Enhance Optimization Consultant

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Ensuring a diverse and healthy diet for our growing world population through sustainable food systems is one of the greatest challenges of our times. This is particularly true in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where undernutrition remains a major problem due to diets that are often not diverse enough lack adequate protein quality and micronutrients and may also be insufficient to meet energy needs. Furthermore climate change and shocks also affect food systems affecting diets and requiring diverse adaptations. Food supply and demand challenges encompass the linkages between health food purchasing power and the environment. Food and diets have a direct impact on human health and environmental sustainability.

Providing an increasing population with diets that address multiple urgent prioritiesnutrition affordability adaptation to climate change as well as the need to mitigate agricultures contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) biodiversity loss soil erosion freshwater depletion zoonosis antimicrobial resistance and other areas of public health and ecological concernwill require the development of long-term and context-appropriate strategies for the different components of the entire food system. It is essential to acknowledge that transitioning to sustainable healthy diets might lead to an increase in GHG emissions in LMICs making it crucial to balance environmental and nutritional objectives.

The Enhance project envisions the use of analytics to address the challenge of achieving an affordable healthy diet whilst limiting the environmental impacts. Enhance aspires to be an open-access platform for data-analysts and policymakers that brings together data from different domains to compare dietary scenarios for their different impacts. Multi-objective linear optimization will allow users to explore synergies and trade-offs between cost environmental impact dietary preferences and nutrient adequacy of dietary scenarios generating evidence to inform actions and policies for food systems transformation.
The Enhance platform is being developed in collaboration with Capgemini (Netherlands) the Zero Hunger Lab of Tilburg University and Johns Hopkins University. Each partner brings a combination of specific subject matter knowledge data science and/or end-user expertise and platforms as well as specific capacity to work on the solution.

The first version of Enhance was piloted in 2023 and a version ready for external users is under development with the objective of being rolled out in 2025. To support this exciting project Enhance is looking for a consultant to join the product development team and support the development and integration of the solutions optimization algorithm in collaboration with WFP ZHL and Capgemini. The consultant will be expected to contribute to the project as a member of the Enhance project team. Therefore the consultant should ensure overlap of work hours between Western Europe and their location.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support the development and rollout of the Enhance optimization algorithm including:
a. Fully incorporating the new multi-objective optimization algorithm in Enhance;
b. Testing and validating new features to ensure quality consistency and the alignment with business requirements specifically of the new UI planned as part of Version 2;
c. Developing and maintaining the data pipeline of the platform and contributing to the development of the data infrastructure to facilitate data input and output processing for Enhance;
d. Producing documentation guidance materials (user manual) and peer-reviewed publication as it relates to the optimization algorithm platform and its uses.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

Updated Enhance software platform with multi-objective optimization functionality fully integrated;
Documentation of code and features of Enhance for users and developers;
Peer reviewed article on Enhance drafted for publication

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Master in the field of Operations Research Management Science Business Analytics or Data Science.

Experience:

Required
At least 3 years of work experience in the area of data science is required. Work experience related to linear programming.

Desirable
Previous experience with consultancy-type activities (e.g. business analysis process mapping data extraction and analysis presenting to senior management etc.)
Prior experience with the development of data pipelines (e.g. ETL APIs etc.) Previous experience with research and/or academic work
Prior experience working with governments UN agencies and/or NGOs desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

Required

Prior knowledge and understanding of mathematical optimization methods such as linear programming
Strong and proven coding proficiency in Python.
Ability to work in a team with Agile SCRUM methodologies.
Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to perform in a multi-functional and multi-cultural team.
Strong analytical abilities (quantitative and qualitative) with the ability to think outside the box.
Ability to evolve fairly independently and take initiatives where relevant. Committed and motivated to achieve the objectives of WFP.

Desirable
Prior experience with the use of PuLP Git and AWS is a plus.

Languages: Verbal and written fluency in English

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