Background
The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) operates under the United Nations umbrella, focusing on local development finance, inclusive finance, and the empowerment of women and youth in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Its core mission is to facilitate access to both public and private capital for the most marginalized populations. UNCDF leverages its expertise to create innovative financial models, especially in areas lacking essential infrastructure, basic services, and financial support. These efforts aim to unlock national-level resources, ultimately reducing poverty and fostering local economic development. UNCDF operates through two primary approaches:
- Financial Inclusion: UNCDF employs cutting-edge technologies and a savings-centric approach to empower individuals, households, and small businesses. By providing essential financial tools and services, UNCDF enables them to break free from poverty and manage their finances effectively, fostering their participation in local economic growth.
- Localized Investments: Through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal financing, and structural project financing, UNCDF promotes public and private investment to stimulate local economic growth and sustainable development.
Duties and Responsibilities
Context:
As an intern, your primary role will be to support UNCDF’s Local Transformative Finance Practice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi. Your efforts will focus on implementing a portfolio of projects aligned with the UNCDF Strategic Framework. These projects encompass various aspects, including support for Public Finance Management, Tax administration, Local Development Fund, and the financing of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within relevant value chains, including agricultural value chains. The projects also aim to enhance the capacity of local governments and municipalities in rural areas.
Specifically, your contributions will help achieve key Local Transformative Finance (LTF) objectives, such as building the capacity of local governments in tax administration and developing innovative financial mechanisms to fund public and private projects that have a substantial impact on local economic development.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Providing analytical support for research on financing local development in the countries of operation.
- Drafting concept notes and contributing to the development of project documents, technical reports, performance reviews, and project annual workplans and reports.
- Participating in and organizing Donor Working Group meetings and documenting meeting minutes.
- Assisting in mobilizing resources at the country level.
- Drafting communication materials.
Work Arrangements:
- You will be stationed in Kinshasa.
- Your work will be supervised by the UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor and the DRC team in Kinshasa.
- This internship opportunity is open to candidates of all nationalities.
- Please note that UNCDF internships are compensated at approximately USD 100 per month. However, UNCDF does not cover travel and living expenses for interns.
- Interns should be aware that they are not considered employees of UNCDF.
Competencies
To excel in this role, you should possess the following competencies:
- Demonstrated interest in rural and local development issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Strong writing, analytical, and research skills.
- Excellent communication skills in both oral and written English and French, with proficiency in using social media and online tools.
- Ability to take initiative, work both independently and in teams.
- Proficiency in computer applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Required Skills and Experience
Educational Qualification:
- Applicants to the UNCDF internship program must meet one of the following requirements at the time of application:
- Enrolled in a postgraduate degree program (e.g., master’s program) in Management, Economics, Politics, or a related field.
- In the final academic year of a first university degree program (e.g., bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
- Recently graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within one year of graduation.
- Enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertaking the internship as part of this program.
Language:
- Proficiency in both written and spoken French and English is essential.
General Internship Terms & Conditions:
- UNCDF’s internship program adheres to the UNDP Internship Policy Framework and Rules.
- Interns may receive a modest monthly stipend in accordance with the UNDP Internship Policy, but they are responsible for covering all associated expenses.
- Selected interns must provide proof of education enrollment or graduation, as well as valid medical, health, and life/accident insurance for the internship location.
- The purpose of the internship is to complement the intern’s studies and learning growth, not to guarantee future employment with UNCDF.
Application Process:
- In your application, briefly explain why you are interested in this internship and your primary motivation for applying.
- Ensure you answer the mandatory questions about your availability and timeframe in the application form.
- Submit your Resume/CV and the UNCDF Internship Application form as instructed.
- Combine all required documents into a single file before uploading to the UNDP jobsite system.
Interested candidates can apply at any time and indicate their availability in the internship form. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews or further assessments by hiring managers.
