UNCDF Jobs - 54058- Policy Intern (UNCDF)

Policy Intern (UNCDF)

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

02-Mar-2015

Application Deadline :

26-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months with 3 month renewal

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key result expected is support to the work of UNCDF in the areas of remittances and micro-insurance, as directed by the Director of Financial Inclusion (or any staff of the Division delegated by him), through research, analysis, and support to programmatic opportunities as needed. Specifically, the key activities of the intern will involve the following:

Remittances:

UNCDF has partnered with IFAD in the area of remittances through a joint program over the past 6 years to support the multi-donor Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR) which has pursued four broad objectives through several requests for proposals, a range of advocacy efforts and a strong KM platform : (i) lowering the cost of remittances, (ii) increasing access especially in rural areas and (iii) linking remittances to other financial services, primarily savings but also loan and insurance and (iv) leveraging remittances for productive investments and growing the real economy. Remittances flows were estimated at more than 450 billion USD in 2013, almost three times the amount of ODA, and have proven to be a powerful on-ramp to financial inclusion when recipients are provided the right options to link these proceeds to basic accounts instead of having to cash them out at once. They are also becoming important vectors of diaspora investments in the productive economy in their countries of origin (i.e in the area of agriculture-related investment).

The intern will work in the following areas, under the direct supervision of the Financial Inclusion Director (or any staff delegated by him):

Integrate IFAD’s analytical framework on remittances into UNCDF’s financial inclusion diagnostic and programmatic tool on financial inclusion (called MAP of “Making Access Possible);
Do targeted research and explore funding architecture to harness diaspora remittances flows for productive investments, including in the area of agriculture, with strong potential impact on SME growth in those countries;
Research the positioning of the area of remittances in the up-coming post MDG framework;
Provide ad hoc support to UNCDF programs in the area of remittances.

Micro-Insurance:

UNCDF has developed a long standing partnership with ILO in the area of micro-insurance / inclusive insurance, focused on developing a market development approach to inclusive insurance within the framework of national financial inclusion strategies. UNCDF is planning to expand its cooperation with ILO in that area, building on the results of its existing program.

The intern will work on the following area under the direct supervision of the Director, Financial Inclusion (or any staff delegated by him).

Support the formulation of a new joint program with ILO in the area of inclusive insurance;
Do research and analysis of the main lessons from the previous joint program and reflect them in the new JP;
Help define how the approaches and lessons from the previous JP could be articulated within the broader diagnostic and programmatic tool of UNCDF on financial inclusion (MAP or “Making Access Possible”).

Work Arrangements:

The intern will work a minimum of twenty hours per week unless agreed otherwise with supervisor, and may work in the UNCDF office or telecommute as agreed with her/his supervisor. In the office, work space will be provided, and the intern will have access to a computer whenever possible. While telecommuting, the intern will be responsible for using her own computer. The intern will not be provided with a corporate email.

Competencies

Demonstrated research and analytical capacity;
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;
Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks;
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:

Enrolled in Masters programme in economics, finance, business or public administration or related field.

Experience:

Demonstrated experience, part or full-time, paid or volunteer, in finance, inclusive finance or related fields;
Demonstrated research and analytical capacity;
Excellent computer capabilities.

Language:

Strong writing and speaking abilities in English.

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. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.