Intern - Strategic Engagement Team, UNCDF New York, USA
New York City
- Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
- Location: New York City
- Grade: IN
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Occupational Groups:
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Cash-Based Interventions
- Closing Date:
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.
Organizational Context
General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.
UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:
• Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
• Women owned enterprise financing
• Nature and climate financing
• Energy and decarbonization finance
• Sustainable food systems financing
• Inclusive digital finance
Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.
Purpose of the Internship
UNCDF is seeking an intern to be part of the Strategic Engagement Team (SET). Working under the guidance and supervision of the External Relations Advisor, and working closely with SET staff, the intern will support the ongoing workplan and goals of the unit, including but not limited to expanding partnerships; preparing materials for high level meetings; supporting the launch of major initiatives on blended finance; and building and maintaining a base of knowledge about Member States. The SET Intern will also support the implementation and communication of UNCDF’s Gender Action Plan to gain hands-on experience in applied gender policy and sustainable finance within a UN development and investment agency.
Summary of key functions:
- Support to Strategic advocacy and partnership development
- Support development and implementation of UNCDF Gender Action Plan
- Support to mobilization of core and non-core resources
- Support effective Donor Relations
- Support facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing
Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic advocacy and partnership development:
- Support the development of corporate engagement strategies
- Assist in the development and implementation of the UNCDF Gender Action Plan
- Support to building and maintaining relationships with the financial sector, private sector investors, and family offices
- Support for providing strategic advice and policy recommendations to position UNCDF
- Analyze donor trends in the UNCDF funding landscape · Define and regularly ‘connect’ UNCDF value propositions in the LDCs in alignment, and when possible, in anticipation of the changing aid architecture and evolving resource mobilization drivers
- Identify collaborative opportunities for UNCDF programmes with other UN Agencies
- Identification of specific areas for support, building on UNCDF comparative advantages and UNCDF programmatic objectives in country.
- Assist in building and maintaining relations with other UN agencies that support joint resource mobilization
- Provides timely, professional responses and technical support on matters of partnerships-building
- Enhances capacity by UNCDF country and regional offices to pursue and capitalize on strategic partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities
- Identify targeted interventions to mobilize support for UNCDF and influence positively donor countries’ national budgetary and other decision-making processes
- Build and maintain UNCDF’s visibility and reputation at relevant financial conferences and investor events
2. Support to mobilization of core and non-core resources:
- Provide effective and efficient support to the Executive Secretary and senior management in all aspects of the mobilization of core and non-core resources
- Identify and develop opportunities for non-core resource mobilization and advise country offices and headquarters units on appropriate strategies and approaches to seize them
- Contribute to the development of corporate policies and procedures for core and non-core resource mobilization, including through strategic partners.
Core competencies
- Demonstrates strong writing skills, particularly the ability to present persuasive, coherent and well-founded arguments.
- Demonstrates ability to write in a style that is accessible to a broad audience of policymakers, academics and activists.
- Demonstrates drive to achieve results in timely manner and to seek and find solutions to any problems encountered.
- Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
Functional Competencies
- Ability to convert complex and abstract ideas into simple visual concepts.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
- Must be able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities.
Education:
Candidate must be enrolled in a degree programme in Business Administration, Economic Development, Economics, Policy, International Relations or another related field. Applicants to the UNCDF internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
- Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
- Experience in strategic engagement and partnership development.
- Demonstrated interest in gender equality, intersectional analysis, and inclusive finance.
- Strong research, writing, data, and visual communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Language requirement:
Fluency in English required. Fluency in French very desirable; knowledge of other UN languages will be considered a plus.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.