Mission and objectives

Mission To create a unique nexus where civil society meets and engages the academy, industry, and government to collectively mitigate risks and make smarter decisions toward more resilient, democratic, and prosperous communities. As a centre of excellence, GCRI excels in research, innovation, and capacity building across enterprise risk and innovation management, addressing the societal impacts of technological disruptions and financial evolution. Uniting experts from economics, finance, policy, and technology, we are committed to building interdisciplinary tools, capacities, and communities for risk mitigation, resilience building, and sustainable development Objectives GCRI’s objectives include: 1. Global Knowledge Exchange: Creating a platform for interdisciplinary discussion and research on risk and resilience, fostering global collaboration among industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and practitioners 2. Standardization and Metrology: Developing and promoting standards and measurement practices to enhance the reliability and interoperability of risk management strategies. 3. Systems Innovation: Building tools, capacities and communities for the development and application of risk management technologies, standards, and innovation ecosystems. 4. Scholarly and Industry Publications: Publishing standards, reports, and scholarly articles to contribute to academic and practical discourse in risk management. 5. Liaison with Global Entities: Engaging with civil society and maintaining technical interactions with international entities to promote a unified approach to risk management challenges. 6. Advanced Study: Investigating fundamental and applied domains related to risk management, including natural and human-induced risks, and developing advanced tools for risk intelligence and emergency management

Context

The Global Risks Index (GRIx) is a pivotal open-source data indexing and reporting tool to quantify and analyze global risks associated with climate change, environmental instability, and socio-economic challenges. Leveraging the Microsoft technology stack—including Dataverse, Azure, Data Factory, Common Data Models, and Power Apps—software engineers play a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining the GRIx platform. This initiative aims to create a scalable, interoperable, and data-driven ecosystem that supports advanced AI/ML models for predictive risk assessment and early warning systems. By integrating diverse data sources and employing sophisticated modeling techniques, GRIx provides actionable insights to policymakers, communities, and stakeholders, fostering resilience and informed decision-making in the face of escalating global risks. Engineering teams are responsible for the overall design and development of GRIx and are at the forefront of creating a comprehensive risk assessment platform. They are tasked with architecting the system, ensuring seamless data integration, developing robust AI/ML models, and maintaining the scalability and security of the platform. These engineers collaborate closely with data scientists, AI/ML developers, and other stakeholders to deliver a unified solution that addresses complex global risks through innovative technology.

Task Description

Leveraging Microsoft’s comprehensive technology stack—including Dataverse, Azure, Data Factory, Common Data Models, and Power Apps—the Backend Development Team ensures the seamless integration, scalability, and robust functionality of GRIx, facilitating advanced AI/ML models for predictive risk assessment and early warning systems. 1. System Architecture and Design Volunteers Needed: 6 Weekly Deliverables: Each volunteer completes one architecture or API development task weekly. Architectural Planning: Design and implement the overall system architecture of GRIx, ensuring scalability, security, and high performance. API Development: Develop and maintain robust APIs using Azure services to facilitate seamless data exchange between backend systems and applications. Database Management: Utilize Dataverse and Azure SQL Database to design, optimize, and manage databases that store and retrieve large volumes of climate and risk-related data. Data Integration: Implement data pipelines with Azure Data Factory to automate multi-source datasets’ ingestion, transformation, and loading (ETL) into Common Data Models. 2. AI/ML Model Integration Volunteers Needed: 6 Weekly Deliverables: Each volunteer completes one AI/ML integration task weekly. Model Deployment: Collaborate with AI/ML Developers to integrate machine learning models into the backend infrastructure using Azure Machine Learning. Data Processing: Ensure efficient processing and data handling for AI/ML models, optimizing for speed and accuracy. Microservices Development: Develop microservices to support modular and maintainable AI/ML functionalities within the GRIx platform. 3. Security and Compliance Volunteers Needed: 6 Weekly Deliverables: Each volunteer implements one security measure or compliance check weekly. Data Security: Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data, including encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. Compliance: Ensure backend systems comply with relevant data protection regulations and industry standards. 4. Performance Optimization Volunteers Needed: 6 Weekly Deliverables: Each volunteer completes one performance optimization task weekly. Scalability: Optimize backend systems for scalability to handle increasing data volumes and user loads. Monitoring and Maintenance: Use Azure Monitor and Application Insights to continuously monitor system performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement necessary optimizations. 5. Documentation and Best Practices Volunteers Needed: 6 Weekly Deliverables: Each volunteer updates one section of technical documentation weekly. Technical Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of backend systems, APIs, data models, and integration processes. Code Standards: Enforce coding standards and best practices to ensure code quality, maintainability, and consistency across the team.

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements