Jobs Available at World Food Programme

Responsibilities and deliverables

• This assignment aims to develop a user-friendly, intuitive, and interactive software application and web-based user interface that will enable users to visualize historical outbreak events, run the ARC epidemic risk models for filovirus and meningitis to generate customized views of event catalogs, examine the potential human and financial losses, and guide decision-making through effective visualizations/infographics.
• ARC has documentation that shows how the epidemic risk models for filovirus and meningitis work, and how the corresponding event catalogs are generated using simulations produced by the disease spread models. After the completion of event catalog generation, all model output can be analyzed using the provided R-helper functions in the arcdsm package. The arcdsm package is a collection of functions, data, and compiled code, which provide the following functionality:
• Generate event catalogs for selected countries by running disease spread model simulations for covered pathogens.
• Analyze the event catalogs to obtain the estimated frequency and severity of the covered pathogens (filovirus or meningitis) for selected countries.
• The Consultant is expected to use the documentation and the server infrastructure provided by ARC to develop the application that users can interact with. The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Lead Advisor, Outbreaks and Epidemics, and work closely with other ARC teams and regional partners to develop a web-based application that should specifically allow users to perform the following tasks:
• Visualize historical outbreaks and epidemics event for filovirus (Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease) and meningitis in Africa.
• Visualize countries most at risk for the emergence of filovirus and meningitis events.
• Display the probabilities of experiencing filovirus outbreaks and meningitis epidemics of various sizes in any given year.
• Display losses associated with filovirus outbreaks in terms of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths; and visualized average annual losses.
• Display losses associated with meningitis epidemics in terms of number of districts in alert and number of districts in epidemics; and visualized average annual losses.
• Calculate and visualize the potential disease burden (e.g., DALYs) and the economic losses.
• Calculate and visualize the potential benefits of early outbreak intervention and rapid containment: e.g., reduced disease burden (cases and deaths averted); reduced direct cost of outbreak response (health systems cost-savings); reduced indirect cost of illness (households cost-savings); reduced secondary effects on the economy (sustained investments).
• Estimate the amount of medical countermeasures or other health systems interventions that may be needed under different potential scenarios.

Deliverables

The Lead Software Architect will deliver on the following:

• Provide an inception report that outlines how the incumbent will carry out the development of a web user interface for outbreaks and epidemics risk analytics in the African region.
• Develop an operational web-based application for ARC’s filovirus and meningitis epidemic risk models.
• Report on how the software application was developed (including the software architecture and functional design).
• Document the source code for the software package developed.
• Package the software for easy installation, including creating installation scripts and documenting; and installation procedures.
• Install the software package on a cloud-based server provided by ARC (ARC servers are currently hosted by Amazon Web Services).
• Develop graphical interfaces for selected epidemic risk analytics as defined in the tasks section above, in collaboration with the UI/UX designer, ARC teams, and partners.
• Train the ARC teams on the functionality of the software developed.
• Set up registration and login functionality to ensure that the application is protected from authorized users.

Qualifications and experience required

• Education: The prospective candidate must have at a minimum a master’s degree in computer science or similar relevant discipline with a strong expertise in developing web-based applications with user-friendly interactive interfaces.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated experience in software development, particularly developing web-based user interfaces, with proficiency required for programming languages such as Python, PHP, or JavaScript. The prospective Consultant must have relevant experience in developing similar applications, especially GIS-based applications. Professional software development certifications are an added advantage. Knowledge of mathematical modelling of infectious diseases will be a strong asset.
• Experience working with African countries and regional African public health institutions.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong knowledge of software architecture concepts, design principles and architectural models.
• In-depth understanding of programming languages, frameworks and technologies related to IT systems.
• Ability to design robust, scalable, and high-performance software architectures in line with business needs and objectives.
• Ability to break down complex problems into simpler components and define the interactions between these components.
• Familiarity with geographical information systems datasets and basic web-based mapping.
• Ability to manage projects and deliver in a fast-paced environment.
• Critical thinking and strong communication and presentation skills.
• Experience working in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.

