Consultant (9 months, home-based): Data Engineering consultant for AI DEAL Project, PASS, Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)

Remote | Home Based - May require travel

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Engineering
- Statistics
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Project and Programme Management
- Public, Private Partnership
- Innovations for Sustainable Development
- Grant writing
Closing Date: 2025-11-07

The partner research and due diligence (DD) function, managed for the organization by the Partnership Advisory Support Services (PASS) team in the Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division (PFP), aims to support UNICEF’s effective engagement with business and private philanthropy entities. Recognizing that AI presents a unique opportunity for the PASS team at PFP to enhance due diligence research and processes, the PASS team is looking for a Data Engineering Consultant with experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine-Learning Operations (MLOps) for the PASS AI Project to explore ways to utilize AI in our due diligence process.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to hope

Purpose of Assignment

The PASS AI Deal Project (Artificial Intelligence for Due Diligence Excellence, Acceleration & Learning Project) aims to explore and conceptualize the use and integration of best-suited AI technologies in the DD process. It will increase operational efficiency and enable UNICEF to make timely, evidence-based, data-driven, and risk-informed decisions. By automating data ingestion, processing, analysis, monitoring, and reporting, the tool will ensure thorough profiling of entities, flagging violations (e.g., gambling, coal extraction), and identifying adverse media or sustainability risks.

Key steps include AI-driven entity resolution, multilingual Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Application Program Interface (API) integration for adverse media detection, predictive analytics for risk benchmarking, and real-time alerts via API polling and social media monitoring. Using cost-efficient tools like open-source APIs, free chatbots in accordance with UNICEF’s internal guidelines, and RPA for document consolidation, the framework minimizes costs while maintaining accuracy through human-in-the-loop validation. This scalable, auditable solution empowers DD analysts in the team with narrative summaries and actionable insights, reducing manual effort and enhancing decision-making for regulatory compliance and risk management.

Under the direct supervision of the Corporate Research Specialist, PFP-Partnerships Advisory and Support Services Section (PFP-PASS), and working closely with the rest of the PASS AI DEAL project team, the incumbent will document and analyze the business needs, assess practices in the market, develop the overall concept of the solution, develop and conduct a proof of concept for feasibility, refine the business requirements, develop technology capabilities requirements, support the technology selection or services for development, develop statement of work for the solution development along with the implementation plan and forward-looking roadmap. The project aligns with our commitment to cost-efficiency, security and data privacy compliance (e.g. internal UNICEF guidelines on the use of AI, legal scraping), and scalability.

The overall objectives of the assignment will include the following:

• Discuss business process with stakeholders and document/refine the existing requirements. Explore AI technologies and applications such as NLP, ML, and RPA for the DD process.

• Conceptualize an AI-integrated DD workflow with the best-suited AI technologies, with an evaluation on the technical feasibility and infrastructure requirements of the proposed solution.

• Develop and conduct a feasibility assessment through a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) and prototype based on the PASS AI DEAL framework, automating entity resolution, adverse media ingestion, risk analysis, report consolidation and real-time monitoring.

• Review and recommend AI technology capabilities to support the overall process by considering current technologies used and capitalizing organization’s standard as much as possible.

• Create a roadmap, statement of work, and implementation plan for full-scale deployment, including integration with UNISON (Salesforce CRM used by UNICEF).

• Propose plan to develop knowledge and required skills in the PASS team and provide documentation and guidance materials.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work

The consultant will:

Phase 1: Discovery & Analysis

• Engage with relevant stakeholders (DD analysts, IT, and UNISON team) throughout the work to understand the existing business process

• Organize user-requirements sessions to obtain user feedback to refine the requirements.

• Assess the technical feasibility and infrastructure needs, prioritizing cost effective tools.

• Liaise and interact with key infrastructure stakeholders, UNICEF IT (PFP IT and ICTD) specialists, to ensure solution proposal is in line with organizational policy and standards.

• Draft the AI solution architecture document outlining system components and data flow.

• Assess infrastructure needs, including cloud/on-prem options and UNISON compatibility.

Phase 2: Conceptualization and Technology capabilities

• Create a data flow diagram showing ingestion, processing, and output stages.

• Compare and evaluate NLP, ML, RPA, and API tools for feasibility and cost-efficiency.

