Partnerships, Policy and Communications Team Intern null

About UNDP

The UNDP, established in 1966, is the largest UN development aid agency helping countries achieve Sustainable Development Goals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture.

Your Role

UNCDF is searching for interns to join their New York Headquarters in the Partnerships, Policy, and Communications Unit, where they'll assist in expanding partnerships and supporting initiatives focusing on blended finance and enterprises in Africa under expert guidance.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Sustainable Finance and Partnerships Specialist in the PPC Unit, the intern will assist in any of the following tasks:

Summary of key functions:

• Support to Strategic advocacy and partnership development
• Support for the creation of new innovative finance vehicles and instruments
• Support to mobilization of core and non-core resources
• Support to effective Internal and External Donor Relations
• Support to the facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Strategic advocacy and partnership development:

• Support the development of corporate strategies tailored to specific donors.
• Support to building and maintaining relationships with the financial sector, private sector investors, and family offices.
• Support for providing strategic advice and policy recommendations to position UNCDF strongly
• Analyze donor trends in the UNCDF funding landscape.
• Define and regularly ‘connect’ UNCDF value propositions in the LDCs in alignment, and when possible, in anticipation of the changing aid architecture and evolving resource mobilization drivers.
• Identification of opportunities for UNCDF programs in its relationship with other UN Agencies.
• Implementation of PCU strategy for partnering with UN Agencies around UNDAF, MDG, and other joint programming for implementation of UN Reform.
• Identification of specific areas for support, building on UNCDF comparative advantages and UNCDF programmatic objectives in the country. 
• Assist in building and maintaining relations with other UN agencies that support the effective implementation of the IF and LDF business plans, with a special focus on joint mobilization of resources
• Provides technical support during negotiation processes at the corporate level (HQ) with key partners (relevant to the new thematic areas such as with the EC, GEF, etc.) 
• Provides timely and professional response to COs requests for support on matters of partnerships-building. 
• Enhances the capacity of UNCDF country and regional offices to pursue and capitalize on strategic partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities.

Support for the mobilization of core and non-core resources:

• Provide effective and efficient support to the Executive Secretary and senior management in the mobilization of core and non-core resources in all aspects of resource mobilization.
• Support and create new partnerships with non-traditional donors, particularly corporations, the investment sector, and the financial sector.
• Specifically, support UNCDF senior management in the mobilization of core and non-core resources through in-depth analysis of donor-specific ODA trends, political and economic developments, aid policies, practices, and budget allocations in specific donor countries.
• Identify and develop opportunities for non-core resource mobilization and advise country offices and headquarters units on appropriate strategies and approaches to seize them.
• Contribute to the development of corporate policies and procedures for core and non-core resource mobilization, including through strategic partners.

 Effective Internal and External Donor Relations:

• Based on in-depth knowledge of national environments, identify targeted interventions to mobilize support for UNCDF and influence positively donor countries’ national budgetary and other decision-making processes.
• Build and maintain UNCDF’s visibility and reputation at relevant financial conferences and investor events.
• Build, nurture, and maintain effective internal and external working relations, including with relevant Representation Offices (Global or local) and Practice Area Leaders responsible for specific donor countries and/or partners in the private sector.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Identification and formulation of lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader CO knowledge management efforts.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Organization and conduct of training on RM and partnership building in the Country Office.

Training & Development

The internship manager is committed to providing the intern with the training, guidance, and support necessary to complete the duties and responsibilities effectively and within the internship period. This will include, but not be limited to, scheduled meetings (weekly) to assess output progress, systems training (where required), and completion of required university reports to meet any necessary Degree requirements.

Benefits

If you join as a full-time employee, you will get the following benefits:

• Settling-In Grant
• Danger Pay
• Extended Monthly Evacuation Allowance (EMEA)
• Language Allowance
• Mobility and Hardship
• Post Adjustment
• Safe Driving Bonus (SDB)
• Uniforms
• Dependency Status and Allowances
• Rental Subsidy
• Standard United Nations Benefits
• Generous Leave Allowances
• Health Insurance
• Vacation and Time off
• Benefit Pension Plan
• Home Leave for International Staff

Career Progression

UNDP invests in the continuous growth of its staff, offering extensive opportunities for career and skill development within the organization and the broader UN system. Employees can set personal career goals through platforms like Fuel50, participate in career labs, receive coaching and mentoring, and engage in on-the-job learning programs. Additionally, UNDP provides specialized training for managers to effectively lead and support the development of their teams.

