Public Data Sources Structuring and Automation for Public Health Intelligence
Organizational Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations' directing and coordinating authority for public health. WHO aims to promote health, ensure universal access to health, safeguard global health security, and support vulnerable populations through collaborative partnerships. This role supports WHO Egypt's efforts to enhance public health intelligence by improving data management and analysis capabilities.
Job Purpose
The Online Volunteer will contribute to the design, automation, and enhancement of data pipelines and analytical workflows. This involves organizing diverse public health data sources, developing automated processes for data retrieval and updates, and improving documentation for better data consistency and reproducibility. The ultimate goal is to strengthen WHO Egypt's capacity to utilize reliable, up-to-date information for effective public health analysis, monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making, thereby improving public health outcomes.
Responsibilities
The online volunteer will support the structuring and automated retrieval of public data sources essential for public health intelligence workflows. Key tasks include assisting in the design and maintenance of a clear folder and file structure for data from multiple public sources. Additionally, the volunteer will support the development of R scripts to automate the downloading and updating of data from a defined list of sources. Key deliverables include at least two functional R scripts for automated data retrieval and updates, and a comprehensive source documentation sheet detailing update frequency, access methods, and known issues for each source.
Work Experience
Experience is required in R Programming and Automation, specifically writing scripts to fetch, store, and update data from web sources or APIs. Experience in data organization, including structuring files and folders for reproducible, multi-source data work, is also necessary. Familiarity with public health, surveillance, or open government data sources is desirable.
Skills
Proficiency in R Programming and Automation for data retrieval and updates. Skills in data organization and file structuring for reproducible research. Familiarity with public health data sources or open data initiatives is advantageous. Strong command of English (fluent) is required.