Applications are invited for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) Women in AI Fellowship 2025. The application deadline is February 3, 2025!
About UNIDIR
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an independent institution within the UN, focused on researching global challenges related to disarmament, arms control, and international security. UNIDIR develops innovative solutions to pressing security issues, fostering inclusive dialogue and promoting collective action for a more secure world.
The institute supports UN Member States, policy communities, and other stakeholders in advancing practical actions for peace, facilitating diplomatic discussions, and enhancing transparency and confidence-building between nations. Through its research and advisory functions, UNIDIR plays a key role in shaping the future of arms control and disarmament.
About Fellowship 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a significant governance challenge in international security and disarmament, though there is no formal UN process dedicated solely to AI in this context, apart from the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. AI is increasingly discussed within UN processes related to cybersecurity, disarmament, and counter-terrorism.
However, a key issue within these processes is the underrepresentation of women, with UNIDIR research revealing that, on average, only a third of diplomats at arms control and disarmament forums are women. This lack of equitable participation often leads to overlooked gender-specific impacts of weapons and violence. UNIDIR’s research suggests that effective capacity-building could help address this gap in AI governance.
To promote gender equality and inclusive policymaking, UNIDIR is launching the 2025 Women in AI Fellowship. This initiative equips women diplomats with up-to-date knowledge on AI’s policy, legal, and technical aspects, including its gendered implications. Fellows gain the skills, resources, and networks to engage effectively in multilateral AI discussions focused on international peace and security.
For more, watch the video testimonials from the 2024 Women in AI Fellows on the UNIDIR YouTube channel.
Fellowship 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.
Selection Criteria
- The Fellowship is open to women diplomats who:
- are 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
- Applications will be carefully screened by UNIDIR on the basis of the criteria specified above, and applicants will be informed of the result of their application regardless of their selection status.
- UNIDIR will select up to 30 Fellows, of which 10 will be fully sponsored by UNIDIR and the rest will participate at their own or their sponsoring organizations’ expense.
- Priority for sponsorship will be given to Fellows from developing countries.
Application Process
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.
Important Dates
- Monday, 3 February – Deadline for submission of applications (midnight, Geneva time)
- Monday, 17 February – Announcement of selected Fellows
- Monday, 7 April – Friday, 11 April – In-person training in Geneva
How to Apply?
Interested and eligible candidates can share above mentioned details at sectec-unidir@un.org
