Internship - Geospatial Data Analysis, WCARO, Dakar, Senegal

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the UN agency dedicated to delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. This internship supports the Population Dynamics, Data, & Policy unit in West and Central Africa (WCARO), focusing on research and evidence generation related to population dynamics and sustainable development. The role contributes to addressing regional population challenges and opportunities.

Job Purpose

The intern will provide technical support to the Population Dynamics, Data, & Policy unit, assisting in research and evidence generation on population dynamics and sustainable development in West and Central Africa. This role is crucial for implementing census-related activities and supporting the regional initiative on the centrality of population in development. The intern will contribute to meeting geospatial data needs across UNFPA's mandate areas, including population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and gender, within both development and humanitarian contexts. The position aims to enhance data analysis and visualization capabilities to support evidence-based decision-making and program implementation.

Responsibilities

The intern will develop and implement geospatial databases, data collection systems, and analytics to optimize statistical efficiency and quality. Responsibilities include identifying and interpreting trends using basic machine learning and statistical methods, and developing new approaches for geospatial data management and utilization. This involves generating population estimates, creating online databases, dynamic web maps, and visualization dashboards. The role will lead geospatial analysis for mapping access to sexual and reproductive health services, generate tools to automate analytical processes, and prepare statistical tables and maps for reports. Additionally, the intern will conduct geospatial analysis for climate change vulnerability databases and contribute technical support to the population data portal.

Work Experience

No specific work experience is required for this internship. However, candidates are expected to possess technical knowledge of population dynamics and their relationship to sustainable development, as well as the application of GIS to UNFPA's mandate areas. Familiarity with data processing and analysis software like R, Python, or Stata is beneficial.

Skills

Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail are essential. Technical skills include proficiency in geospatial analysis and data management, knowledge of population dynamics, and experience with data processing and analysis software (R, Python, Stata). Behavioral competencies include integrity, commitment, cultural diversity, adaptability, results orientation, accountability, professional expertise, strategic thinking, and teamwork.

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