Intern, Nature Assets Team (NAT)

Background

Organizational Context:

UNCDF, a hybrid development and financial organization, is uniquely positioned in the UN system to collaborate across private and public sectors to build strategic partnerships, co-management frameworks, and deploy various instruments (concessional loans, bonds, guarantees, etc.) as well as technical assistance to incubate solutions and attract private investment. UNCDF recognizes the critical need to catalyze private investment in inclusive and innovative solutions that deliver cross-cutting impacts for sustainable development with a focus on peace, climate adaptation and resilience, food security and nature conservation. 

UNCDF launched a new Strategic Framework for 2022-2025 that offers an ambitious roadmap aimed at unlocking the potential of finance to accelerate SDG-positive achievements for the benefit of the most vulnerable nations. In particular, the new UNCDF Framework highlights biodiversity finance as a severely underfunded climate mitigation solution and propose to apply UNCDF multidimensional capital mandate to mobilize further public and private, international and domestic finance in LDCs through concessional capital deployment, financial advisory and support for the establishment of financing mechanisms and systems that promotes the valuation of the LDC unique natural assets potential.

UNCDF intent is to support LDCs to create an enabling environment for nature-positive pipeline building, investments and market opportunities that create equitable and diversified economic growth. The essence of this transformation is a strategic shift from viewing nature as a resource to treating nature as an asset. This represents a very different view to natural resource investing wherein nature is commoditized for short run gain and its long run economic and nature-based value is not taken into consideration. In order to support this strategic shift, UNCDF is consolidating its growing nature-based portfolio into a Nature Asset Team (UNCDF NAT) based in Kigali, Rwanda. UNCDF’s Nature Asset Team’s objective is to identify solutions, drive investment, and transform markets to promote the protection and enhanced valuation of nature assets. Through UNCDF’s tailored financial vehicles and tools, the Nature Asset Team focuses on scaling-up investment in solutions that place nature at the heart of economic transition to enable long-term resilience and restoration.

Scope of Work:

The Intern role within UNCDF’s Nature Assets Team involves providing vital administrative and programmatic support and facilitating the smooth functioning of NAT. Her/His primary role is to research in anticipation of proposals and project designs across countries and regions and to identify patterns, trends and problem clusters. Provides tactical intelligence support through innovative research techniques to identify elusive data sources, internally and externally.

The Intern plays an essential role in enhancing the team’s productivity and efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of the Nature Assets Team, the Intern will conduct the following tasks:

• Provides substantive support for project coordination and evaluation functions, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends, participation in evaluations or research activities and studies.
• Assists with design of data collection tools; issues data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions.
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated in the MEL framework and in results reporting.
• Ensure the integration of lesson learning into project planning, ensuring that future initiatives benefit from insights gained during the lesson learning process.
• Contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, programme summaries, etc.
• Provides administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposed participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.
• Facilitate regular feedback sessions with project teams to assess the effectiveness of applied lessons and make real-time adjustments to project strategies.

Competencies

Strong Communication Skills: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to effectively convey messages to internal and external stakeholders. This includes the ability to craft clear and compelling communications materials such as press releases, newsletters, and social media posts.

Creativity and Innovation:  

• Creativity and innovation in developing communication strategies and materials. This involves thinking outside the box to generate fresh ideas and solutions for engaging stakeholders and promoting the team’s initiatives.

Interpersonal Skills: 

• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with team members and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders. This includes the ability to build relationships, listen actively, and adapt communication styles as needed.

Organizational Skills: 

• Well-organized and detail-oriented to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively. This includes developing content calendars, coordinating communication activities, and maintaining an asset/story library for the team.

Digital Communication Proficiency: 

• Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms, including social media management, graphic design software, and video editing software.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda and French is an asset.
• 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:
• 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.