WHY JOIN WFP?
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. WFP Technology Division (TEC, formerly known as IT) is the digital business engine of the World Food Programme, providing the business with multi-pronged and resilient technical capabilities able to respond with the agility required in humanitarian operations, be they manmade or in a natural disaster setting. TEC Division continues to increase its activities to meet the constantly growing demand from the organization and implement the initiatives related to digital transformation.
Recognizing the multi-faceted impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) activities on augmenting business processes, supporting improved insights for decision-making, and evidence generation across the organization, the role of Data Officer (AI/ML) aims to operationalize and achieve the goals of contributing to a more secure, governed, and ethical approach to the adoption of AI in WFP in alignment with the WFP Global AI Strategy.
JOB PURPOSE:
The Data Officer (AI/ML) reports to the Head of Field Data Services. To leverage data science methodologies and machine learning techniques to enhance operational efficiency, optimize business processes, and drive data-driven decision-making within the organization, s/he will play a pivotal role in translating complex data into actionable insights, fostering innovation, and enabling strategic decision-making. This role involves extensive interaction with stakeholders across various departments to understand their needs, identify opportunities for data-driven improvements, and the technical delivery of impactful AI/ML solutions.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
1. Collect and clean data from primary or secondary sources to ensure the accuracy and reliability of databases and data systems in alignment with established guidelines, standards and processes.
2. Provide feedback to system sponsors for continuous improvements to data quality, system performance, and adherence to standards.
3. Identify, analyze, and interpret data using statistical methods and basic machine learning techniques to inform reliable data-driven models.
4. Contribute to the development and utilization of data quality monitoring tools to improve accuracy, consistency, and adherence to best practices in data management.
5. Monitor and evaluate data analytics performance to assess the effectiveness of tools, models, and processes, providing recommendations for improvement to ensure high-quality results.
6. Develop reports, dashboards or other data visualization tools to effectively summarize findings and convey information to inform decision making.
7. Engage and collaborate with stakeholders to understand their data needs and requirements, ensuring that data analysis outputs align with operational goals and decision-making processes.
8. Ensure compliance with WFP’s data governance, privacy, and security policies, safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining ethical standards in data usage.
9. Contribute to the design and delivery of training and capacity development initiatives to strengthen effective data management practices, using dashboards, systems and tools.
10. Provide technical advice to managers and employees on data policies, processes, and systems to ensure they are correctly applied and optimally used across teams.
11. Engage in continuous learning to stay updated on industry trends, tools and best practices in data analysis contributing to the delivery of innovative solutions and fostering and applying a forward-thinking approach.
12. Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries.
13. Implement innovation solutions in accordance with WFP's policies, ensuring compliance with guidelines and procedures for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and other innovative data solutions.
OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:
•Designs and builds predictive data science products, such as visualizations, models or AI/ML algorithms for initial simulations or prototypes and subsequent ingestion into mainstream software applications.
•Collaborates with technology stakeholders to access infrastructure, software and services needed to develop and deploy data science products.
•Advocates for the use of AI/ML by showcasing the products to business stakeholders
•Identify products, tools, and processes to validate the effectiveness of data science products and their expected and observed benefits. Assess impact using key performance indicators.
•Coordinate with different functional teams to implement models and monitor outcomes.
•Implement processes and tools to monitor model performance and data accuracy
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Education: Advanced or First University degree in Computer Science, Data Management, Statistics, Information Management or other relevant discipline.
Experience:
Language: Fluency (level C) in oral and written communication in both English and Arabic.
The UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization working towards zero hunger by 2030, 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. Powered by the passion, dedication and professionalism of our 20,000 staff worldwide, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 80 countries to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters, and help individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures. In 2020, WFP assisted 115.5 million people – the largest number since 2012. On any given day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes on the move, delivering food and other assistance to those in most need. Every year, we distribute more than 15 billion rations at an estimated average cost per ration of US$ 0.61. We work to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes. In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability. For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.