Internship – Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF)

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global organization with 17,000 staff working in approximately 170 offices globally towards supporting governments in developing strong policies, institutions and partnerships to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy.

The Sustainable Finance Hub, an integral part of both the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), is a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives.

The Insurance Facility and Risk Finance (IRFF), a flagship project within the SFH, leads on UNDP’s work in insurance and risk financing as well as delivers initiatives that target the ecosystems of investment actors. Working in 5 key areas: Integrating Insurance into Development, Inclusive Insurance, Sovereign Risk Finance, Insuring Natural Capital and Insurance & Investment, the IRFF will deliver innovative protection solutions in 50 developing countries by 2025. Currently, the facility is operational in 29 countries. We support the development of innovative insurance products and services that are aimed towards vulnerable people and communities while also investing in the long-term transformation of insurance markets. We are working closely with industry partners to deliver policy advice, guidance, tools, methodologies, and networks that boost country and community resilience towards socio-economic, health, climate and other shocks. The Facility’s work goes beyond insurance supply and demand. It examines legislations, regulatory and institutional capacity development, and invests in advocacy, training and education.

Under the guidance of the Deputy team leader, the intern will support the IRFF at the country, regional and global levels, and will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in in-house training opportunities, as applicable;
• Learn the structure, mechanisms, policies and practice areas of UNDP;
• Participate in dedicated trainings and UNDP online learning tools;
• Strengthen effective writing and technical knowledge.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Intern is expected to perform the following tasks:

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of relevant insurance for development and risk finance indicators for all UNDP IRFF programme countries and regions;
• Conduct research and analysis, monitoring and tracking of developments in the area of insurance for development, risk finance, gender, climate change, environment, disasters, including news update;
• Support technical teams on research and analysis for the preparation of concept notes;
• Provide qualitative research on development themes and workstreams of the Facility and analysis of critical development issues across insurance and private sector activities;
• Compile research materials in a systematic way and prepare background briefs/briefing notes, as and when required;
• Provide support on external engagement material production;
• Support and contribute to the reporting and M&E, including notetaking of key meetings, data collection and analysis; archiving; drafting, editing and fact-checking reports; assisting the development of infographics; drafting and publication of resource materials, translation of documents;
• Provide assistance to the organization of internal and external events; support team integration and coordination;
• Assist in other related duties, as required.

Competencies

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Have a keen interest in the work of the UN and the UNDP and demonstrate a commitment to its statement of purpose and to the ideals of the UN;
• Strong interest in, and knowledge of, global development and the work of international organisations;
• Good organizational and time management skills;
• Strong research skills and ability to identify relevant information;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines;
• Detail-oriented way of working;
• Innovative and creative approach to tasks;
• Able to work independently;
• Ability and desire to work in a team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Strong research skills, as well as a solid understanding of sustainable development principles and practices;
• Strong computer skills, particularly in MS Office applications (spreadsheets, data processing and web-editing, database management);
• Proficiency in operating websites and content management systems (CMS) is desirable, including experience with website editing and updates;
• Strong writing skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Applicants to the UNDP Internship Programme must, at the time of the application, meet one of the following requirements:
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (postgraduate degree programme or Master’s programme) and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation;
• Be available full-time for the entire internship duration.

Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required;
• Other UN official languages are a distinct advantage.

Conditions of Internship:

• As of 1 January 2020, Interns may be granted a monthly stipend to cover the costs associated to the internship. The stipend amount varies in each duty station. The amount can also vary depending if a selected candidate receives financial support from a nominating institution, related institution or government.
• All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, or sponsoring government, or institutions;
• UNDP interns are granted annual leave at a rate of 1.5 days per month;
• During the internship period, interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with the UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health before starting the internship. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern;
• The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

How to apply:

• Please upload your resume (not more than 2 pages), cover letter (one page) and transcripts as one PDF attachment;  
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Working arrangements:

• (S)he will work 5 days in the office, with 3 days from home if preferred;
• (S)he will utilize personal laptop and phone for the internship period (unless a laptop is available from the organization);
• No travel is expected. However, in the eventuality it is undertaken, associated costs to be borne by the hiring agency.