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Introduction

Country:   Remote/ Home Based 

 

Description of the Assignment:  Research Consultant for the Study "Generative AI: Impact on Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development”

 

Period of assignment/services: 12 working days within September-October 2024

 

Proposal should be submitted directly in the portal no later than indicated deadline. Any discrepancy between the unit price and the total price in the financial offer breakdown table shall be re-computed by UNDP, and the unit price shall prevail, and the total price shall be corrected. If the Offeror does not accept the final price based on UNDP’s re-computation and correction of errors, its bid will be rejected.

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Instructions on Bid submission

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Background 

Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a category of artificial intelligence technologies capable of generating diverse forms of content, such as text, images, audio, and synthetic data.  2023 marked a milestone for Generative AI, highlighting its vast potential through practical applications.  Innovations in large language models and the rise of multimodal AI technology has empowered teams to seamlessly produce integrated content across various formats, including text, graphics, and video.  Tools like ChatGPT, Dall-E, Gemini, Midjourney, Jasper and Sora illustrate generative AI’s versatility, thus pushing the boundaries of what is possible in business and creativity.

Usage and popularity of generative AI sets the stage for broader socioeconomic impacts, particularly in the labor market. Generative AI has influence on the labor market, affecting skill demands, career opportunities, and workforce distribution. While AI enhances productivity for some, it may displace others, necessitating a balanced approach to workforce transformation in both advanced economies and in the Global South.  It urges a reevaluation of the future of work and education given AI's growing influence.

Generative AI technologies unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurs, levelling the playing field in market competitiveness. By automating content creation, Generative AI tools not only streamline operations and cut costs but also free up entrepreneurs to focus on other strategic aspects of their businesses. By offering support and suggestions, these tools enable entrepreneurs to enhance overall efficiency. To fully capitalize on these benefits, it is essential for entrepreneurs to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively leverage Generative AI.

Generative AI has the potential to contribute to global sustainable development efforts. Research on the role of artificial intelligence in achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) showed that the positive impacts of AI on the SDGs were nearly twice as significant as the negative ones.  However, as a disruptive technology, AI can also exacerbate existing inequalities, if not managed carefully. To ensure Generative AI helps achieve these goals without worsening disparities, it is essential to develop inclusive policies and equitable access to Generative AI benefits, particularly in underserved communities. 

UNDP’s International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) seeks to contract a consultant for the report "Generative AI: Impact on Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development”. The report will provide a roadmap to UNDP for cultivating the necessary knowledge and skills to harness the potential of these technologies in entrepreneurship and sustainable development. The report aims to combine insights from technology, social sciences, economics, and ethics. In this regard, overall objective of the consultancy is to conduct research with a structured methodology, (i) to identify how Generative AI  can be used to cultivate entrepreneurship thereby create livelihoods opportunities for the disadvantaged groups, (ii) to identify the necessary skills and qualifications to secure competitive livelihoods  (iii) to map out the transformative role of Generative AI as a development catalyst

Amendment

The tender has been amended due to important modifications required in the Scope of Work for this assignment and consequent deadline extension to allow bidders take into account all changes made. Please refer to attached updated Terms of Reference document (highlighted parts)

Documents :

Negotiation Document(s) (Before Accessing other negotiations Document(s), please click on this link)