UNDP Jobs - 79448- SDG Partnership Platform Research Internship

SDG Partnership Platform Research Internship

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

29-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

4 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be as much about the effectiveness of development co-operation as it will be about the scale and form such co-operation takes. There is a lot of talk about partnership, but not enough practical, on-the-ground support to make partnerships effective in practice, especially not at scale.

Whilst Kenya has made substantial progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, this progress has been uneven across specific goals and within the country. Strides have been made in attaining universal primary education, reducing infant and child mortality and the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, SDG progress must focus more on socio-economic equity of benefits in order to make sure that Kenya leaves no-one-behind.

The SDG agenda is marked by solidarity participation and universality, with a fundamental shift expected in the development finance architecture. Improving the effectiveness, quality and impact of development co-operation in this context will require inclusive partnerships, innovative approaches and application of lessons at country level.

The Government of Kenya and UN System in Kenya established in 2017 the SDG Partnership Platform. This Platform brings together a range of partners from Government, development partners, private sector, civil society, philanthropy, academia, and faith-based organizations to create diverse SDG accelerator windows. Primary Healthcare (PHC) - contributing to the SDG 3 cluster - will be the first window aiming to improve Universal Health Coverage through transformation of Kenya’s PHC system. Subsequently, the Platform will open windows to support thematic SDG clusters in support of Kenya’s “Big Four” agenda such as agriculture, and manufacturing.

Whilst the Platform aims at contributing to the SDG target 17.17: Effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships encouraged and promoted in Kenya, the SDG3 PHC Window aims at contributing to the results of the following three sub-outcomes:

Enhanced national and county government capacities to steward large-scale Primary Healthcare PPPs.
Innovative financing promoted in support of Kenya’s domestic resource mobilization agenda for UHC.
Improved delivery and innovations of the Primary healthcare system, through increased public private collaboration, to better address Kenya’s triple burden of disease.

With the aim of contributing to the set outcomes and deliverables, the SDG3 Primary Healthcare Accelerator Window’s activities will be implemented through a three phased-approach (I. Diagnostics and Facts, II. Design and Planning and III. Active facilitation of on-the-ground implementation (national and county level) under which a common fact-base will firstly be established for Platform members to jointly identify selected bold transformative initiatives in pursuit of the SDG Partnership Platform goals and objectives, secondly to carefully design and plan with key stakeholders for the successful delivery of these initiatives, and thirdly to facilitate implementation of the initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the SDG Partnership Secretariat, the intern(s) will deliver results under the SDG Partnership Platform Diagnostics and Facts phase, in particularly through;

Conducting quantitative and qualitative research and analysis on (i) Innovative financing in support of Kenya’s domestic resource mobilization agenda for UHC and / or (ii)?improved delivery and innovations of the primary healthcare system, through increased public private collaboration, to better address Kenya’s triple burden of disease.

Moreover, the Intern will support on a needs bases SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat coordination, media and communication functions, as for example outlined below:

Support to SDG Partnership Platform media and communications functions through development of selected media and communications materials
Support to facilitation of knowledge sharing through development of knowledge materials, including monthly newsletters and website
Support to the organization of SDG Partnership Platform special events and workshop.

Learning expectations:

Upon completion of the assignment the Intern will have / be able to deliver quantitative and qualitative research papers and analysis on (i)

Innovative financing in support of Kenya’s domestic resource mobilization agenda for UHC and / or
improved delivery and innovations of the primary healthcare system, through increased public private collaboration, to better address Kenya’s triple burden of disease. Moreover, the Intern will have gained experience on how to successfully deliver support to coordination, media and communication functions of a public private partnership platform:

Training components:

Learning will be facilitated through on-the-job supervision, guidance and support from the SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat and key partners from Government, Private Sector, Civil Society, Philanthropy and Academia.

Institutional Arrangements:

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and will be supervised by the SDG Partnership Specialist at the SDG Partnership Platform Secretariat, housed at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office hosted by UNDP Kenya.

Competencies

Communication:

Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience;
Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others;
Places team agenda before personal agenda;
Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Client Orientation:

Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Potential candidates should be enrolled in a degree programme in Public Health, International Development, Business Administration, or Financing, Economics or other related Social Sciences, preferably at the post graduate level.

Applicants 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 program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Experience:

Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;
Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views;
Past experience in development research and policy analysis, or relevant publications, would be highly desirable;
Be computer literate in standard software applications.

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Knowledge of another UN Language is desirable.

General Terms and Conditions:

This position is only open to international interns;
Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility (a)The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or (b)The intern, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence through private sources;
Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern;
Applicants for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern. For applicants which are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration;
UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship.