Background

With its unique capital mandate and focus on least developed countries (LDCs), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) offers innovative finance models and instruments to catalyze larger investments in sustainable development from the private sector, national governments, and development partners. Within its broader economic development mandate and 2022-2025 Strategic Framework, UNCDF supports developing countries, notably LDCs, to supplement existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. Effective and efficient finance – in both the public and private sectors – can spur economic growth and make it more sustainable and inclusive. UNCDF was established through UN General Assembly resolutions as an autonomous organization within the United Nations, hosted by UNDP and with the UNDP Administrator performing the functions of the Managing Director of UNCDF. Day to day responsibility for UNCDF’s operational, administrative, and financial issues is delegated to the Executive Secretary.

With an asset base of nearly US$0.5 billion, UNCDF is growing. This trend is expected to continue to grow. Innovation and SDG-oriented finance initiatives are attracting significant partner interest and providing significant opportunities for scaled partnership between public and private financial actors.

UNCDF’s work is based on two approaches:

• Financial inclusion– New technologies and saving-based approach allowing individuals, households, and small businesses to better participate in the local economic development by providing the tools and financial services they need to escape poverty and manage their financial situations.
• Localized Investments– Thanks to fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal financing and structural financing of projects –, which contribute to promote public and private financing to boost local economic growth and sustainable development.

Under the direct supervision of the Food System Advisor, the intern will assist with research and writing and analytical support for the development of technical and financing tools, and communication material.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide required support to the Food Systems programme team, including those based at regional and country levels, for the implementation of pilot activities and research and writing;
• Support on monitoring initiation phase outputs and monthly progress updates;
• Support the preparation of technical workshop content and documents and support country teams in technical capacity building of city officials in the selected cities;
• Together with the communication team within UNCDF, produce communication material and social media content to share information about pilot activities of the programme;
• Support the programme global team in gathering and analyzing the information and data for programme’s pilot phase activities and achieved results;
• Assist global team in the development and piloting of new knowledge and tools including financing instruments for making food systems more inclusive.

Work Arrangements:

• The intern will be home based.
• The intern will work under the supervision of the UNCDF Food System Specialist and the Food system Team.
• The position is open to candidates from all nationalities.
• Please note that a stipend is paid to the Internship. Please note that UNCDF’s internal rules do not allow the organization to provide compensation for travel and living expenses.
• Please note that interns are not employees of UNCDF.
• The internship conditions are spelt out the internship terms and conditions.

Competencies

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualification:

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

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in finance, economics, international relations or development, environment and climate finance, or closely related field in management or policy;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as 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.

Experience:

• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Some experience in drafting reports, proposals, communication materials a must.
• Some experience in the usage of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

General Internships Terms & Conditions:

• UNCDF Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship Policy Framework and Rules.
• 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 and part-time 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.
• 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.

Application Process:

• 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 Additional Questions section), which is a part of the internship application process, in addition to your cover letter.
• Please submit your Resume/CV and an application using the UNCDF Internship Application form: http://www.uncdf.org/download/file/127/2509/internshipdoc.
• Applications should include the application form and latest resume. Applicants are welcome to submit any additional work samples or portfolios in one single file, preferably PDF.
• Please note that the UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents (CV/ Resume, Cover Letter etc. into a single file before uploading).
• 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.