AI Fellowship Consultant

Organization: NetHope Closing date: 17 Aug 2026 This is a program design and management engagement. The consultant will lead program design and management and serve as the research lead for the fellowship, reporting to the Director of the Center for Digital Nonprofit. Responsibilities include designing the fellowship structure, criteria, and application; leading recruitment and selection of four fellows, in consultation with a small NetHope review committee; and guiding fellows in shaping their research topics and questions. As research director, the consultant is accountable for the quality and rigor of fellow output, mentoring fellows through their research process and ensuring the final products meet the quality standard agreed in the concept note. Deliverables • Fellowship concept note. The concept note should include: Recommended research structure, research period, and focus areas (such as adoption/use case, technical/safety, etc.) Develop research agendas for each focus area in consultation with the Director, Center for the Digital Nonprofit Develop a working calendar covering the research period that includes fellow check-in frequency, milestones, and key touchpoints through the engagement Built-in checkpoints for NetHope subject-matter experts to review progress and weigh in on adjusting research direction as work develops Define the expected weekly hours for Fellows to commit Recommend Fellow profiles (subject matter expertise, career level, etc.) The consultant's approach to quality control, ensuring writing and analysis meet a high standard throughout • Fellow application form – Develop the form Fellows will use to apply and NetHope will use to assess candidates • Recruitment materials package — list of recommended recruitment channels/sites and finalized selection criteria • Support the fellow recruitment process — this will be managed internally by NetHope in consultation with the AI Fellowship Consultant • Fellow candidate selection — The Contractor will lead the initial review of applications and if appropriate, conduct candidate interviews, presenting a shortlist of recommended candidates to NetHope for final decision-making. The goal is to select at least 4 fellows. • Fellowship onboarding — The Contractor will directly onboard the selected Fellows, covering program expectations, research direction, and the deliverables timeline, in coordination with NetHope staff to ensure ongoing oversight of the Fellows' work throughout the program. • Fellow Research Period — • Finalize research agendas, program goals, and milestones with Fellows and in consultation with the Director, Center for the Digital Nonprofit • Provide research direction and quality oversight on deliverables and progress for all fellows, ensuring the Fellows' work stays aligned with program goals and milestones • Meet regularly with the Director, Center for the Digital Nonprofit that include progress on the research and lessons on the Fellowship pilot for a future program • Final research products — at least one research product per fellow, or per fellow pair if two fellows choose to collaborate on a single product; shape and format determined by the research lead based on topic and fellow preference. All research products must be completed no later than February, 12, 2027 • Conduct a Stakeholder Briefing — Minimum of one stakeholder briefing sharing the research and findings. Audience is TBD. • Pilot fellowship reflections product — a document capturing lessons and reflections on each phase of the pilot fellowship and a next-steps proposal for continuing or scaling the fellowship model, based on lessons from this pilot cohort. This must be completed no later than February 26, 2027 Deliverable timing beyond the fixed February 12 and February 26, 2027 deadlines will be proposed by the consultant and agreed with NetHope at contract start. The February deadlines are fixed. A later engagement start compresses the research period rather than extending these dates. Fellowship Terms • Fellows will receive a stipend. NetHope will confirm the stipend amount and payment mechanism before recruitment materials are published. Stipends are paid by NetHope directly and sit outside the consultant's fee. • Fellows are named authors on the research products they write. NetHope holds publication rights and determines distribution. • Cohort size is a minimum of four fellows. • The research period runs from approximately November 2026 through February 12, 2027. Qualifications Required • Demonstrated experience designing and directing AI research programs, ideally within a fellowship or cohort-based model • Program or curriculum design experience, including setting selection criteria and structuring a multi-participant research process • Program leadership experience, with a track record of guiding independent researchers or contributors toward a shared, rigorous output. Preferred • Prior experience running fellowships or cohort-based research programs • Familiarity with Global South contexts and nonprofit/humanitarian operating environments Project Timeline Engagement period: August 31, 2026 – March 15, 2027 Estimated hours: 20 hours/week (560 total). Actual weekly hours may vary by program phase. Reporting to: Director, Center for the Digital Nonprofit Compensation This is an hourly engagement. Proposals should include a proposed hourly rate for the AI Fellowship Consultant All payments are made in USD. Invoices should be submitted monthly and include: (1) the number of hours worked and (2) description of work completed during the period. Selection Criteria Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: relevant experience and track record; quality and clarity of proposed methodology and work plan; consultant qualifications and capacity; proposed rate (USD) and overall value for investment; and references and past client satisfaction. Please include your proposed rate in USD in your submission. Selection Timeline Proposal deadline: August 17, 2026 Review period: August 18–24, 2026 Decision communicated: August 26, 2026 Engagement start: August 31, 2026 Use of Artificial Intelligence NetHope takes the responsible use of AI seriously. Selected candidates will be required to comply with NetHope's AI Policy, which governs the use of AI tools in the development of all deliverables, and to complete an AI Disclosure Form as part of the onboarding process prior to commencing work. General Conditions • NetHope is a fully virtual organization. Our team, Members, and partners are located around the world. • We welcome qualified consultants from diverse backgrounds and locations globally. • All contractors must pass an OFAC screening prior to engagement. • All work products produced under this engagement are the property of NetHope. How to apply If this opportunity interests you, please submit your proposal HERE by August 17, 2026. Your proposal should include: • A brief overview of your relevant experience and approach • A work plan or methodology for this engagement, including a proposed schedule for all deliverables and the recruitment window • Your proposed hourly rate in USD • Two to three references from similar engagements • CV or professional profile Due to the anticipated volume of submissions, NetHope reserves the right to review proposals and select a consultant prior to the closing date. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. NetHope is an Equal Opportunity Employer.