• Develop the AI solution proposal including the PASS AI DEAL framework (Appendix), covering below six stages and ingesting final response in UNICEF CRM

1. Raw Data Search and Ingestion.

2. Data Processing and Consolidation.

3. Risk Profile Analysis.

4. Consolidation into Working Document for DD Analysts.

5. Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts.

6. Model Improvement and Quality Assurance.

• Recommend AI-driven entity resolution to consolidate profiles across sources.

Phase 3: Proof of Concept

• Develop a prototype for users to test and incorporate user-feedback to finalize

• Document model performance metrics, including precision, recall, and coherence.

• Deploy the prototype with 10–20 entities using real or simulated data.

• Collect feedback from DD analysts on usability, accuracy, and relevance.

• Analyze pilot results and compile a performance evaluation report.

Phase 4: Roadmap and Implementation

• Prepare roadmap and implementation plan including resource, time and cost estimate, skill requirements

• Using PoC feedback and reports, refine the requirements and finalize the process flow

• Recommend AI technology capabilities and statement of work for actual development

• Recommend a roadmap and implementation plan

Phase 5: Skill Development

• Deliver a user guide, technical documentation, for analysts and IT teams.

• Conduct a virtual training session and webinars for UNICEF staff.

• Submit a final handover report summarizing deliverables and recommendations.

• Develop a roadmap for full-scale/production implementation and UNISON/Salesforce integration.

Resources Provided:

• Access to internal DD database and UNISON specifications.

• DD analyst team for feedback and testing.

• Sample DD data for prototyping/piloting (if available).

DELIVERABLES:

Note: During the consultancy assignment, certain technical and operational costs, including API and software licenses, may be required. UNICEF will provide access on internal systems. The consultant will be responsible for managing any necessary external licenses (e.g., for adverse media and sustainability databases such as RepRisk, Sustainalytics, etc.) and other operational inputs essential for the delivery of the assignment. All such costs must be included into the consultant’s lump-sum quotation, as no additional funding will be provided by UNICEF for the technical or prototype development-related expenses.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: Computer Science, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or a social-science quantitative-related field.

• A first-level university degree in combination with additional two (2) years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in data engineering, AI/ML development, and system integration is required.

• Demonstrated experience in MLOps, including model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management is required.

• Proven track record in API integration, data pipelines, and cloud-based solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is required.

• Experience working with international organizations or large-scale projects is an asset.

• Strong data skills with ability to work with large datasets, and experience in data analysis, interpretation, and data quality

• Good experience in developing and using models for advanced predictive analysis, scenario simulation, and risks assessment

• Solid understanding of both financial and non-financial due diligence, including regulatory compliance and data privacy

• Strong proficiency in Python and AI/ML frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, XGBoost) is required.

• Expertise in NLP tools (e.g., spaCy), web scraping (e.g., Scrapy), and RPA frameworks (e.g., Robot Framework) are an asset.

• Familiarity with open-source and cost-efficient tools (e.g., OpenSanctions, OCCRP Aleph) is required.

• Project Management Strong skills in planning and delivering within budget and timeline are required.

• Strong communication skills and ability and experience to present technical concepts to the larger team and train Due Diligence analysts are required.

• Knowledge of system integration (e.g., Salesforce/UNISON APIs) and containerization (e.g., Docker) is an asset.

• Understanding of GDPR and legal compliance for data processing is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required to interact with DD, IT infrastructure and end-users. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

Others:

Required:

• Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities, and risks and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction.

• Attention to detail and track record of delivering against objectives.

• Ability to work remotely with alignment to the Geneva time zone.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to capture key points and actions in succinct formats for a variety of audiences.

Assets:

• Understanding corporate engagement dimensions within or outside of UNICEF.

• Understanding of non-profit management and the UN system.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

Remarks:

HOW TO APPLY

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees in USD against the deliverables listed above.

Please note that the API license or other operational costs for the prototype has to be included into the total consultancy cost/ consultant’s lump-sum quotation, and no additional cost will be provided by UNICEF for the technical and prototype development expenses during the consultancy assignment. The office will select the individual based on the best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverables/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

ETHICAL GUIDELINES

The consultant is responsible for reading, understanding, and applying UNICEF ethical representation of children guidelines when shooting in the field, with special care taken when children’s identities need to be concealed.

See here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIFV7RY

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

Apply