WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

Internship – Data Science

Office of Internal Audit

HQ Rome, Italy

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill an intern position in the Office of Internal Audit, based in Rome, Italy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIVISION

The Office of Internal Audit (OIGA) helps WFP accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of governance, risk management, and control processes. The scope of internal auditing encompasses, but is not limited to, assessing the effectiveness, adequacy and application of WFP’s governance, risk management, and control processes as well as the quality of performance with respect to the achievement of WFP’s stated goals and objectives.

In delivering on its mandate, OIGA is committed to take full advantage of data available in WFP for efficient audit, accompany WFP’s digital agenda, and support strengthening data quality, and protection and privacy. It has therefore established a team of Data Scientists, with the objective to develop its Data Analytics tools and applications, and to fully support audit work and embed Data Analytics in OIGA’s methodology and processes. Work is undertaken in close collaboration with the IT Division, functional units, and its data road map.

The main tools used in OIGA to support the Data Analytics activities are:

• Python and R
• SQL-like databases
• Tableau

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Title of Post: Internship – Data Science
• Supervisor: Data Science Team Leader
• Unit: Office of Internal Audit (OIGA)
• Country: Italy
• Duty Station: Headquarters, Rome (in-person internship)
• Duration of internship: 4 – 8 months
• Expected Start Date: Q1 2024

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The intern will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Collaborate with audit teams to understand the information needed.

• Help with the identification of data required for analysis from various WFP data sources.
• Help with the design and implementation of data pipelines (ETL), using SQL
• Help with the design and implementation of data analysis scripts, using Python and/or R.
• Help with the design and implementation of data visualizations, using Python and/or Tableau.
• Perform exploratory data analysis on new sets of data.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme (with at least two years of study) or in a graduate programme from a recognized university OR recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme) from a recognized university;
• University course attendance in the past 12 months.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Knowledge of Python and/or R.
• Knowledge of SQL, or of other databases (e.g. MongoDB).
• Knowledge of data visualization techniques and tools (e.g. matplotlib, ggplot, Tableau)
• Desirable: Knowledge of Machine Learning algorithms and tools.

WORKING LANGUAGES

Excellent written and spoken English is required (proficiency/level C).

SUPERVISION

Under the direct supervision of the Data Science Team Leader, the intern will be provided with close mentoring, guidance, and technical supervision. Other members of the Data Science team will also be involved in helping, guiding, and mentoring the intern. Performance planning and reviews, as well as learning and development discussions, will be carried out throughout the internship.

TRAINING COMPONENTS

Throughout their assignment, WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, WeLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:

• Understand WFP’s goals, and how WFP operates to fight hunger.
• Understand how auditors can leverage Data Analytics to provide assurance on processes and operations.
• Be able to develop indicators for risk identification and detection of anomalies.
• Be able to communicate their results.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

• VA Reference no: 828298
• Closing Date: 19 September 2023 at 11:59pm Rome time

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas, and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Saving Lives

Changing Lives