I.  Background

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, both domestically and internationally, to reduce poverty and support economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty; (2) local development finance, which drives structural transformation of localities through policy and regulatory reform, fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance including project finance to unlock capital flows to the local level; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

UNCDF uses a combination of grants, reimbursable grants, loans, guarantees and technical assistance to support early stage businesses, SMEs, projects, financial institutions and municipal investments. UNCDF’s use of loans and guarantees has been growing and there is now a higher ambition to make better and wider use of these financial instruments. Today the portfolio consists of approximately 25 transactions. UNCDF has also seen a strong increase in demand for its loan and guarantee services from other UN agencies, not least UNDP. In response to the need to deploy different kind of risk tolerant capital, a blended finance impact fund was launched by Bamboo Capital Partners, as the result of a joint initiative between UNCDF and Bamboo Capital. The fund, called BUILD, was incorporated in 2020 and UNCDF made an investment into the Fund in the beginning of 2021, and the Fund made it’s first investment in Q2 of 2021.

UNITLIFE

The UNITLIFE programme is an innovative financing instrument hosted by the UNCDF dedicated to the fight against chronic childhood malnutrition in two priority areas: (a) reducing child stunting and other immediate effects of malnutrition; and (b) closing the gender gap in climate-smart agriculture. UNITLIFE has an innovative financing approach and instruments including, but not limited to developing a voluntary micro-donations platform for payment transactions, leveraging sports events and star power to drive social giving, and devising creative donation matching and revenue sharing schemes with private partners. This is the underlying concept behind the application of innovative finance for UNITLIFE — shaving small amounts off targeted transactions and channel them towards development actions that respond to chronic malnutrition needs in developing countries. The funds raised through these instruments will be directly channeled to funding in high impact and innovative projects addressing the immediate effects and root causes of chronic malnutrition.

Recognizing UNCDF’s expertise in development impact investments and partnerships in digital and traditional financial partners in both the public and private sector, UNCDF has been requested to host the Secretariat function of UNITLIFE in Paris, France in its initial phase of three years.

II.  Objective of the Assignment

Working under the supervision and guidance of the UNITLIFE Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the UNITLIFE Innovative Finance Consultant and Communication Consultant, the  Intern will support UNITLIFE’s strategic innovation mandate by providing high quality research, analysis and content.

III. Scope of Work

1.  Support the deployment of UNITLIFE’s innovation workstream:

• Explore innovation networks, including within the United Nations, and within UNITLIFE’s ecosystem, to build bridges between innovation / accelerator labs, and UNITLIFE
• Explore possible innovations and technologies to be implemented within projects in the UNITLIFE’s project portfolio
• Support the Innovative Finance consultant in identifying companies specializing in areas related to the identified innovations and technologies that could be deployed through UNITLIFE’s programme

2.  Content production and platform management

• Develop high quality documents (i.e., presentations, flyers) to serve interested private and public sector partners
• Lead the online application platform for current project monitoring and for the expansion of UNITLIFE’s project portfolio through a project selection process
• Collaborate with the Communications & Advocacy consultant to manage UNITLIFE’s platforms, including website and social media platforms
• Support the Programme Manager with annual reports, narrative reports and Executive Board reports.
• Manage platforms used for internal operations and ensure efficiency

3.  Community engagement

• Collaborate with the Communications & Advocacy consultant to manage influencers and supporters
• Support the execution of online and offline events
• Identify possible new champions, advocates for the cause and Ambassadors for UNITLIFE
• Conduct SWOT and other required analysis on such individuals, liaise with UNCDF’s and UNDP’s country offices as necessary.
• Research and constantly update the Programme team on awareness campaigns conducted by other actors in the field of malnutrition and food insecurity.

IV. Competencies

Core Competencies

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
• Delivering efficient and high-quality work
• Ability to synthesize a large amount of content
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member

Functional Competencies

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Displays a commitment and understanding of development cooperation issues
• Ability to adapt quickly to new working environments
• Exhibit excellent client engagement and communication skills suitable for working in an international organization
• Strong project and event management skills
• Fluency in web design and/or maintenance would be a plus

V.  Degree of Expertise and Qualification

Education:

Education

• Candidate must be enrolled in a degree programme in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field and should have completed the first 2 years of tertiary education / higher learning;
• Applicants to the UNCDF internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
• (a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
• (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent)
• (c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation

Experience:

• At least 1 internship and/or fellowship experience related to innovation and/or program management and/or data analytics;
• Fully computer literate (including proficiency in database management support, website management platforms, social media, MS Office, etc.);
• HTML and CSS considered an asset;
• Experience in developing high quality presentations;
• Experience in social innovation will be considered as an advantage;
• Experience in a developing country through studies or work will be considered an asset;
• Knowledge and familiarity with research on health and malnutrition, considered an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals from different cultural backgrounds and beliefs which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of different opinions and views.

Language:

• Fluency in both English and French is required.
• Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered a plus.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Full time availability for programme management support duties is essential.

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, durations (month/year), the qualification, as well as contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and include at least  one most recent professional reference from previous employement - supervisor or your Professor.  References may also include peers if possible in which case 1-3 references preferred but not required for this role.
2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him/herself to suitable for the position.

Internships Conditions:

• UNCDF Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship Policy framework and 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 (i.e. Paris, France).
• 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.
• 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. 

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: http://www.uncdf.org/download/file/127/2509/internshipdoc
• 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

General Call for 2022 Internship Applications:  We accept applications from interested and qualified applicants, on an ongoing basis for this UNITLIFE internship opportunity in Paris, France.

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 on ongoing basis as per organizational need.