Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.  UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia and the Pacific, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis.  It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives.

 

In 2019 UNCDF formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’. The strategy is based on 10+ years of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting inclusive digital economies. UNCDF aims to empower people through improved access and use of services that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Please refer to the link for more information: https://www.uncdf.org/article/4931/global-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era

 

Remittances for Development:

With the support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Swiss Development Cooperation and under the ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ strategy, UNCDF recently launched a new initiative that aims at contributing to regional harmonization of cross-border remittances policies and the availability of affordable, accessible and reliable digital cross-border remittances and financial products to improve economic inclusion and financial resilience of migrants and their families.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Intern will support the Results Measurement Analyst based in Brussels. The key activities include:

 

  • Support the development of the Results Measurement Framework of UNCDF’s remittance portfolio;
  • Support the development of results measurement tools for new projects, including the development of results chains, project indicators, and reporting tools for partners;
  • Provide support in the monitoring and review of partner reporting (quantitative and qualitative);
  • Contribute to the mapping of research, definitions, measurement and data collection methods related to cross-border remittances;
  • Contribute to the mapping of digital economy-related research, definitions, measurement and data collection methods;
  • Support the development and implementation of the UNCDF Annual Provider Survey, including data aggregation, analysis and report writing (see below for more information);
  • Other tasks as requested by the Results Measurement Analyst.

 

For those applicants that wish to combine the internship with the writing of their thesis, UNCDF may provide support in exploring relevant research topic and share available data.

 

UNCDF Annual Provider Survey: Each year UNCDF conducts a survey among providers of digital financial services (DFS) in several UNCDF countries. The objective is to measure the development of the DFS market and assess the results of UNCDF activities.  

Competencies

  • Excellent speaking and writing skills in English
  • Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, Power Point);
  • Strong organizational and administrative skills;
  • Ability to take initiative and work independently;
  • Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks;
  • Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in an international and multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Enrolled in a bachelor or master’s programme in technology, economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline, in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and during the internship (if a candidate is graduating before the internship period begins, they are no longer eligible); or
  • Pursuing their university/college studies, having completed at least two years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree, if pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages;

 

Candidates must not have graduated prior to the beginning of the internship. 

 

Experience:

  • Demonstrated interest in topics related to socioeconomic development;
  • Experience in conducting quantitative data analysis;
  • Experience in working with statistical analysis software (e.g. R, STATA, SPSS) is preferred but not mandatory;
  • Knowledge of financial inclusion, digital economy and/or cross-border remittances is preferred but not mandatory.

 

Language:

  • Fluent in English
  • Fluent in French is preferred but not mandatory

 

Work Arrangements:

  • The intern will work full-time in the Brussels UNCDF office. 
  • Workspace will be provided, and the intern will have access to a computer.

 

Internship conditions: 

  • The UNCDF internship programme is governed by the UNDP internship policy framework and rules
  • UNCDF will not pay interns for internship but will provide a monthly stipend in accordance with UNCDF
  • Interns must take full responsibility for obtaining financing for subsistence and making arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, etc. 
  • Selected interns must be able to share proof of education enrolment and/or graduation and proof of medical/health and life/accident insurance valid for the location and duration of the internship 
  • The purpose of the internship programme is not to lead to further employment with UNCDF but to complement an intern’s studies and learning growth
  • There is no expectation of employment at the end of internships
  • Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNCDF in any official capacity
  • Interns will be granted off-days on official UN holidays for Belgium. If exceptional leave arrangements are necessary, requests must be submitted to and be approved by the supervisor in advance to ensure adequate office arrangements.
  • Interns are expected to use their own laptops in case office laptops are not available; 
  • The Intern will be personally responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed.
  • Contributions made by interns to any organizational publications will be acknowledged and/or recognized if the publication rules allow for authorship to be mentioned.  

 

Evaluation:

Shortlisted candidates shall be invited for a test and an interview.

 

Application:

Please upload one document in word format including the following:

 

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