Internship Opportunity with the Partnerships, Policy and Communications Team (UNCDF) – under the Partnerships Team

Background

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector.  By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders.  UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

•                     Sub-national and local infrastructure financing

•                     Women owned enterprise financing

•                     Nature and climate financing

•                     Energy and decarbonization finance

•                     Sustainable food systems financing

•                     Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs).
 
UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.
 
UNCDF pursues innovative financing solutions through: (1) financial inclusion, which expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the local economy, while also providing differentiated products for women and men so they can climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; (2) local development finance, which shows how fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion, women’s economic empowerment, climate adaptation, and sustainable development; and (3) a least developed countries investment platform that deploys a tailored set of financial instruments to a growing pipeline of impactful projects in the “missing middle.’’
 
UNCDF is seeking an intern to be part of the Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit (PPC) in its Headquarters located in New York, United States. Working under the guidance and supervision of the Sustainable Finance and Partnerships Specialist in the PPC Unit, and working closely with PPC staff, the intern will support the ongoing workplan and goals of the unit, including but not limited to expanding partnerships; preparing briefs for high level meetings; supporting the launch of major initiatives on blended finance and enterprises in Africa; and building and maintaining a base of knowledge about Member States. 
 
The internship manager is committed to providing the intern with the training, guidance and support necessary to complete the below 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 for the purpose of meeting any necessary Degree requirements.

Duties and 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 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 facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

1. 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 with a view to positioning 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 programmes 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 country.
• Assist in building and maintaining relations with other UN agencies that support the effective implementation of the IF and LDF business plans, with special focus on jointly 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 capacity by UNCDF country and regional offices to pursue and capitalize on strategic partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities.

2. Support to 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.

3. 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 locally) and Practice Area Leaders responsible for specific donor countries and/or partners in the private sector.

4. 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 trainings on RM and partnerships building in the Country Office.

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 difference 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 in timely manner 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 programme in Business Administration, Economic Development, Economics, Finance or another related field.

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 food system management, economics, agro-economics  or similar studies, bank and investments;
• 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.

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 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).

• 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.
• 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:

• 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 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.