Consultancy - Research Scientist, Data and Analytics (D&A), DAPM NYHQ (home based)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Duration: 120 days (2022-01-17 to 2022-07-16)

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The Data & Analytics section of UNICEF is using big data and machine learning to try and answer some of the most pressing questions facing children today. We’re using AI to improve our knowledge of where families live with respect to schools, health facilities, and access to water, sanitation and hygiene. We’re looking at environmental risks to children, from both climate change and increasing urbanization. We’re partnering with other agencies to improve pandemic prediction and preparedness.

We need data, timely, granular data to help us make evidence-based programme decisions for rapidly emerging and evolving humanitarian crises. And we need accurate, frequently updated data in order for us to deliver that programming using risk informed responses within challenging conflict zones and areas of instability.

If you’re a research scientist with AI skills and a passion for trying to push the envelope on how we can use big data, machine learning and more to help UNICEF help children, then this consultancy is for you.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

In close collaboration with the Frontier Data Team, the incumbent is responsible for the following:

• Collaborate with UNICEF analysts and other agencies and divisions such as Public Health Emergencies to improve the ability to use frontier data and machine learning models in support of pandemic preparedness; including AI tools and techniques to better understand situations of concerns of and global impact of COVID-19, with special attention to children and UNICEF’s programmatic needs.
• Along with the UNICEF geospatial group and towards integration with the geospatial analytical platform, create tools and analysis that assist field offices in national and regional work to select and compare the best small area population estimates.
• Collaborate with external researchers and produce original research and analysis to map the evolution and state of AI and Big Data research for Humanitarian & Development, analysing scientific publications with big data techniques.
• Enhance the type and availability of big data sets at UNICEF by contributing to the Frontier Data team’s catalogue with the datasets used on the above.
• Produce robust models and analysis of the above that stand peer-review on high quality open access scientific publications.
• Support country and regional offices and the data for children collaborative, with Big Data advise as demanded by the data for children collaborative project manager.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics or related

2) Work experience

• 3+ years post-doc professional work experience in Data Science, ML-AI, network analysis, modelling.

3) Competencies

• Knowledge of one or more data science languages, e.g. Python, R.
• Knowledge of one or more ML platforms, e.g. TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch.
• Fluency in English. Advanced skills in a second UN language desirable.
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a rapidly changing work environment.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.