UNDP Jobs - 108867- Intern – SDG Financing and South-South Cooperation

Intern – SDG Financing and South-South Cooperation

Location :

Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2022

Application Deadline :

15-Sep-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

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

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) envisions to contribute to Africa’s efforts to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion through the implementation of UNDP’ s Strategic Plan. In view of the transforming development cooperation landscape and the ambitious goals set out by the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Africa Union Agenda 2063, it is more than ever crucial to mobilize the broad of financing flows, including public, private, domestic and international, towards the implementation of the SDG aligned national development priorities, while putting in place new, more effective and integrated approaches to managing public and private finance.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda introduced the concept of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) to help countries better align their financing policies with their development plan and to overcome existing impediments to financing their national priorities. The INFF brings together public and private actors, as well as the full range of financing sources (public and private) and allows countries to develop an Integrated Financing Strategy to increase investment, improve governance, manage risks, and achieve sustainable development priorities. The Development Finance Assessment (DFA) helps shape the inception phase of an INFF with a comprehensive analysis of the public and private financing outlook, financing policies and institutional structures, and opportunities to build a more integrated approach to financing. It brings together information from a wide range of sources and assessments that focus on finance flows and policy areas, and outlines potential key reforms including, but not limited to public finance management, taxation, budget expenditure, debt, fiscal decentralization, foreign aid, remittances, private sector investment, foreign direct investment, as well as relevant monitoring and governance approaches.

To support governments in the Africa region to plan sequenced strategies for mobilizing and aligning public and private resources to the 2030 Agenda, UNDP has established its Africa Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH) in Pretoria, South Africa. The SDG Finance and South-South Cooperation team of ASFH is providing services to its members states to put SDGs at the heart of financial systems. The team also contributes to regional and global South-South and Triangular Cooperation, through regional reporting, capacity development to enable South-South exchanges, codifying Africa-based innovative development solutions and showcasing through UNOSSC’s South-South Galaxy platform

Duties and Responsibilities

Support in the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) agenda

Provide research support in the public and private financing issues of African countries, including compilation, analysis and interpretation of financing flows and related policies.
Provide quantitative and qualitative analysis on financing related issues in African countries and the development of relevant graphs and visuals.
Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Support to innovative financing initiatives and South-South and Triangular cooperation

Support the digital finance work in the region in partnership with UNCDF.
Support the design of regional financing mechanisms for sustainable investment in Africa.
Support organizing investment matchmaking events between African stakeholders and potential investors from the global South and developed economies.
Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Advocacy and promotion of SDGs Financing Agenda and the ASFH service offer

Advocate and support the SDG Financing agenda through research, preparing presentations and by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
Support monitoring progress and formulation of SDG Financing portfolio.
Support management of events and consultation meetings related to SDG Financing and take meeting minutes.
Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Competencies

Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

currently enrolled in a Master programme (or equivalent); or
have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a Master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: international development, economics, finance, applied social sciences or equivalent.

Experience:

No work experience necessary but must be eager for fast learning and proactive. Knowledge or experience in UN agencies, multilateral development banks, or international think tanks would be an advantage.
Knowledge or experience in public and private finance and relevant public policy, such as public debt, guarantee, blended finance, digital finance/fintech, targeted fund design, and South-South partnerships.
Understanding of and familiarity with sustainable development, including Financing for Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda related recommendations.
Experience in writing analytical documents and reports.

IT skills:

Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
Quantitative analysis tools.

Language skills:

English is required;