UNCDF Jobs - 51148- Intern, Communications and Advocacy, UNCDF

Intern, Communications and Advocacy, UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

17-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

07-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six (6) months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives. UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyze larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Millennium Development Goals.

The Better Than Cash Alliance is an alliance of governments, private sector and development organizations committed to accelerating the shift from cash to electronic payments.

Billions of dollars in cash payments are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare and relief, payments to suppliers, etc. The problems with these cash payments include a lack of transparency, accountability and security, as well as inefficiency. Furthermore, the individuals who receive the cash are excluded from the formal financial sector. There were approximately 2.5 billion people excluded from the formal financial sector in 2012.

Shifting these payments from cash to electronic has the potential to improve the livelihoods of low-income people by advancing financial inclusion and enabling people to save, while giving governments, the development community and the private sector a more efficient, transparent and often safer means of disbursing payments.

The Better Than Cash Alliance seeks to leverage the leadership of governments, the networks of development organizations and the expertise of the private sector in payment technologies to replace the use of cash in their programming and payment streams with electronic payments, where appropriate. It also seeks to build the financial capability of low-income clients who will benefit from electronic payments and a wider range of financial services.

The Better Than Cash Alliance:

advocates for the use of all forms of electronic payments where they provide a preferable payment option to cash;
collaborates with program partners to mobilize available technical expertise and resources to identify and implement the most effective approach to make the transition from cash to electronic payments; and
conducts research, documents good practices and produces knowledge products to address the barriers to adoption and drive the effective shift from cash to electronic payments globally.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Policy Specialist (Advocacy), the intern will help to:

Track news and resources on digital payments, including the following:

Monitor global electronic media such newspapers, magazines, blogs, e-platforms on topics of interest such as electronic payments, mobile money for development, financial inclusion, ICT for development, ICT and gender, anticorruption and transparency;
Prepare a daily digest of pertinent articles in English;
Suggest articles for BTCA’s social media networks and resources for Newsletter;
Create and manage the mention and feedbin research tools;
Conduct research on specific topics as and when needed, and prepare a short report on the basis of this research;
Track proof points to be used in BTCA message platform;
Update media contact database based on the daily digest, identify media, editors and journalists who have an interest for the topic, research their contact and document their interest.

Support in communications and social media outreach

Monitor the BTCA website and help to update it with new content using Word Press content management system;
Support in creation of content and design for the new website;
Support in maintaining lists and tracking influencers on Twitter;
Support in the design and implementation of a ‘Photographer Roster’;
Support in activation of BTCA’s presence on Flickr. This would include the following tasks:
Create and manage of the Flickr account, photo archives, sets and collections;
Develop photo essays on Flickr for the website, social media and the newsletter;
Manage BTCA’s photo archive on the shared drive;
Develop a plan to generate new photos from different events;
Research and support for the creation of digital content like videos, factographics and infographics for Youtube, Twitter, Vinevideos and the BTCA website;
Support in developing BTCA’s presence on LinkedIN;
Support in updating BTCA’s Youtube account on a weekly basis. This would include the following:
Review of videos on Financial Inclusion and Digital Payments;
Select the most interesting video, film or clip on a weekly basis;
Update the video on the youtube channel as ‘video of the week’.

Support for advocacy efforts

Undertake research about BTCA’s priority countries and relevant issues;
Support drafting of talking points, correspondence, meeting notes, background briefs etc.;
Assist with scheduling of missions, country visits and event coordination.

Work Arrangements

The intern will work full-time in the UNCDF office, or, in certain circumstances, will be allowed telecommute as agreed with the supervisor. In the office, work space will be provided, and the intern will be provided access to a computer. While telecommuting, the intern will be responsible for using his/her own computer. The intern will not be provided with a corporate email account.

Competencies

Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skills;
Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
Able to take initiative and work independently, with minimum supervision;
Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
Commitment to UNCDFs vision, mission, and strategic goals.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Must be enrolled in a Masters or advanced University degree programme and have valid work permission for the United States.

Experience:

Experience in communications desirable;
Proficient in using new technologies, web-based platforms and social media networks is a plus;
Familiar with financial inclusion issues or international development
Self-starter, organized, able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities.

Language:

Fluent in English;
Knowledge of French or Spanish would be an additional asset.

Conditions:

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNCDF. The costs associated with the latter must 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 (i.e. New York, USA). Have medical and life insurance;

The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNCDF but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
Please submit your Resume/CV and an application using the UNCDF Internship Application form: http://www.uncdf.org/sites/default/files/internship.doc.