DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS1 October 2024-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
WHY JOIN WFP?
WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Data Science team within the Forecasting & Early Warning Unit, in the Analysis Planning and Performance (APP) division, is a specialized team dedicated to addressing the challenge of modelling and forecasting food insecurity and its drivers, through the innovative application of AI and data science techniques. By leveraging large heterogenous datasets and advanced algorithms, the team can identify patterns and trends that are not immediately apparent and predict the impact of impending natural and human generated hazards, enabling timely interventions and anticipatory actions in vulnerable areas. The work is crucial in facilitating data-driven decision-making for governments and humanitarian organizations, allowing proactive strategies in combating food crises and their underlying causes. This approach helps to mitigate the impact of potential crises on affected populations, improving resilience and ensuring food security.
The Early Warning and Forecasting Unit is developing an early warning tool to detect impending food crises, with initial pilots in high-priority countries. Working with the private sector, this project will harnesses expertise in artificial intelligence and product innovation alongside WFP's operational insights and localized data. The objective is to generate early warning signals that facilitate proactive interventions, integrating real-time data, satellite imagery, news data streams, and Google analytics to enhance response capabilities and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to prevent food crises in vulnerable communities. As part of the team, the Data Scientist will be responsible of designing and developing advanced AI solutions to analyze trends and forecast potential crises, producing early warning signals. The models will be developed in production-ready code to ensure smooth maintenance and deployment. The role will also require to collaborate closely with stakeholders to tailor the tool specifically to the needs and conditions of the target regions, ensuring its effectiveness and relevance.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:
• Research, design and implement AI models for estimating food insecurity and produce early warning of impending crises.
• Support ad-hoc data explorations and analysis for the project, by means of traditional statistical analysis as well as state-of-the-art data science methodologies.
• In collaboration with the software engineering team, support the design and the implementation of production-ready data pipelines.
• Support the writing of technical papers and reports to be submitted to peer-reviewed international journals.
• Participate in workshops, meetings and conferences to present the technical aspects of the project, within the organization and externally.
• Ensure adherence to WFP policies regarding data, including data privacy, security, management, and code documentation.
• Participate in field missions to WFP country offices as required.
• Perform other tasks as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
• Technical inputs to the development of Early Warning System, including the code and methodology for generation of the signals.
• Deployment of AI models in a production environment
• Maintenance of the code base following industry’s best practices.
• Submission of research papers to high impact journals.
• Participation in project meetings, scientific committee meetings and dissemination events
• Presentations on the technical aspects of the project, as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics or similar.
Experience:
At least 5 years of professional experience in a data science-related role, including PhDs and other academic positions.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Python programming skills and experience with data science libraries (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, Keras, etc)
• Advanced knowledge of statistics and passion for machine learning with an understanding of algorithms
• Experience in deploying and maintaining AI solution in Cloud Environments
• Experience in querying SQL databases is required
• Experience in git is required
• Experience in the following fields is an asset: forecasting Time Series; NLP; Generative AI; Deep Learning Libraries (PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Knowledge of survey methodologies is an asset
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively and respectfully in a diverse and multicultural team environment
Languages:
Excellent spoken and written English. French or Arabic is an asset.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.