Work-Life Balance

UNDP promotes work-life balance through flexible working arrangements such as part-time work, staggered hours, telecommuting, and compressed schedules. They prioritize staff wellbeing, creating a caring and enabling environment to support employees through various life events and challenges. By fostering a safe and healthy workplace, UNDP ensures employees can achieve a true sense of fulfillment while contributing to global development.

The internship is for a maximum of 6 months. The internship is a full-time internship and is not paid (however stipend is provided). Interns work five days per week (35 hours).

Culture & Vibe

UNDP has cultivated a culture of trust, high ethical standards, and comprehensive career support, recognizing their work's impact on millions. UNDP's mission is an ambitious one: to lead the United Nations in its fight for a world without poverty, in which women are empowered, inequality is addressed and the planet is protected.UNDP's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, significantly improves the quality of life for those they serve.

About You

Competencies:

Core Values/Guiding Principles:

• Demonstrates consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNCDF in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrates an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff.
• Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.
• Demonstrates an intellectual curiosity and deep desire to learn.
• Demonstrates a consistent commitment to pro-actively helping fellow members of the PPC Unit and UNCDF more broadly in their day-to-day activities to the reasonable extent possible.

Core competencies:

• Demonstrates strong writing skills, particularly the ability to present persuasive, coherent, and well-founded arguments.
• Demonstrates ability to write in a style that is accessible to a broad audience of policymakers, academics, and activists.
• Demonstrates drive to achieve results on time and to seek and find solutions to any problems encountered.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to convert complex and abstract ideas into simple visual concepts.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Must be able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education: 

Candidate must be enrolled in a degree program in Business Administration, Economic Development, Economics, Finance, or another related field.

Applicants to the UNCDF internship program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree program (such as a master’s program, or higher) in food system management, economics, agro-economics  or similar studies, bank and investments;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (such as a bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Desirable Skillset & Experience: 

• Experience creating presentations, creating Excel files, and writing papers that capture complex concepts and put them into simple language;
• Experience in working on finance transactions or creating financial models;
• Experience in a consulting firm or an investment bank will be an added advantage;
• Self-starter; organized; able to multitask, balance multiple responsibilities, and work to deadline.

Additional assignment-specific qualifications: 

• Solid understanding of international development.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is very desirable. Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered a plus.

Application Process:

Please note that the UNDP job site system allows only one uploading of application documents, so please make sure that you merge all your documents (CV/ Resume, Cover Letter, etc. into a single file before uploading).

• In your application, please state in one paragraph why you would like to be considered for the internship and your primary motivation to apply for this role;
• Please note that you will need to answer the mandatory questions on timeframe and availability (under the Additional Questions section), which is a part of the internship application process, in addition to your cover letter.
• Applications should include the application form and the latest resume. Applicants are welcome to submit any additional work samples or portfolios in one single file, preferably PDF.
• Interested candidates can apply at any time indicating the timeframe of their availability in the internship form. However, only those candidates selected for interviews / further assessment by hiring managers will be contacted.

General Internships Terms & Conditions:

• The UNCDF Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship Policy Framework & Rules.
• The maximum internship duration is 6 months.
• Interns are partially financially remunerated by UNCDF. The costs associated with the assignment will be partially supported by UNCDF and the rest to be borne by the nominating institution, related institution, or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, etc. Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out.
• Under the new revised UNDP Internship Policy, UNCDF will provide a modest monthly internship stipend to its interns, in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship Policy. All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern or her/his sponsoring entity/institution. Stipends are available only for full-time/on-site internships at this time.
• Selected Interns must be able to share proof of education enrolment and/ or graduation, medical/health and life/accident insurance, valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out, and be able to provide insurance documentary proof at the time of their selection.
• It is expected that due to COVID-19 restrictions in place, the most- immediate internship assignments will be home-based till the situation in the respective duty station improves.
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNCDF but to complement an Intern’s studies and learning growth.
• There is no expectation of employment at the end of these internships.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• jobs.undp.org
• https://www.undp.org/about-us
• undp.org/human-resources-management/salaries-and-related-allowances
• undp.org/careers/faq
• undp.org/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion
• undp.org/careers/working-at-undp
• youtube.com/@undpcareers7409