectec-unidir@un.org with the subject line “2025 UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship Application”:

• Copy of passport;
• Curriculum vitae of no more than two pages;
• Two recommendation letters, one of which should be from the applicant’s national government or diplomatic representation to the UN;
• A one-page letter of interest detailing the applicant’s experience and interest in the areas covered by the Fellowship, as well as an outline of how they envisage using knowledge gained during the programme.

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