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 a data analytics intern position in the Office of Internal Audit (OIGA), based in Rome, Italy.
Brief description of OIGA:
As per its charter, Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations.
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.
WFP’s main Enterprise Resource Planning is SAP-based. Other systems are also used by WFP to collect, process, use and report data in support of WFP’s mission objectives. The tools utilized in OIGA to support the analytics activities are mainly SQL-like databases, Python, R, and Tableau.
General Information
- Title of Post: Data Analytics Intern
- Supervisor: Data Analytics Lead, OIGA
- Unit: Office of the Internal Audit, Inspector General and Oversight Office
- Country: Italy
- Duty Station: HQ, Rome
- Duration of internship: four months, with a possibility to extend for further four months
- Expected Start Date: May, 2021
Duties and responsibilities
- Under the direct supervision of the Data Analytics Lead, and in coordination with the IT Audit Manager, the Data Analytics Consultant will be responsible for the following key duties:
- Liaising with audit teams to define and document audit information needs.
- Support with the identification of data required for analysis from operational systems (e.g. SAP).
- Support with the design and implementation of data pipelines.
- Develop and implement scripts for data analysis purposes and automate data validation efforts.
- Perform exploratory data analysis on specific sets of data, formulate and test hypothesis.
- Design and implement data visualizations.
Qualifications and experience
- Currently enrolled with at least two years undergraduate studies completed, or recently graduated (within the past six months) in one of the following disciplines: Data Science, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Management, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
- University course attendance in the past 12 months.
- Knowledge of data models, database design and development, ETL design and implementation, data mining.
- Advanced programming skills with Python focused on ETL implementation and data analysis.
- Knowledge of advanced statistical techniques and concepts, including regression, properties of distributions, and statistical tests.
- Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings.
- Knowledge of SAP, R, and Tableau are considered a plus.
Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate information with attention to detail.
- Ability to understand key economic issues.
- Comfortable in a rapidly changing environment, with competing and shifting priorities.
- Strong communication skills.
Working Languages
Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.
Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)
Under the direct supervision of the Data Analytics Lead, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The IT Audit Manager will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.
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:
- Obtain an overview on how WFP operates to fight hunger.
- Understand how the oversight function can leverage on 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 results.
Other relevant information:
VA Reference no: 141351
Closing Date: 10 April 2021
Please note that the deadline is at 11:59 pm Rome time (GMT + 1)
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.
- In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to WFP premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.
- WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognized 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.
Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
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.