UNCDF Jobs - 60595- Intern: Partnerships, Policy and Communications (U

Intern: Partnerships, Policy and Communications (UNCDF)

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 to 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.

UNCDF supports microfinance institutions, banks, cooperatives, and money transfer companies to ensure that suitable financial products(savings, credit, insurance, payments, and remittances) are available to individuals - notably the 'unbanked' - and micro-enterprises as well as small and medium enterprises, at a reasonable cost, and on a sustainable basis, to overcome economic shocks, ensure smooth consumption, and provide educational and entrepreneurial investments to enable the transition out of poverty. UNCDF also hosts the Better Than Cash Alliance with the objective to promote the use of digital payment systems for gains in transparency, cost effectiveness, and outreach. UNCDF also works to ensure that people in all regions and localities can access investment resources, whether public or private, in order to benefit from growth.

UNCDF’s work aims at mobilizing domestic resources to support local economies and service delivery through, inter-alia, fiscal decentralization, climate finance, women's economic empowerment and financing of infrastructure projects. UNCDF’s focus is on strengthening public

Financial management and local revenue, improving the quality of public and private investments and promoting innovations at the local level.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will be part of the Partnerships Policy and Communications (PPC) Unit of UNCDF. The Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit is responsible for implementing the UNCDF Partnerships, Policy Communications Strategy and plans and its components, namely:

Strategic Partnerships and External Relations with donors, development partners, the UN System, the media and the general public, increasing awareness and support for UNCDF’s work in the two practice areas: Local Development Finance and Inclusive Finance;
Resource Mobilization: with primary responsibility to raise core and supporting programme units, regional and country offices in mobilizing non-core (earmarked, thematic or other) resources. PPC provides the tools and services that enhance UNCDF´s institution-wide capacity to identify and capitalize on resource mobilization opportunities, including donor intelligence, quality assurance support to funding requests and donor reporting, and advice and support as regards contribution agreements with donor development partners;
Executive Board Relations;
Strategic Policy and Analysis and Business Development;
Communications and Branding includingimproving internal and external communications through web-based tools (website, intranet), events, publications, new media initiatives, etc.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Partnerships, Policy and Communications, the intern will provide support to the implementation of the Partnerships, Policy and Communications workplan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Partnerships

Support in researching potential new partners, including corporations, non-profits and individuals, for UNCDF programmes and activities as well as its advocacy campaigns and initiatives; this includes analysis of data and funding flows and trends, tracking news and policy statements that impact development cooperation;
Support in editing partnership documents, such as agreements and proposals;
Support in planning corporate events, such as side events, the LDC Seminar Series, to cultivate new partners and continue engaging current partners;
Fielding general partnership inquiries for UNCDF and its programs and assisting in outreach and marketing to prospective partners;
Support in coordinating data entry into the Donor database and the Reporting portal;
Providing administrative and strategic support to the Head of PPC as needed; and
Other duties as assigned.

Policy

Provision of effective support in the preparation, planning, implementation of meetings related to different corporate initiatives, such as donor consultations, side events, the Post-2015 discussions;
Research on economic trends in LDCs and key development challenges impacting local development and financial inclusion including those related to climate change, food security, and women’s empowerment.

Research and donor intelligence

Collect and analyze information, policies of new and emerging development partnersas well as material from external sources (including from other UN agencies);
understand each country’s approach to international development assistance and cooperation in developing countries;
understand these countries’ approaches to collaboration with other donors and funding agencies/organizations; and,
Highlight any new trends and major differences among the emerging economies; and,
Conduct research and analysis on growth indicators of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)looking at the constraints and opportunities for growth.

Statistical Analysis:

Collect and analyze donor information with potential impact to funding projections;
Contribute to improvement of corporate tools related to resource mobilization.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF;
Ability to work as part of a team in a constantly evolving work environment.

Functional Competencies:

Ability for problem-solving, multi-tasking, meet deadlines and work under pressure, strong follow-up skills;
Excellent organizational, general administration, time management skills.

Technical Competencies:

Proven understanding of international development and multilateralism particularly the UN;
Excellent analytical and data handling capability;
Good understanding and experience in current knowledge management technologies;
Demonstrates strong computer skills and ability to produce information visually.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Currently enrolled in or possessing a Master’s degree in economics, public policy, public or business administration or related field. A strong background in economics is preferred.

Experience:

Background in public administration, international relations and knowledge of current development issues is an asset;
Experience working on partnerships is an asset;
Experience working in or with developing countries is an asset;
Knowledge of the UN work environment is an advantage;
Proficiency in MS-Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is required.

Language:

Fluent in English;
Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an advantage.

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);
Interns must 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.