Background

The UN Reform Resolution tasks UNDP to provide countries with an “integrator function” to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by tackling multiple interlinked and interdependent development challenges. The UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the SDGs and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. Anchored in the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the GPN has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

An SDG Integration Team located with UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN) offers a menu of services emphasizing direct short- to medium-term engagements to respond rapidly to requests from country offices for support on national implementation and monitoring of integrated policy solutions, qualitative and evidence-driven analysis for accelerated progress, and knowledge sharing and upscaling of innovative approaches to sustainable development. The team’s work emphasizes the application of evidence-driven data and analytics for SDG implementation and reporting.

In this regard, advances in digital technology are creating data at unprecedented levels of detail and speed, turning the stories of people’s lives into numbers every minute of every day, across the globe. An important focus of the integration work is to complement traditional data (e.g., national statistics, NHDR like analysis) with new and alternative sources including digital ‘breadcrumbs,’ satellite data, social media to identify emerging trends and gain new perspectives on issues in development.

Under the guidance of the Global Policy Advisor of the SDG Integration Bureau for Policy and Programme Support/Global Policy Network, the Data and Analytics Interns will support the Integration Team’s within three workstreams, including (1) Economic Modelling, (2) Statistical Data Analysis, and (3) Geospatial Data.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

In the cover note, candidate should indicate the track they are interested in:

  • TRACK 1: ECONOMIC MODELLING
  • TRACK 2: STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS
  • TRACK 3: GEOSPATIAL DATA

TRACK 1: ECONOMIC MODELLING

  • Assist in analysing recent and on-going changes in development policies
  • Building econometric models to assess the impact of various development policies on the specific outcomes
  • Procuring and adding micro and sectoral data to existing databases
  • Perform micro and/or macro econometric analysis using R, Stata or Python packages
  • Develop structural econometric and general equilibrium models
  • Help draft a summary report and policy recommendations

 

TRACK 2: STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

  • Using automated tools to extract data from primary and secondary sources
  • Removing corrupted data and fixing coding errors and related problems
  • Collect and analyse socioeconomic data
  • Using statistical tools to identify, analyse, and interpret patterns and trends in data sets that could be helpful for the diagnosis and further analysis
  • Create visualisations using Tableau, Power Bi, Flourish, and D3

 

TRACK 3: GEOSPATIAL DATA

  • Perform tasks associated with geospatial data management and curation;
  • Develop scalable and efficient geospatial data processing pipelines using python language and industry standard open-source tools and software libraries;
  • Conduct geospatial analysis (raster and vector based) using standard tools and libraries in python language;
  • Create and publish interactive maps using desktop and web-based tools.

 

Competencies

Candidate should have the following competencies:

  • Self-starter, organized, independent and reliable
  • Able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities

Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to differing opinions and views

Required Skills and Experience

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic 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.
  • (d) be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Education

TRACK 1: ECONOMIC MODELLING

  • Preferred fields of study: Economics, Public Policy, Development, Social Studies or related fields.

 

TRACK 2: STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

  • Preferred fields of study: Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Data Science or related fields.

 

TRACK 3: GEOSPATIAL DATA

  • Preferred fields of study: Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Intelligence, Remote Sensing, Data Science, Computer Science,  Public Policy or related fields.  

 

Experience

TRACK 1: ECONOMIC MODELLING

  • Experience conducting primary/secondary data collection to measure and assess socio-economic impacts
  • Experience conducting analysis on multidimensional development challenges using quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Experience with macroeconomic or microeconomic analysis including policy scenario analysis
  • Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national/sub-national levels
  • Experience reviewing/analysing data from developing regions

TRACK 2: STATISTICAL DATA ANALYSIS

  • Computer literate in standard software applications (i.e. MS Word, Excel, Power Point) and SPSS, Stata, R, Python or a similar statistical package
  • Experience working with surveys and unstructured text data
  • Familiarity with publicly available socio-economic datasets related to energy, climate change, education, health and other development areas
  • Excellent analytical, writing and quantitative skills

 

TRACK 3: GEOSPATIAL DATA

  • Experience with using Python for geo-processing
  • Experience with various GIS data formats and processing libraries (GDAL, rasterio, numpy, shapely)
  • Experience compiling and standardizing geospatial datasets in a data pipeline
  • Experience with desktop GIS software such as QGIS
  • Basic experience with PostGIS spatial database
  • Familiarity with publicly available geospatial datasets related to development
  • Basic knowledge in using cloud-based solutions to manage geospatial data (Azure)

 

Languages

  • Excellent English language skills.
  • Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

  • Conditions of internship

    Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarize themselves with prior to applying:

    • UNDP HQ will provide a stipend in the amount of USD 1,000 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship Policy;
    • Any further costs associated with the internship 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 or her arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs;
    • UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan;
    • UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
    • The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
    • Interns will need to use their own laptop/notebook. A workstation with wireless internet access will be provided at the Centre’s facilities and supervisory support provided by the Centre staff;
    • Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
    • UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

    Selected candidates must submit following documents prior to joining:

    • Letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
    • Copy of passport;
    • A copy of his/her school transcript;
    • Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance and a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship.
    • A signed UNDP Internship Agreement.