About

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) invites applications from organisations to conduct research on how young people aged 16–24 across Latin America and the Caribbean experience artificial intelligence (AI), digital mental health tools, and online safety. The initiative aims to generate evidence that informs safer, more inclusive, and rights-respecting digital approaches for adolescent and child health.

The project will support research on adolescent health, child health, digital mental health, and online safety by examining youth perceptions of safe, unsafe, supportive, and harmful AI-mediated mental health interactions. Core activities include establishing a Youth Research Advisory Group, co-producing research questions and tools with young people, conducting a rapid literature review, facilitating focus group discussions and key informant interviews, analysing qualitative data, organizing participatory validation workshops, and producing a regional youth evidence report with safeguarding and governance recommendations.

Funding of USD 100,000 is available for this project. Implementation is scheduled to begin on 29 August 2026 and conclude on 26 February 2027. The findings will contribute to UNICEF’s global work on AI for children, child online protection, and digital mental health by strengthening evidence-based policy and practice.

Eligibility

Eligible organisations must demonstrate internationally recognized expertise in youth mental health, participatory research, digital mental health, safeguarding, and qualitative research, with proven ability to convene diverse stakeholders across multiple countries. Applicants should have experience in meaningful youth engagement, co-production methodologies, safeguarding practices, and translating research findings into policy and practice.

Applications will be assessed competitively based on technical and organisational capacity, including submission of a concept note. Evaluation will consider clarity of activities and expected results (25%), project management (20%), sector expertise and experience (20%), prior experience working with UN organisations (15%), and technical expertise in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), digital mental health, and artificial intelligence (20%).

Post Date: July 27, 2026