NetHope is a fully remote, global organization welcoming candidates from all backgrounds and locations.

NetHope is launching a pilot AI Fellowship and seeks a consultant to design and lead the program as research director. The consultant will design the fellowship structure and application process, recruit and select at least four fellows, and guide them through a rigorous research process exploring AI adoption, use cases, and risk in humanitarian, conservation, and development contexts — as well as technical/safety questions specific to low-resource, low-connectivity environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design fellowship structure, criteria, and application; develop a fellowship concept note and working calendar
• Lead recruitment and selection of 4+ fellows, in consultation with a NetHope review committee
• Serve as research lead: mentor fellows, ensure quality/rigor of research output, and keep work aligned with program goals
• Deliver final research products (one per fellow or fellow pair) by February 12, 2027
• Conduct a stakeholder briefing and produce a pilot reflections/next-steps report by February 26, 2027

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing and directing AI research programs, ideally fellowship or cohort-based
• Program/curriculum design experience, including selection criteria and multi-participant research structuring
• Track record leading independent researchers toward a shared, rigorous output
• Preferred: prior fellowship experience; familiarity with Global South and nonprofit/humanitarian contexts

Engagement Details

• Timeline: August 31, 2026 – March 15, 2027
• ~20 hrs/week (560 hours total), hourly compensation in USD
• Reports to: Director, Center for the Digital Nonprofit
• Proposal deadline: August 17, 2026