Background

Launched in 2008, the Business Call to Action (BCtA) is a global membership platform that encourages private sector companies to develop innovative business models that combine profitability with development impact, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Business Call to Action is a unique multilateral alliance between key donor governments including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UK Department for International Development, US Agency for International Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Finland, and the United Nations Development Programme — which hosts the secretariat.

BCtA members are market leaders and innovators, committed to developing commercially viable business ventures that engage people living at the Base of the Economic Pyramid (BoP) as consumers, producers, suppliers, and distributors of goods and services. In more than 55 countries, business leaders are spearheading efforts to provide the poor with the tools and resources they need to succeed by promoting economic opportunity. BCtA provides a leadership platform for companies to demonstrate their commitment to development and to access global expertise on innovation at the BoP.

In an effort to identify innovative inclusive business models worldwide, BCtA seeks to enlist an Istanbul-based intern who will support the programme’s Corporate Outreach and Country Level Activity team.  Reporting to the Outreach and Country Level Team Lead, the intern will support BCtA’s research on identifying promising inclusive business models across geographic regions. In addition, the intern will assist in the preparation of BCtA’s country level events, and help with the development of country level reports and publications.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key duties and responsibilities for this position include:
•    Support BCtA’s efforts in building a pipeline of prospective member companies through desk top research and analysis to identify innovative inclusive business models globally (depending on language skills the intern can have a focus on a specific region, such as South East Asia or Latin America);
•    Assist the Outreach and Country Team in supporting BCtA’s country level work, including through helping with organizing events and developing publications and reports;
•    Support the Outreach and Country level team in other ad hoc activities, which might include but are not limited to conducting research on inclusive business topics, preparing speaking points and developing presentation and communication materials.

 

Competencies

Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity;
  • Demonstrates the ability to remain objective, neutral and independent;
  • Displays cultural sensitivity;
  • Produces timely, quality outputs;
  • Exercises sound judgment/analysis;
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks;
  • Writes clearly and effectively; 
  • Speaks clearly and convincingly.

 

Functional Competencies

  • Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues, while meeting deadlines;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro active and taking initiative and responsibility in one’s work.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience

Education

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

  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • 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 in the field of sustainability, economics, international business / business administration or other relevant/related field and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

 

Experience and skills

  • Experience and good understanding on corporate sustainability (standards, reporting practices) and on social enterprise and inclusive business (attained through studies or work experience);
  • Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude and strong communication skills  and experience in producing reports, analysis and briefing materials;
  • Good command on Microsoft office programmes (Excel, Word, Power Point) and good skills in producing presentation materials;
  • Strong intellectual interest in economic development and the role of the private sector in driving poverty reduction;
  • Previous experience in working and/or living abroad highly valued.

Language

  • Fluency in written and spoken English required;
  • Proficiency in other languages desirable.

Conditions of Service

  • Internships are non-paid and travel expenses are not covered;
  • Available for working in the IICPSD for a period of 3-6 months. (Applicants available for six months are preferred. Applicants must state their availability);
  • Be willing to work within the framework of IICPSD’s internship policies;
  • If offered the position, selected intern must provide a medical certificate of good health and proof of medical insurance for duration of contract (note: these are not required for application, only upon selection) at own cost;
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
  • It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance;
  • Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Kindly note:

The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. More information available at: http://www.undp.org/internships/.

Application Procedure:

The application should contain:

  • Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
  • Current and complete CV in English;
  • Copy of the candidate’s school transcript;
  • Official letter from the candidate’s university confirming current enrollment and graduation date if the intern has graduated;
  • At least 1 endorsement letter or letter of reference from a faculty member or former supervisor;
  • The internship application form found on www.undp.org.tr. 

 

Please group all your documents into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

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.