Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Portfolio Lead

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

30 January 2025-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Berlin)

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website:
WHY JOIN WFP?- WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.- WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.- WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.- A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.- We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Portfolio Lead

TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Consultancy

UNIT/DIVISION:
WFP Innovation Accelerator, INNA

DUTY STATION (City, Country):
Munich, Germany

DURATION:
6 months extendable

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees, entrepreneurs, and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2023, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 60,7 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.


ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent, reporting to the Head of Innovative Finance, Frontier Innovations and Venture Launchpad, is expected to:
Drive the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Strategy Development and Project Portfolio Management: Design the development and implementation of an AI/ML strategy at the WFP Innovation Accelerator and oversee the corresponding project portfolio management, addressing both internal WFP processes, as well as in the context of program delivery in emerging and developing countries:
Develop an AI/ML strategy and set focus areas and priorities to explore where AI can have an impact on humanitarian response and the food systems transformation;

Identify and drive the development of promising AI/ML-based solutions from idea to scaling through the core Accelerator program;

Define key performance indicators and milestones for AI projects and overall portfolio, and assure their implementation, impact measurement, and reporting;

Build collaborations around AI technology, create the methods for accessing potential partnerships, and work with AI Technical Solutions Consultants to ensure that new AI /ML solutions are developed, prototyped and iterated upon quickly.

Act as a project manager to champion specific AI/ML initiatives led by WFP:
This includes supporting Country Office AI/ML pilots related to emergency response, small-holder farmer support, supply chain management, and other areas;

Identifying and supporting opportunities to use AI/ML for internal efficiency and effectiveness;

Champion AI/ML piloting with and/or integration within WFP operations or within other organizations (as applicable), while liaising with internal units such as country offices, procurement and legal, as required.

Provide Technical Advisory & Thought Leadership Services: Advise WFP Country Offices on AI /ML initiatives, AI/ML project advisory and ecosystem trends:
Serve as a AI/ML expert