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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, HOPE 

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: AI solutions for Climate and Environment Data

Section/Division/Duty Station: CEED– PG - NYHQ

Duration: 30 September 2024 – 29 August 2025

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:       

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally. In order to protect the lives, health and well-being of children and the resilience of their communities to adapt essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent/extreme disasters and a degrading environment, comprehensive child-centered risk assessment along with data systems and policies that work across development and disaster management to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable children and services are needed. This data can be used to inform multiple purposes: disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, preparedness planning, and wider development agendas.

Foundational data and evidence provide UNICEF offices with the necessary support they need to integrate sustainability, low-carbon development and climate and disaster resilience into programming, operations and advocacy. This crucial first step enables teams to optimize their approach and actions to effectively engage in sustainability and climate action. In addition, demonstrating increased capacity and readiness to fulfill this mandate is increasingly essential for securing additional finance, which is crucial for maximizing the impact of our initial investment in sustainability and climate action.

UNICEF is seeking a dedicated, proactive consultant to conduct a feasibility study and build a proof-of-concept to strengthen UNICEF's capacity in foundational data and analysis on sustainability and climate action as it relates to children, through the integration of artificial intelligence technologies. This will include but not limited to building and testing ML-based algorithms to address data gaps and proxy data sources, test generative AI solutions to improve accessibility and supporting existing UNICEF climate and environmental data initiatives, such as the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI). 

Scope of Work:

Under the guidance of the programme specialist climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction, the consultant will perform the following duties:

Problem Definition and Scope

• • Clearly define the problem or challenge that AI can address within the context of UNICEF’s foundational climate and environment data and analysis.
  • Review current process of data analysis, methods, and data pipelines, report generation and existing documentation related to climate and environment data.
  • Specify the scope of the assessment, including the relevant domains (climate, environment, energy, disaster risk reduction) and the specific data types involved.

2. Stakeholder Engagement and Requirements Gathering:
   • Identify key stakeholders, including UNICEF staff, technical experts, and end-users.
   • Gather requirements by consulting with stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and desired outcomes.
3. Feasibility Analysis:
   • Assess the feasibility of implementing AI solutions, including but not limited to machine learning and/or foundation models, geoAI,GenAI and NLP solutions within UNICEF’s operational context.
   • Consider technical, organizational, and resource constraints to introduce AI solutions in climate and environment data collection, analysis, visualization and adoption.
4. Prototype Development and Testing:
   • Develop a proof-of-concept and design/build a prototype for each identified use cases.
   • Test and maintain prototypes using relevant data samples to ensure streamlined operation and to evaluate performance.
5. Risk Assessment and Mitigation:
   • Identify potential risks associated with AI/ML adoption, such as bias, privacy, and security.
   • Propose mitigation strategies to address these risks.
6. Evaluation Metrics and Reporting:
   • Define evaluation metrics (e.g., accuracy, precision, recall) to measure the success of the AI solutions.
   • Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing findings, recommendations, and limitations.
7. Final Report:

Produce final feasibility assessment report including but not limited to all chapters, mappings, models, pilots, data folder links, summarizing findings, recommendations, limitations and proposed next steps for UNICEF

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Problem Definition and Scope 1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Chapter that clearly defines the problem or challenge that AI can address within the context of UNICEF’s foundational climate and environment data and analysis Chapter that reviews the current process of data analysis, report generation and existing documentation Chapter that specifies the scope of the assessment, including the relevant domains (climate, environment, energy, disaster risk reduction) and the specific data types involved - By 28 Oct 2024

• Stakeholder Engagement and Requirements Gathering  1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Chapter including a mapping of key stakeholders, including UNICEF staff, technical experts, and end-users. Chapter that summarizes requirements by consulting with stakeholders to understand their needs, expectations, and desired outcomes.  - By 25 Nov 2024
• Feasibility Analysis 1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Feasibility assessment report of implementing AI solutions within UNICEF’s operational context – focusing on climate and environment data collection, analysis, visualization and adoption -  By 27 Jan 2025
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation 1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Chapter that identifies potential risks associated with AI adoption, such as bias, privacy, and security Chapter of proposed mitigation strategies to address these risks – By 24 Feb 2025
• Prototype Development and Testing  1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Chapter with a proof-of-concept AI model or prototype detailed. Chapter summarizing the performance testing of the solutions using relevant data samples – By 12 May 2025

• Evaluation Metrics and Reporting 1X progress report of the below deliverables where relevant: Chapter with evaluation metrics (e.g., accuracy, precision, recall) defined to measure the success of the AI solution(s) Chapter with report summarizing findings, recommendations, and limitations on metrics – By 30 June 2025
• Final report 1X Final report Final feasibility assessment report including but not limited to all chapters, mappings, models, pilots, data folder links, summarizing findings, recommendations, limitations and proposed next steps for UNICEF. – By 29 Aug 2025

Qualifications

Education:

At least a master’s degree.

Disciplines: Advanced university degree (master’s degree or higher) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or related field. 

.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, testing, and implementing AI solutions including but not limited to ML/LLM models. Deep understanding of AI applications to climate data is a plus.
• Experience in data engineering with a specific focus on designing and implementing ML applications
• Experience in climate and disaster risk management is a plus

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Python, R or other relevant programming languages and experience working with big data environment
• Excellent coordination, communication and partnership development skills is desirable
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex climate financing concepts and proposals, both in writing and verbally is required.  

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • 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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.