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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Climate Data Consultancy   

Duty Station: Data and Analytics Section, DAPM, NYHQ

Duration: 01 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

UNICEF has established a new Global Child Hazard Database to estimate the exposure of children and critical infrastructures to single and multiple climate-related hazards. The purpose of this assignment is to enhance and scale the core data processing pipeline for the Database by integrating new data streams, improving processing efficiency, and preparing the system for broader deployment and increased data volume. Integrating different data sources and platforms in cloud-based server environment.

Scope of Work:

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Climate & Environment Data Science Specialist, the consultant will have the following duties and responsibilities:

 

1. Expand and Optimize Data Pipelines:

• Scale the current data pipeline to create sub-national outputs with expanded pre-determined attributes, leveraging cloud resources using Google Earth Engine.

• Enhance/expand the existing codebase for optimization and scaling, ensuring it can handle increased data volume and complexity.

 

2. Enhance Data Visualization:

• Support the enhancement of the existing Google Earth Engine (GEE) data visualization application by developing and integrating server-side functions.

• Support integrating different data platforms for report generation.

 

3. Data Analysis and Documentation:

• Support downstream analysis and fulfill additional data processing requests.

• Collaborate closely with the Statistics and Monitoring Manager and the Data Science Specialist to document and manage knowledge of all new and existing processes

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Scaling the Core Pipeline for the Global Child Hazard Database (expanding the pipeline to include sub-national outputs.)

-  Pipeline Analysis and Architecture Blueprint (V0.9). Deliverable includes: (1) Comprehensive audit report of current pipeline performance, (2) Finalized list of 5+ sub-national data requirements, and (3) Formal architecture blueprint for GEE integration

30 Nov 2025

-  GEE Processing Module Prototype (V1.0). Deliverable is a fully working Google Earth Engine script successfully ingesting and transforming one full-scale sub-national dataset, validating the core technology concept.

31 Dec 2025

-  Production Module, Integration, and Documentation Package. Deliverable includes: (1) V2.0 module validated against 3 datasets (achieving >95% data quality), (2) Confirmed integration and API documentation for 3 internal platforms, including UNICEF’s data warehouse, and (3) Final New Data Flow Manual.

31 Jan 2026

2. Support migrating to Google cloud

-  Enhanced GEE Application Release (V3.0). Deliverable includes: (1) tested server-side functions and (2) new interactive data visualization features integrated into the user interface

31 Mar 2026

3.  Additional data to the Global Child Hazard Database

-  Database Enhancement and Ingestion Report. Deliverable is a report confirming the identification, validation, and verified successful ingestion of new, high-priority data sources into the Global Child Hazard Database

31 May 2026

4.  Additional functions to visualization app

-  Automated Data Pipeline Implementation. Deliverable is the deployment and full documentation of at least two new, fully automated data pipelines for the sources identified in the Database Enhancement Report

31 Jul 2026

5. Optimization & Enhancement (Enhancing the existing codebase for efficiency and preparing for increased scale.)

-  Code Optimization and Scaling Report. Deliverable must demonstrate a 25% reduction in execution time for the top 5 most resource-intensive scripts, and document the implementation of at least two specific features designed for increased data volume.

31 Aug 2026

6.  On-going country support, update of technical documentation & project finalization (Providing continuous support for analysis, ad-hoc requests, and knowledge transfer)

- Project Finalization and Knowledge Transfer Package. Deliverable includes: (1) Twelve Monthly Support Logs, (2) Final Project Report, and (3) A minimum 1-hour recorded Knowledge Transfer Session with supporting materials.

31 Oct 2026

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s in computer science, data science, geospatial technology, or any other related discipline
• Experience working with Google Earth Engine
• Advanced proficiency in Python

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

A university degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Geospatial Technology, Remote Sensing, or any other closely related quantitative discipline is required.

• Demonstrated 2+ years of professional expertise in geospatial analysis, data engineering, and developing production-ready data pipelines is required.

• Advanced proficiency in Python and its geospatial packages, with a proven ability to write optimized, scalable code and independently debug complex programs is required.

• Expert-level experience in Python-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) programming, including building and deploying complex GEE-based data processing and visualization applications is required.

• Knowledge and experience deploying and managing data processing workloads on cloud-based computing platform (e.g. Google Cloud Platform, Azure) is required.

• Knowledge and understanding of key issues and modeling challenges for climate and environmental data is an asset.

• Strong interpersonal skills with internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent data management skills (beyond basic Excel, including proficiency with data version control and database concepts).

• Knowledge of climate, environment, and disaster risk reduction concepts and frameworks is an asset.

• Familiarity with analytical frameworks and approaches to children and young people’s rights, gender, and inclusion is an asset.

• Fluent in spoken and written English. Additional official UN working languages are a plus.

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.