GENERAL INFORMATION
Program Title: AI4Youth: Empowering AI4Youth: Empowering the Next Generation through AI Literacy and Agentic Innovation
Post Title: 4 External Experts
Duration: 6 Days
Start Date: By January/February 2026
The Service: The expert will design and deliver training, mentor youth teams during and after hackathons, and provide continuous support for AI prototype development.
1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
AI4Youth is a youth-focused initiative aimed at empowering Kosovo’s young population (ages 15 to 29) by developing their capacities in artificial intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship, green energy solutions, civic tech, and digital innovation. The project engages 60 youth from urban and rural areas, including underrepresented and minority communities, with a strong emphasis on gender balance. The project centers around four regional AI hackathons with participants from rural and minority communities, particularly those from Gjilan and Lipjan, as well as youth from Pristina, Gjakova, and Prizren, where youth participants collaborate in teams to develop AI-based solutions addressing real-world challenges, such as smart assistants, optimization, sustainability, green energy, and civic innovation. Following the hackathons, 12 project teams (3 per municipality) are formed to further develop their solutions with continuous mentorship from AI experts, focusing on technical development, project design, and entrepreneurial strategies.
Experts joining AI4Youth will be responsible for designing and facilitating the training and mentorship sessions, guiding youth teams, and ensuring practical, hands-on learning experiences. Their contribution will help participants gain AI literacy, teamwork and leadership skills, and entrepreneurial thinking, while supporting the creation of tangible AI prototypes with potential for further development or incubation.
The program provides experts with the opportunity to engage directly with motivated youth, collaborate with local and international AI professionals, and contribute to structured youth-led innovation activities, while making a measurable impact on AI literacy, civic engagement, and digital entrepreneurship among Kosovo’s next generation. Experts will gain a clear understanding of the project’s objectives, youth engagement strategies, and expected outcomes, while ensuring inclusive, interactive, and practical learning experiences that lead to real-world results.
2. SCOPE OF THE WORK OF THE EXTERNAL EXPERT
Under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager, the specific roles and responsibilities are:
- Design training materials and learning content for the regional AI hackathon, ensuring the sessions are practical, engaging, and aligned with the programme objectives and expected outcome.
- Facilitate in-person training and guidance during one regional AI hackathon in one of the targeted municipalities (Gjilan, Lipjan, Prizren, Gjakova or Prishtina), providing hands-on support as participants develop AI-based solutions.
- Deliver interactive, practice-oriented sessions that help participants apply AI concepts in smart assistants, optimization, sustainability, green energy solutions, civic tech, and entrepreneurship.
- Support youth in enhancing their teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills throughout the hackathon process.
- Mentor three youth teams formed after the hackathon, providing continuous guidance on technical development and project design, while helping refine prototypes for potential incubation.
- Offer regular feedback and professional insight to strengthen the technical quality and social impact of youth-developed AI projects.
- Collaborate with project staff to ensure inclusive participation, gender balance, and engaging learning experiences across all activities.
3. EXPERIENCE AND SKILL SET REQUIRED
- Extensive practical experience in AI, with proven knowledge in one or more domains such as AI for sustainability, AI entrepreneurship, civic tech, or AI product development.
- Experience mentoring or training young people or professionals, including conducting workshops and designing hands-on learning materials.
- Strong communication skills, able to explain complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
- Commitment to inclusivity, gender balance, and youth empowerment.
- Familiarity with emerging AI trends, ethical AI practices, and cross-sector applications.
- Previous collaboration with tech companies, academic institutions, or innovation hubs is a plus.
- Adaptable and flexible, able to work across multiple municipalities in Kosovo.