UNCDF Jobs - 82867- Internship Opportunity for MBA Students with UNCDF

Internship Opportunity for MBA Students with UNCDF Investment Platform Team, New York Headquarters – General Call for 2019 Applications

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2019

Application Deadline :

31-Dec-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 to 6 months

Languages Required :

English French

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

IMPORTANT NOTE: General Call for 2019 Internship Applications: This is a general call for internships throughout 2019.We accept applications from interested and qualified applicants, on an ongoing basis for this Investment Platform Internship at our New York Headquarters.

Interested Candidates can apply at any time indicating the timeframe of their availability in the internship form. However, only those candidates selected for interviews/further assessment by hiring managers will be contacted.

UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments—through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance—can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs.

Approximately US$1.7 trillion flows from the developed world to the developing world from a diversified set of actors and with equally distinct motivations, ranging from purely philanthropic to market-rate return on investments. By being innovative in the way development assistance is deployed it can have the potential to extend the reach and effectiveness of the aid through for example the complementary deployment of private capital i.e. by blending public and private funds for enhanced development results. The development assistance then has the potential to expand the pool of foreign and domestic capital available for economic development for e.g. small and medium enterprises, agriculture, infrastructure and key public services.

UNCDF can use a combination of grant, reimbursable grant, loans, guarantees and/or technical assistance to support early stage businesses, SMEs, projects, microfinance institutions and municipal investments. Up till today UNCDFs use of loans and guarantees has been limited but there is now an ambition to make better use of these financial instruments and the last year has seen a steep increase in the issuance of loans and guarantees. One objective is now to set up a joint fund with a third-party fund manager to attract other type of capitals to UNCDF’s pipeline of projects. UNCDF may also try to offer its advisory services to other UN agencies without the mandate to do loans and guarantees.

Given its value added in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals agenda particularly in Least Developed Countries, UNCDF is on the road to expanding its capital investment mandate by optimizing its funding architecture to catalyse more funding from both official and private sources.

The LDC Investment platform team reports directly to the Executive Secretary, but supports the two operational divisions within UNCDF in their due diligence of transactions. Independently the LDC Investment platform provide a credit opinion to the Impact Investment Committee. Consequently, the team balances between being a support function to the loan officer in the field, and an independent credit risk function within the organization.

UNCDF is seeking an intern to be part of the Investment Platform Team (IP) in its Headquarters located in New York, United States. Working under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Investment Platform, and working closely with IP staff, the intern will support the ongoing workplan and goals of the unit, including but not limited to supporting the team in financial assessment, setting up funds, management of loan contracts, monitoring of payments and others.

The internship manager is committed to providing the intern with the training, guidance and support necessary to complete the below duties and responsibilities effectively and within the internship period. This will include, but not be limited to, scheduled meetings (weekly) to assess output progress, systems training (where required) and completion of required university reports for the purpose of meeting any necessary Degree requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Investment Platform Team, and in close collaboration with other colleagues in the IP Team, the intern will specifically:

Assist the investments specialists in their initial assessment of new opportunities, credit analysis and due diligence of transactions;
Assist in the back-office function of the IP team, i.e. recording loans, management of loan contracts, monitoring of payments, default management;
Provide input and background information on new debt propositions, preparing screening and credit proposals as well as preparing monitoring papers;
Assist in due diligence tasks such as company, industry and economic analysis.
Help assess financial accounts (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow analysis);
Help analyze the summary financial, legal and fiscal issues including the capital structure and all necessary contractual arrangements with investors (in consultation with the legal team);
Assist in work of the Partnership, with the intent of setting up of a fund i.e. discussing the fund structure, investment objectives, investment eligibility criteria, expected returns, risk appetite, potential fund size, fund raising awareness etc;
Help building the appropriate infrastructure for the deployment of different financial instruments to allow UNCDF to expand its loan and guarantee operations;
Assist in finding a model for accounting for the social impact in each investment;
Coordinate documentation of progress, performance, lessons learnt;
Adopt innovative approaches to ensure that the lessons learnt are collected and disseminated.

Competencies

Core Values/Guiding Principles

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNCDF in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff.
Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

Demonstrate leadership with commitment, excitement and excellence in others;
Ability to meet goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services;
Demonstrates strong writing skills, particularly the ability to present persuasive, coherent and well-founded arguments;
Demonstrates drive to achieve results in timely manner and to seek and find solutions to any problems encountered;
Has ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

Technical/Functional Competencies

Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside (Programmes/projects) or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships contributing to the overall positioning of UNDP;
Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge;
Knowledge of financing for sustainable development and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Ability to manage and coordinate campaigns and people with inspiration. Believe in and promote diversity in the workplace and reshaping the workforce to meet need;
Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
Must be able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidate must be enrolled in a MBA degree programme with specialization in Investment Operations, Finance & Accounting etc or a recent graduate.

In case of recent graduate, the selected candidate must start the internship within one-year timeframe of graduation.

Additional assignment-specific qualifications:

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) diploma, or similar is regarded as an asset
Prior professional work experience in either the financial sector or in the private sector.
Prior professional experience in innovative finance and financial product development would be regarded a merit.
Operational experience from transactions in the emerging markets such as Africa and Asia would be regarded a merit.
Technical Expertise and proven experience in financial modelling/valuations etc.
Operational experience from transactions with a social impact would be regarded a merit.
Self-starter; organized; able to multitask, balance multiple responsibilities, and work with tight deadlines.

Languages:

Fluency in English required. Fluency in French very desirable; knowledge of other UN languages will be considered a plus.

Internship Conditions:

UNCDF Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship policy framework & rules.
Interns are not financially remunerated by UNCDF. The costs associated with the latter 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/her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, etc. Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out (i.e. New York, USA).
Interns must have medical and life insurance and be able to provide insurance proof at the time of their selection.
The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNCDF but to complement an intern’s studies; therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

Application Guidelines:

In your application, please (i) state in one paragraph why you would like to be considered for the internship, and (ii) indicate your preferred start and end date, as well as your availability timeframe (3 or 6 months).
Please submit your latest Resume/CV and an application using the UNCDF Internship Application form: http://www.uncdf.org/download/file/127/2509/internshipdoc
Applications should include the application form and a resume. Applicants are welcome to submit any additional work samples or portfolios in one single file, preferably PDF.
Please note that the UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents (CV/Resume, cover letter etc into a single file before uploading).

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a general call for internships throughout 2019.We accept applications from interested and qualified applicants, on an ongoing basis for this Internship opportunity with our Investment Platform team at our New York Headquarters.