Policy Officer (Data Scientist, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping)

About the role

The World Food Programme (WFP) is hiring an International Consultant (Level I) as Policy Officer for Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) in Kabul, Afghanistan. The consultant strengthens the evidence agenda of the Country Office through innovative analysis, including the development and training of artificial intelligence models tailored to food security and vulnerability, improving the efficiency of VAM analysis and programme targeting. The assignment lasts 6 months with possible extension.

Key responsibilities

• Support periodic updates and maintenance of the VAM geospatial visualization platform (AF Pulse), integrating data from programme, assessment, monitoring, security, operations and supply chain sources.
• Design, calibrate and operationalize a probability model estimating the likelihood of road disruption near conflict events.
• Update, validate, calibrate and operationalize a probability model estimating acute malnutrition levels from admission data and related variables.
• Integrate automated models into AF Pulse to strengthen real-time disaster impact and exposure analysis.
• Propose a replication and scale-up roadmap, document migration to alternative cloud environments, produce an open-source replication toolkit and identify priority countries for adaptation.
• Develop and test geographical-level targeting criteria and models for emergency assistance, resilience, livelihoods and social protection interventions.
• Coordinate and share technical analysis, recommendations and lessons learned to improve the early warning workstream.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in social science, economics, statistics, food security, GIS, data science or a related field; a Master's degree is an advantage.
• At least 3 years of experience in research, data analysis, modelling (including AI model training), needs assessments and/or data and geospatial visualization.
• Fluent English (level C); additional UN language proficiency is desirable.

Required skills

• SQL database administration with tools such as PostgreSQL and MySQL.
• Geospatial information platforms and online publishing (e.g. Tableau, Power BI).
• Authoring analytical products such as reports and infographics.
• Training facilitation and coaching staff.

Applications are submitted only through the WFP online recruiting system, with a CV and cover letter; no fees are charged.