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Job Title: Data Scientist
Type of Contract: Consultant
Division: RAM/RAMAH – Research, Assessment and Monitoring Division – Hunger Monitoring Unit
Duty Station (City, Country): HQ Rome, Italy
Duration: 11 months (with possibility of renewal)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Hunger Monitoring Unit (RAMAH) in WFP’s Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Division manages WFP’s global hunger monitoring systems, building upon the successes of the mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) initiative. This entails the establishment and oversight of WFP’s near real-time food security and nutrition monitoring systems in close to 40 countries, as well as developing and refining advanced analytical approaches for nowcasting and forecasting food security indicators using predictive analytics in collaboration with internal and external partners to general timely information on global food security. Data from these systems flows into the HungerMap LIVE (hungermap.wfp.org), WFP’s global hunger monitoring system. This information is also published through Global and Regional Insights and Key Trends reports and other related resources, enabling decision makers to monitor the situation effectively and adopt early mitigation actions.
The Hunger Monitoring Unit in the RAM division is collaborating with WFP Nutrition Division and the WFP Innovation Accelerator (INKA) in Munich on a project to generate and increase access to modeled data on risk of dietary Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency (VMD) at national and sub-national levels, which will be critical to inform the design and roll-out of large-scale food fortification as well as complementary programs to control micronutrient deficiencies. This project will contribute towards the improvement of core Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) program performance metrics, and in conjunction with the Micronutrient Forum (MNF) Data Alliance, will achieve consensus on approach, including the proxy indicator(s) for risk of dietary VMDs, the design of and data underlying subnational maps, and use of modeling, that will translate to clear and consistent programmatic guidance. Specifically, the objective of the project is to develop a composite proxy-indicator for risk of inadequate dietary micronutrient intake and integrate it with in the HungerMapLIVE systems and related products.
The expansion of the HungerMapLIVE to include a data layer on risk of dietary vitamin and mineral deficiencies and the potential of different programs, including LSFF, to fill nutrient gaps has been identified as an opportunity to support programme and policy decision-makers from national governments and other stakeholders. This activity will bring together the analytical and government technical assistance expertise of the Analytics and Science for Food and Nutrition (AS4FN) team, data collection and visualization experience from the Hunger Monitoring Team and WFP Innovation Accelerator’s (INKA) digital innovation and project accelerator capacities.
For this project, the Hunger Monitoring Unit seeks a Data Scientist Consultant to work with the project team on the development of the methodology for accessing the risk of dietary VMD and support the integration in HungerMap LIVE.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:
- Support the design and implementation of the models and methodology for estimating risk of dietary VMD at national and sub-national level
- Support the team in mapping data and indicators relevant to the construction of a composite proxy indicator for dietary VMD risks and data collation
- Conduct 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
- Present project specific analytical methods and findings to and participate in technical-level discussions with Scientific Committee members and analytical partners
- In collaboration with the software engineering team in Hunger Monitoring Unit, design and implement production-ready data pipelines for visualizing the data in the HungerMapLIVE
- Ensure adherence to WFP policies regarding data, including data privacy, security, management, and code documentation
- Participate in field missions as required
- Perform other tasks as required
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- Technical inputs to the project methodology and model, including the code and methodology for the validation of the proxy indicator
- Mock-ups developed to visualize the proxy indicator in the HungerMapLIVE and related products
- Participation in project meetings, scientific committee meetings and dissemination events
- Presentations, documentation and briefing on the technical aspects of the project, as needed
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics or a similar quantitative field.
Experience:
At least 3 years of professional experience in a data science-related field
Knowledge and Skills:
- Strong Python programming skills and experience with data science libraries (pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, keras/tensorflow/pytorch, etc)
- Advanced knowledge of statistics and passion for machine learning with an extensive understanding of algorithms
- Experience in designing and querying SQL databases
- Proficiency in git and experience with other developer tools (aws, docker, etc.) is highly valued
- GIS skills is an asset
- Knowledge of Bayesian inference is an asset
- Knowledge of survey methodologies is an asset
- Knowledge of food security and nutrition data is an asset
- Experience working with the humanitarian sector or in food security\nutrition field is an asset.
Languages:
Fluent in spoken and written English required. Spoken and written French, Spanish or Arabic would be an asset.
Terms and Conditions
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.
http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
Deadline for applications: 6 May 2022
Ref.: VA No. 161805
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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.