JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

The Food Security Portal (FSP), hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), provides data, analytical tools, and evidence to support food security decision-making globally. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and recent shifts in the food security and humanitarian landscape present opportunities to enhance the FSP’s tools, analytical capabilities, and outreach.

IFPRI seeks a senior consultant to provide strategic guidance and support to continued development of the FSP, with a focus on integrating AI tools for evidence synthesis, advancing new AI-based modeling of food insecurity and its drivers, and identifying ways to strengthen engagement with the humanitarian and development partners on food security.

Objectives

The consultant will support IFPRI over the course of three months to:

Conceptualize and provide guidance on the integration of AI-enabled tools into the FSP to improve synthesis and usability of evidence across the platform (including reorganization of the portal as needed).

Contribute to the conceptualization and application of new AI-based modeling work on food insecurity and its drivers.

Identify opportunities to improve FSP outreach and support to development and humanitarian actors.

Scope of work

Key tasks include:

Reviewing existing FSP tools and content and identifying priority areas for AI-based evidence synthesis and intelligent search.

Providing recommendations and conceptual inputs for integrating AI tools into the FSP.

Providing strategic guidance to the design of new AI-based models relevant to food insecurity analysis.

Assessing changes in analytical needs on food security and recommending ways the FSP can improve outreach to better support humanitarian decision-making.

Deliverables

Brief inception note outlining approach and workplan.

Regular guidance to and working with teams to develop and integrate AI tools into the FSP.

Brief memo with recommendations on strengthening FSP engagement with humanitarian and development partners.

Final synthesis note on next steps for the FSP.

Qualifications

Advanced degree or equivalent experience in economics, nutrition, public policy, or a related field.

Demonstrated expertise in food security and development policy.

Familiarity with data platforms, evidence synthesis, and user-facing analytical tools for assessing food security.

Experience working with or supporting development and humanitarian actors.

Excellent writing and communication skills.

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Director of the Markets, Trade and Institutions unit and work closely with the FSP team.

Application Deadline: December 26, 2025