UNDP Somalia is hiring a National Expert in Agentic AI and Machine Learning Engineering. 75-day consultancy based in Kenya. Apply by 28 Jan 2026.
Job Title: National Consultancy – Software Developer (Agentic AI/ML Engineering Expert)
| Organization | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
| Duty Station | Kenya (Supporting UNDP Somalia) |
| Reference | UNDP-SOM-00591 |
| Contract Duration | 75 Working Days (Within a 6-month period) |
| Application Deadline | 28 January 2026 (04:00 GMT -5.00) |
Operational Context
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Somalia is advancing its digital capabilities to address complex development challenges. To support this mandate, we are recruiting a highly specialized National Software Developer with specific expertise in Agentic AI and Machine Learning Engineering.
While the beneficiary country is Somalia, the consultant will be stationed in Kenya. This role is designed for a technical architect capable of building autonomous or semi-autonomous AI agents that can reason, plan, and execute tasks to improve operational efficiency.
Scope of Assignment
This assignment goes beyond traditional software development. The consultant will engineer sophisticated AI systems that move from passive data analysis to active task execution (Agentic AI).
Key Responsibilities
1. Agentic AI System Architecture
- Design and engineer AI agents capable of autonomous decision-making within defined parameters.
- Develop architectures that integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) with external tools and APIs to execute complex workflows.
- Ensure systems are designed with human-in-the-loop safeguards and ethical guardrails.
2. Machine Learning Engineering
- Build and fine-tune ML models specifically optimized for the Somali context where data scarcity may be a challenge.
- Deploy models into production environments, ensuring low latency and high reliability.
- Implement MLOps best practices for model monitoring and retraining.
3. Integration and Optimization
- Integrate agentic workflows into existing UNDP platforms to automate reporting, data synthesis, or operational tasks.
- Conduct rigorous testing to ensure agents perform reliably across edge cases.
Contract Details
- Duration: The contract covers 75 working days spread over a six-month period.
- Location: The consultant will be based in Kenya.
- Type: National Consultancy (Open to candidates with valid work authorization in Kenya).
Application Instructions
Closing Date: 28 January 2026 (04:00 GMT -5.00)
All proposals must be submitted directly through the UNDP Quantum Supplier Portal.
Submission Process:
- Navigate to the portal: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org
- Log in using your bidder profile.
- Search for negotiation reference: UNDP-SOM-00591.
- Upload your technical and financial proposal.
Note: Proposals sent via email will not be accepted. Please complete your submission well before the deadline.