Programme Support for Key Innovative Financing Initiatives

In support of the 2022-25 Strategic Plan, UNICEF has launched its Global Innovative Finance for Children (IF4C) Strategy and is ramping up coordinated endeavors to foster and promote the wider use of IF.

As part of this strategy, the Innovative Finance Hub works on two Pathways – Emerging Fundraising, and Innovative Financing, where this internship will sit.

At the Innovative Financing Pathway, we develop solutions around the integration of children in investors’ sustainability and human rights practices, across asset classes (including private and public equities). Our work entails the translation of child rights into policies, recommendations and practices for investors and their investees to respect child rights and simultaneously drive investment with a positive impact for children. Our core project in this regard is child-lens investing, an investing approach to position children in the investor agenda.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

After a comprehensive onboarding, candidates will be expected to perform support functions including:

• Research and analysis: including desktop research around sustainable finance frameworks, consolidation of databases for contacts and pipeline partners; as well as dedicated research support deep-diving in agreed areas of work around child-lens investing (public and private equity investors, regulations, etc.).
• Internal Support: including targeted support to project manager around a variety of topics on child-lens investing, Innovative Finance (i.e: development of Briefing Notes and presentations for senior management and key external events and stakeholders)
• Communications: Coordinate with IF Hub Communications team to align core messaging and deliver timely social media and external outreach when launching new products and reports.
• Team Overall Support: Given the diverse range of projects within the IF Hub, the intern may be called upon to assist with various tasks related to innovative finance, either directly or indirectly, as needed.

Expected Deliverables

• Report of activities supported during 6-month process, including internal support, communications and other support functions as agreed with supervisor.
• Presentation materials, analysis reports, and communication support as requested by the team.
• Research briefs on sustainable finance frameworks, a database of contact and partners, and other research agendas as agreed with supervisor.

Essential Requirements/Educational Background

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme or have graduated within the past two years, in any of the following design disciplines: Finance, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field.
• Previous work experience, including internships, in the finance and/or sustainable finance (ESG, impact investing, etc.) field would be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated interest working with sustainable finance or related field is desirable, including solid understanding of financial concepts, including sustainable finance, impact investing and ESG.
• Strong capacity to work effectively in inter-divisional teams.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as to manage projects.
• Fluency in English is required.
• The candidate must have good interpersonal skills (liaising with people of many different nationalities) and organizations skills.
• The candidate must show commitment to the UNICEF core values of care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability, and sustainability. For more information on UNICEF core values, click here.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Proficiency in any other UN languages is considered an asset (French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese).

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/571655