Artificial Intelligence Engineer/ Digital transformation Officer

Organizational Context

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) works with partners to ensure principled and effective humanitarian responses through coordination, advocacy, policy, information management, and financing. OCHA's regional offices deliver core functions in the field. The UN is increasingly using AI and data-driven technologies to enhance humanitarian response, peacekeeping, development, and operational efficiency. This role will support the integration of AI across OCHA's workstreams and operations in West and Central Africa.

Job Purpose

The AI Engineer will support the design, development, deployment, and governance of AI-enabled solutions aligned with UN values. This role contributes to digital transformation initiatives and evidence-based decision-making across programmes and operations. The specialist will assist in integrating AI across OCHA's overall workstream and operational activities, including designing, implementing, and developing Generative AI tools connected to existing regional platforms and datasets. The position will also identify, pilot, and scale innovative technologies to improve humanitarian coordination, information management, analysis, and operational processes in the region.

Responsibilities

The primary purpose is to design, develop, implement, and maintain AI solutions to enhance organizational effectiveness, automate processes, improve analytics, and support innovation within the UN system. This includes exploring and piloting AI tools for rapid dashboard fixes, automated visualizations, AI-generated multimedia products for communications, improved data analysis workflows, and intelligent assistants for productivity. The role promotes innovation, fosters collaboration, and ensures responsible application of emerging technologies for humanitarian action in West and Central Africa. Specific tasks include designing/developing AI/ML models, building predictive analytics, NLP, computer vision, and generative AI applications, developing AI-powered operational tools, integrating solutions into UN platforms, preparing datasets, developing data pipelines, supporting cloud infrastructure, ensuring data governance compliance, monitoring new AI technologies, and contributing to AI strategy development.

Work Experience

Requires a minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in AI engineering, machine learning, or data science. Experience developing AI solutions in international organizations, humanitarian settings, or the public sector is desirable. Proven experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) is necessary. Experience with MLOps, AI deployment frameworks, Python, R, machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn), LLMs, generative AI, APIs, databases, and cloud-native architectures is beneficial. Knowledge of cybersecurity and responsible AI frameworks is also relevant.

Skills

Key competencies include Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Creativity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management, Technological Awareness, Vision, and Working in Teams. Expertise areas include Business Management, Information Technology, and Product Safety. Technical skills involve AI/ML model development, NLP, computer vision, generative AI, data analysis, cloud platforms, and programming languages like Python and R.

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