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Responsibilities and deliverables

• This assignment aims to turn the software application for outbreaks and epidemics risk analytics into easy-to-use, intuitive, and visually appealing digital interfaces. ARC aims to enable users to visualize historical outbreak events, visualize the potential human and financial losses caused by epidemic-prone diseases, and visualize the potential benefits of early outbreak intervention and investment.
• The Senior UI/UX Designer will work under the supervision of the Lead Advisor, Outbreaks and Epidemics, and work closely with the Lead Software Architect in charge of developing the web-based software application for epidemic risk analytics, as well as other ARC teams and regional partners that should specifically allow users to perform the following tasks:
• Visualize historical outbreaks and epidemics event for filovirus (Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease) and meningitis in Africa.
• Visualize countries most at risk for the emergence of filovirus and meningitis events.
• Display the probabilities of experiencing filovirus outbreaks and meningitis epidemics of various sizes in any given year.
• Display losses associated with filovirus outbreaks in terms of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths; and visualized average annual losses.
• Display losses associated with meningitis epidemics in terms of number of districts in alert and number of districts in epidemics; and visualized average annual losses.
• Calculate and visualize the potential disease burden (e.g., DALYs) and the economic losses.
• Calculate and visualize the potential benefits of early outbreak intervention and rapid containment: e.g., reduced disease burden (cases and deaths averted); reduced direct cost of outbreak response (health systems cost-savings); reduced indirect cost of illness (households cost-savings); reduced secondary effects on the economy (sustained investments).
• Estimate the amount of medical countermeasures or other health systems interventions that may be needed under different potential scenarios.
• The Senior UI/UX Designer is responsible for all the ergonomic aspects of the outbreaks and epidemics user interface, by creating designs that look visually appealing and contributing to a positive and efficient user experience. The UI/UX Designer will deliver on the following:
• Report: Provide an inception report that outlines how the incumbent will carry out the development of the digital interfaces for outbreaks and epidemics risk analytics in the African region and the development of UI mockups. User Research: Conduct thorough user research to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points. Utilize findings to inform design decisions.
• Wireframing and Prototyping: Create wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize and communicate design concepts. Iterate on designs based on feedback and usability testing.
• Visual Design: Develop high-quality visual designs for selected epidemic risk analytics that align with the tasks described in the section above. Choose appropriate color schemes, typography, and imagery to enhance the overall aesthetics. Use a popular modern front-end JavaScript framework such as React or Vue.js.
• Interaction Design: Define user interactions and experiences, ensuring a seamless and intuitive flow throughout the product. Focus on enhancing usability and accessibility.
• Usability Testing: Plan and conduct usability tests to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement. Analyse results and iterate on designs accordingly.
• Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment between design and technical requirements. Participate in agile development processes.

Qualifications and experience required

Education:

• The prospective candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field with strong graphic user interface design expertise.

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of demonstrated experience as a UI/UX Designer. Knowledge of infectious disease outbreaks and other health emergencies and experience working with African countries and regional African public health institutions are an added advantage.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of front-end development technologies.
• Knowledge of wireframe tools.
• Proficiency in design software.
• Ability to manage projects and deliver in a fast-paced environment.
• Team spirit; strong communication skills to collaborate with various stakeholders.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Head of Gender Unit, the incumbent will support the implementation of the ARC Gender Strategy in the following areas:

• Assisting in the coordination of the Gender and DRM Platform: provision of administration, communication and logistics support to the gender & DRM platform through the establishment and updating of membership profiles, moderation of discussions on the virtual platform, development and dissemination of summary discussions of the platform, preparation of logistics for face to face meetings of the Platform etc
• Monitoring and Evaluation: work closely with the M&E unit of ARC to collect and analyse gender disaggregated data for gender transformative progress tracking of ARC interventions.
• Contributing to knowledge development: Provide research assistance, including developing and managing relevant data bases, to consultants and partners working on studies, gender analyses, policy briefs and researches with relevant and updated qualitative and quantitative data available on the subject matter.
• Supporting policy dialogue and advocacy: Including liaising with ARC’s communications staff, contributions to the ARC website, assisting on social media,co-facilitating relevant events on advocacy for a gender sensitive policy environment in disaster risk financing.
• Providing administrative support as needed, to the Gender Unit, including accounting, HR, logistics and related duties. Perform other related duties as requested by Senior ARC staff

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in one or more of the following disciplines: gender studies, social sciences, international development, agriculture, development economics, or other relevant field. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Experience:  A minimum of five (5) years post graduate professional experience is required.
• Language: Fluency in English is required with a working knowledge of French.  Working knowledge of another AU official language –Arabic or Portuguese – is an added advantage.
• Knowledge: Strong writing, research and analytical skills.  Strong computer skills, including excellent skills in word processing, excel spreadsheet, presentation, database and other standard software packages and systems.

Desirable Skills & Knowledge:

• Knowledge of disaster risk management and financing issues
• Committed to learning about and contributing to addressing gender differential impacts of Disaster Risk Management and Financing
• Strong analytical research, writing and communication skills.
• Independent and motivated self-starter and quick learner
• Ability to complete tasks on time and uphold ARC standards for high quality output without constant supervision.