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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office is seeking an individual consultant to offer data science, engineering and provide senior stakeholder, communications and project management support for the activities of EAPRO’s Frontier Data Lab for activities related to GAVI/ Climate Change / Emergencies and WASH. This work is fundamental to the outcomes and outputs of EAP RO’s RAM and is related to the support of the CPD process. Under the guidance of EAPRO’s Regional T4D Manager, the consultant will collaborate closely with regional T4D and program teams, as well as T4D, data, and program teams based in country offices throughout the East Asia and Pacific region and in the future, the wider Asia Pacific Region.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

- Developing, maintaining, and documenting all data engineering pipelines to support the data science and engineering initiatives of the Frontier Data Lab

- Assisting in the creation of data analytics products that enable the dissemination of developed data science models through interactive dashboards and actionable insights.

- Develop data science and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Large Language Models knowledge assets to support capacity and capability with EAP’s CO T4D focal points, CO teams and with governments in the region on developing data products.

- Establishing and maintaining the necessary SysOps and DevOps infrastructure required for EAP’s Frontier Data Lab

- Work with other Fronter Data and Technology colleagues across the wider UNICEF ecosystem on communications and knowledge products, alongside building internal capability within UNICEF.
 

Work assignment, Expected deliverable and Delivery schedule:

The consultancy focuses on five major work packages (mentioned below), including the enhancement and scale-up of existing FDTN products by collaborating with Country Offices and Technology for Development (T4D) team members. The consultant will also work towards improving the team's systems, communication, workflows and infrastructure to deliver projects.

Task 1

The consultant will independently manage project planning, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and execution of two significant work packages to focus on scaling the related data products across EAP, which may include:

a. Evaluation

• Scaling of the Large Language Model evaluation product and infrastructure to tackle external use cases

b. Climate/ WASH:

• Continue to extending the Laos PDR Air Quality model, working on the development of this project to create its own instance for government use, including capacity building workshops

c. Humanitarian / Emergencies:

• Further improve the Automated Situation Report, in preparation for scaling this product for regional use
• Develop this tool to include air quality data within the Automated Situation Report.

d. Health and Immunization:

• Vaccine distribution sense check to identify gaps and weaknesses in distribution plans

Task 2

Beyond scaling existing FDTN products, the consultant will design and develop new pilot products in collaboration with Regional and Country offices, external stakeholders, and colleagues from various sections and project ideas. Independently oversee project planning, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and execution of two major work packages, which may include:

a. Health and Immunization:

• Time travel-based catchment areas for health facilities

b. Climate / WASH :

• Detecting illegal waste disposal

c. Humanitarian/Emergencies:

• Super resolution tool to enhance sentinel 2 open-source imagery
• Detect and measure changes in informal settlement based on satellite images
• Estimating the financial cost of natural disasters
• Establishing data sources and building pipelines to help COs understand the impact of disasters on critical infrastructure

Task 3

Partnering with the Headquarters ICTD Platform and Service Delivery team to complete the migration of our local infrastructure to support scalability and sustainability

Task 4

Expert Assessment and support for ad hoc data requests from the Regional and Country Offices across EAP and in the future Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO).

Task 5

Lead or assist in structuring Frontier Data Lab processes, developing standardized service offerings, and improving communications to enhance delivery and streamline operational processes

List of assignments

Assignment 1: Develop detailed planning for including UXD designs into SitRep and support the final build of the Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Deliverable 1:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing UXD designs into SitRep including updated code and project planning for future scaling (Task 1).

  • Detailing the Vaccine Distribution build process (Task 2)

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 30 November 2025

Assignment 2: Lay the data foundations for an improved model for DPG for Air Quality Model and associated activity and finalise the handover for the Vaccine Distribution Plan.

Deliverable 2:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing the improved Air Quality model including updated code, infrastructure and documentation

  • Set out the Handover for the Basic Vaccine Sense Check

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 30 December 2025

Assignment 3: Develop a robust roadmap for infrastructure management for all projects working with ICTD and start designing the Infrastructure Damage Assessment for Automated SitRep Tool

Deliverable 3:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing an detailed roadmap and handover for ICTD on all infrastructure needs (Task 2)

  • Detailing the design of the infrastructure damage project - project planning, product and technical requirements, pipeline design and cloud infrastructure

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 29 January 2026

Assignment 4: Write a playbook for the running of the Air Quality model for another country and run capacity building initiatives working with the Office of Innovation (OoI)

Deliverable 4:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing the final version of the Air Quality model for another country including final code, pipeline design and cloud infrastructure, visibility and communication activities including blog posts, webinars, trainings and tutorials (Task 1).

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 27 February 2026

Assignment 5: Developing a delivery support package for the scaling the AQI for potential scaling for EAP countries and continue the exploratory analysis for Automated SitRep, the infrastructure damage assessment

Deliverable 5:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing a delivery support package for the scaling of AQI – including exploratory analysis results and pipeline architecture (Task 2) including blog posts, webinars, trainings and tutorials (Task 1).

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 30 March 2026

Assignment 6: Assess the Air Quality model, developing it with another DPG and related communications activities, working with the Office of Innovation (OoI) 

Deliverable 6:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing the analysis for AQI for DPG  (Task 1)

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 29 April 2026

Assignment 7: Create SitRep as another DPG and related communications activities, working with the Office of Innovation (OoI)

Deliverable 7:

A monthly progress report:

  • Detailing the analysis for SitRep for DPG (Task 1)

  • Summary of ad hoc requests and the provided support (Task 4).

  • Detailing the communication efforts (Task 5)

Delivery schedule: 29 May 2026

Duration of Contract:   27 October 2025 – 29 May 2026

Duty Travel: The consultant will be based in the Bangkok UNICEF Regional Office and expected to be present in the office 2-3 days a week for in-person meetings with the Frontier Data Lab and with other regional units due to the collaborative nature of the work. The consultant may also be invited to represent the Frontier Data Lab in regional workshops or meetings.

Duty travel is expected to Country Office upon approval by the Regional T4D Manager.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Minimum qualifications and professional experience

- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or equivalent degree.

- 8 years of relevant experience in Project Management, Data Engineering, Data Management, Data Analysis as well as experience in Data Visualization and Data Science/Machine Learning

• Background combining programmatic knowledge, ability to work across organizational boundaries and technical skills to respond to the organizational needs and functions that technology must support

- Demonstrated experience with writing end-to-end ETL pipelines using pure Python, Databricks, Apache Airflow or similar data engineering toolkits

- Strong experience in Project and Stakeholder Management

- Demonstrated experience designing and developing compelling, and actionable data visualization products using modern data visualization tools like Tableau or PowerBI

- Demonstrated ability to convey insights and key messages from noisy datasets clearly, quickly, and effectively to drive action

- Demonstrated data analysis skills, especially in the social, public, development, or humanitarian sector

- Experience with end-to-end open-source data infrastructure architecture in the Azure cloud environment including Kubernetes, Data Lakes, Postgres,

- Experience with building conversational agents using Large Language Models and GenAI

- Experience using Computer Vision and Deep learning models on Satellite images

• Past exposure to UNICEF, UN or other INGO programmatic areas and experience in applying technical solutions to address programmatic issues

• Proven experience in supporting and coordinating project activities across a large organization and with other international partner organizations across multiple stakeholders

 

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 12 September 2025.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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. 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.