SDG Impact is part of the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), working to accelerate private sector contributions towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Its objective is to help businesses and investors embed sustainability at the core of management decisions and direct capital to where it can make the most difference to people and planet.

Through the SDG Investor Maps, UNDP provides market intelligence to the private sector seeking to direct capital to emerging markets where development needs and policy priorities converge. The SDG Impact Standards guide the private sector make management decisions to optimize interrelated economic, social, and environmental impacts.?The upcoming SDG Impact Assurance Framework and SDG Impact Seal recognizes adopters of the SDG Impact Standards who are more likely to be contributing positively to sustainability. 

The findings of the SDG Investor Maps are publicly accessible on the SDG Investor Platform, and SDG Impact Standards for four asset classes are available for independent use via the SDG Impact website.

In the Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific (RBAP), SDG Impact works closely with the UNDP Asia Pacific SFH to support UNDP Country Offices (COs) in implementing its tools in synergy with other global and regional SDG financing engagements, especially within the context of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), Climate Finance and Gender, among other regional programmes. In order to strengthen this delivery, SDG Impact and the RBAP SFH seek the contributions of an intern.

The overall purpose of the internship is to support the regional SDG Impact and SFH team in the development and implementation of SDG Investor Maps across Asia-Pacific as well as raise awareness about the SDG Impact Standards among public and private stakeholders across the region.

Under the direct supervision of the SDG Impact Specialist for APAC, the intern’s specific responsibilities include:

Investor Maps:

• Assist in quality assurance of the SDG Investor Map’s market intelligence in line with the standard methodology.
• Contribute to the publication of market intelligence, and complementary information, on the SDG Investor Platform.
• Support research and analysis of the identified policy gaps that deter private sector participation in SDG investments.
• Assist in drafting plans for post-SDG Investor Map activity planning at a country office level.
• Consolidating the stakeholder maps identified by country-level SDG Investor Map development teams in the region into a basic database.

SDG Impact Standards:

• Support preparation and conduct of awareness-raising activities for UNDP’s internal and external stakeholders to increase awareness and adoption of SDG Impact Standards- the only management decision-making standards in the market that is focused on embedding sustainability as part of core decision making.
• Accompany and contribute to SDG Impact Standards workshops, especially regarding stakeholder coordination, management of logistics and coordination as per arising needs.
• Assist in the mapping and documentation of enterprise and fund examples from UNDP programme database that matches the SDG Impact Standards.
• Database management for outreach efforts in the region using a basic CRM [Client Relationship Management] template.

Functional

• Self-starter, proven ability to work independently and in an entrepreneurial setting.
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under pressure and short deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to coordinate well with UNDP partner agencies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications.
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in and outside UNDP.
• Respectful of the mandates and roles of different partners, particularly government supported institutions and is able to build and sustain productive and mutually beneficial partnerships.   

 Core

•  Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.
• Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner.
• Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict.

Academic Qualifications - Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Skills & Experiences

• Knowledge of international development, SDGs, and commitment to sustainable development required.
• Proven capacity in research and data analysis required.
• Concise writing skills required.
• Strong computer application user skills required.
• Demonstrated interest in SDG financing, especially market intelligence and IMM, required, and basic exposure preferred (for example through the completion of the IMM for SDGs course).
• Understanding of African economic dynamics on the country and regional level preferred. 
• Knowledge of using Content Management Systems (CMS) preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Working knowledge of additional languages, especially French and Spanish, preferred.