UNCDF Jobs - 84144- Financial Inclusion and Communications Intern (UNC

Financial Inclusion and Communications Intern (UNCDF) General Call for 2019 Applications, Yangon, Myanmar

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

15-Apr-2019

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Minimum 3 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

can be extended up to a total of 6 months

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

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for 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 Sustainable Development Goal # 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.

Country Information

Myanmar society is experiencing unprecedented transition from nearly 60 years of past conflict towards a peaceful, dynamic market-oriented economy. Due to a weak infrastructure in financial sector, the inclusion of the regulated financial services is limited to a very small group of people. Most of the citizen, small and medium sized businesses find it difficult to get access to low cost capital and efficient financing. Here in Myanmar, you would be standing with us to help achieve financial inclusion and sustainable development in Myanmar.

UNCDF in Myanmar

UNCDF in Myanmar is implementing the Expanding Financial Access (EFA) project which aims to strengthen Myanmar’s financial sector and support the implementation of the Financial Inclusion Roadmap, particularly in institutional building and addressing critical market barriers in close collaboration with Ministry of Planning and Finance. Currently, UNCDF in Myanmar is coordinating nationwide Digital Financial Services Working Group, in consultation with Central Bank and Financial Regulatory Department, to provide a platform for aligning stakeholder activities and encourage collaboration between public and private players in accelerating the development of the DFS ecosystem in Myanmar for financial inclusion under the umbrella of the Digital Economic Development Committee (DEDC) of the Government of Myanmar and the objectives of the Financial Inclusion Roadmap, to promote financial inclusion.

A core component of EFA is the Market Development Facility (MDF), a lending facility that aims to strengthen undercapitalized Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) operating in the country. MDF targets MFIs with high potential of growth and rural expansion, strengthening their capacity by providing loans, loan guarantees, and technical support to facilitate financial service expansion to marginalized areas.

As part of the Global Microlead Programme, the Microlead in Myanmar initiative facilitated bringing in 2 regional MFIs and 1 Cooperative association. The project created a demonstration effect of best practices for MFIs and for cooperatives. Additionally, the project conducted financial diaries, created knowledge management products and supported the government in the development of best practices and creating an enabling environment. The project reached 250,000 clients, which was significantly higher than the targeted outreach 100,000 client’s goal.

Similarly, the DFID-funded Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion Project (WEFIP), which is focused on conflict-affected areas of Myanmar, aims to increase 200,000 women and girls’ awareness of, access to, and use of agency over appropriate financial products and services responsibly provided by diverse and sustainable service providers in a well-regulated environment.

Additionally, UNCDF provides risk capital to the private sector to test and develop FinTech innovations that address financial needs of women and their businesses, offering women-targeted pro-rural and pro-poor services and increasing female financial literacy.

Duties and Responsibilities

As an Intern, you will be working alongside with the country coordinator, specialists, consultants, the national programme officers and associates, to provide a range of responsibilities:

Support research and assessment reports on issues related to financial inclusion of Myanmar (such as women’s economic empowerment, digital financial services, savings mobilization, SME development and other relevant issues);
Write and produce case studies, quarterly reports, success stories etc.;
Update and maintain contents of organizational website and social media pages;
Participate in workshops, forums, and other events organized by UNCDF Myanmar;
Support field monitoring/evaluation and impact assessment reports,
other ad-hoc assignments as necessary.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Commitment to UNCDFs vision, mission, and strategic goals;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work under pressure within an international setting;
Able to work effectively in a team and in an international environment.

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrable skills in research, analytical thinking, or communications;
Excellent writing and editing skills in English;
Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
Able to take initiative and work independently, with minimum supervision;
Interest in the UN system and general knowledge of development issues is a plus;
Ability to perform a variety of administrative and logistic tasks.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidate must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programme in Finance, Economics, Gender related studies, Business Administration, Microfinance, Law Studies, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or other relevant field.

Applicants to the UNCDF 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 (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Experience:

Demonstrated interest in economics, policy related work, gender development, inclusive finance, communications and public relations, Journalism and media or other related fields;
Demonstrated capacity in carrying out research, case studies and analytical;
Basic understanding of the modalities of international cooperation, through internship and/or studies;
Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skills;
Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
Able to take initiative and work independently, with minimum supervision;
Excellent computer capabilities or Graphic designs and Web contents.

Languages:

Strong writing and speaking abilities in English;
Ability to speak Burmese (local language) is a plus, but not required.

Duration of Assignment and Work Arrangement:

This is an open call for applications for 2019-2020 cycles. Please indicate your availability (3-6 months) during this period from April 2019 through April 2020.
The intern is expected to work full time in Myanmar UNCDF Office;
Workspace will be provided , and the intern may have access to office computer

Internship Conditions:

UNCDF Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship policy framework;
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. Yangon, Myamar);
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;
Myanmar will help facilitate with the visa processing. The cost associated with the visa processing must be borne by the student or intern.

Application:

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 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 2020.We accept applications from interested and qualified applicants, on an ongoing basis for this Financial Inclusion and Communications Internship in Yangon, Myanmar.

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 on ongoing basis.