Data Scientist (IPC)

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA) is the focal point for FAO’s research and policy analysis on agricultural and economic development. The division produces evidence–based policy analysis and strengthens the capacity of member countries to improve decision-making on food security, nutrition and resilience. Within this context, the production and dissemination of lessons learned, good practices, as well as knowledge sharing and communication products related to the analysis of food security, nutrition and resilience situation is key in building these capacities at country level.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a global, multi-partner innovative initiative to facilitate decision-making with improved food security analysis, through a set of tools and protocols for classifying the severity and nature of food insecurity and implications for response. IPC incorporates a meta-analysis approach drawing on evidence-based analysis of food security, nutrition and livelihood information through a consensus building approach that includes a broad range of stakeholders.

This global initiative is governed and strategically guided by an IPC Global Steering Committee (GSC), consisting of 15 major food security and nutrition agencies, including: Action Against Hunger, Care International, Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS), Joint Research Centre of the European Union (JRC), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), FAO, Food Security Cluster, Global Nutrition Cluster, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Oxfam, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Save the Children, Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), UNICEF and WFP. The IPC Global Support Unit (GSU), hosted within ESA, is the operational arm of the SC and is responsible for the coordination of IPC normative development, IPC global standards on quality and compliance, as well as the global coordination of capacity building support to IPC activities worldwide.

FAO International Consultants and Call purpose

The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term activities and projects as international consultants or under personal service agreements (PSA) at various levels of experience (see minimum requirements below). International consultants or PSAs are engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which is short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions. The assignment can be from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the availability of resources and needs of the Organization.

Individuals meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Call will be included in the ESA Divisional Roster. Experts who are registered in the Roster are available for consideration whenever relevant opportunities arise matching the required profiles. Contracts will be home-based with possible limited travel.

Reporting Lines

Selected applicants will work under the overall guidance of the ESA Division Director and IPC Global Programme Manager, the direct functional supervision of the IPC Technical Development Team Leader, the daily functional orientation from the Information Management Systems Team Leader, and in close collaboration with the IT Services Division (CSI).

Technical Focus

Information technologies and modeling with special focus on statistical and data mining techniques, artificial intelligence and machine learning

Tasks and responsibilities

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

FAO Core Competencies

Technical/Functional Skills

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency