Background

UNCDF (UN Capital Development Fund) is the United Nations Capital Development for local development finance, inclusive finance and the promotion of Women and Youth empowerment in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) which main objective is to facilitate access to public and private capital for the most underserved people. Its expertise enables it to develop «last mile» financial models in areas where infrastructures, access to basic services, financial and non-financial services are lacking to unlock public and private resources at the national level. The expected impact is to reduce poverty and encourage economic local development. UNCDF’s work is based on two approaches:

  • Inclusive Digital Economy– New technologies and saving-based approach allowing individuals, households and small businesses to better participate in the local economic development by providing the tools and financial services they need to escape poverty and manage their financial situations.
  • Localized Investments– Thanks to fiscal decentralization, innovative local/municipal financing and structural financing of investment projects –, which contribute to promote public and private financing to boost local economic growth and sustainable development. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Context:

UNCDF is co-leading the Resilience Local Food Supply Chain Alliance (RLFSCA) with WFP as a post UNFSS summit coalition to support member states to transform their food systems.

The intern will support the Local Transformative Finance Practice (innovative financing and own source revenue of municipalities and local governments) to implement post United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) country pathways. Particularly member states and organization that are committed to engage with the RLFSCA.  The support will lead contribute to address food security and agricultural value chains challenges. The support aims at boosting MSMEs in the agricultural value chain in cities and rural. The achievement of these objectives will be possible through capacity building programs, the development of innovative financial mechanisms, and the identification, structuring and financing of projects with high tax and revenues for municipalities and local governments.

More specifically, the intern will support UNCDF teams in the implementation and development of their programs by:

  • Support the analysis of business model of Small-Medium Agro-Enterprises in Sub-Saharan countries;
  • Support the creation of a database containing qualitative and quantitative results of case studies on Agri-SMEs;
  • Contribute to UNCDF activities in the Resilient Local Food Supply Alliance including at the country and Coordination level;
  • Contribute to the production of the publication/communication tools “Contribution of agri-food SMEs in the transformation of food system in member states.”;
  • Providing analytical support to municipalities and local government on the MSMEs tax administration;
  • Support development of concept papers, project proposals, country reports, meeting reports etc…;
  • Contribute to UNCDF's resource mobilization efforts.

Work Arrangements :

  • The intern will be home-based;
  • The intern will work under the supervision of the UNCDF Food System Focal Point and the LTF senior team;
  • The position is open to candidates from all nationalities;
  • Please note that internships are paid about USD 100 per month. UNCDF's internal rules do not allow the organization to provide compensation for travel and living expenses;
  • Please note that interns are not employees of UNCDF;
  • All costs/fees associated with the intern’s participation in the program must be borne by the intern.

Competencies

  • Demonstrated interest in rural/local development issues in sub-Saharan Africa;
  • Demonstrated experiences in agriculture, food system finance, local government own source revenue, food security value chains etc…;
  • Excellent writing, analytical and research skills;
  • Excellent communication skills (oral and written);
  • Ability to take initiatives and work independently and in teams;
  • Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in food system management, economics, agro-economics  or similar studies;
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  • 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.

Language:

  • Excellent knowledge of French and English (written and oral).

Note:

  • Please provide a 1-page motivation letter and 1 updated CV (in English or French).

The system only allows one attachment, so please combine both documents into one file.