NetHope Humanitarian AI Research Fellowship (remote, part-time)

About this opportunity

NetHope, a consortium of more than 60 humanitarian, development and conservation organisations, is piloting a Humanitarian AI Research Fellowship. Fellows produce practical research on how AI can responsibly advance humanitarian and development work.

• Format: remote, part-time (about 10 hours a week), open internationally
• Duration: mid-November 2026 to February 2027
• Cohort: 4–6 fellows
• Stipend: yes; details are shared with selected fellows

Two research streams

1. AI Adoption & Governance: case studies of how humanitarian organisations adopt, govern and manage the risks of AI. Suits people with a policy, evaluation or development background.
2. AI Systems & Localization: evaluating open-source models, offline and low-connectivity deployment, and fine-tuning data for humanitarian use. Suits people with a computer science, machine learning or data science background.

Who should apply

Mid-career to senior practitioners with strong writing and analysis, and the ability to run an independent research project to a fixed timeline. All fellows must pass an OFAC screening.

How to apply

Submit a CV, a letter of interest answering NetHope's three questions (see the official posting), two to three references and, optionally, a writing sample. Deadline: 9 October 2026. NetHope may select fellows before the deadline.

Prime Horizon tip

The third question asks about an AI tool that under-performed in real use. Answer it with a concrete, honest example. Reviewers will look for practical experience, not enthusiasm.