Data Scientist

at  World Food Programme

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

1 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.

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.

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.