UNDP Sustainable Finance Policy Internship

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

The UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) brings together UNDP’s financial expertise to harness public and private capital for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- supporting governments, investors and businesses in reaching climate, social impact and sustainability targets. Its work drives systemic change towards a sustainable financial architecture that benefits people and the planet.  

Through the SFH, UNDP has been increasing its engagement in global financial and economic policy making through the work carried out in regulatory and market-based networks and different forums (I.e., G7, G20, UN’s FfD process, etc.). UNDP has been assisting the G20 Presidencies in the implementation of their G20 priorities, including by providing the Secretariat of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group since 2021 and housing and convening the implementation mechanism for the The TAAP is a key initiative endorsed by the G20 leaders at the New Delhi Summit 2023 to enhance capacity building, raise awareness for sustainable finance, and strengthen efforts towards implementing the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) Transition Finance Framework.  

The UNDP is seeking interns to conduct research supporting the implementation of the G20 Technical Assistance Action Plan implementation as well as other G20 SFWG duties.  The intern will contribute to this goal by conducting research, collecting and analysing data, and assisting in the preparation of reports. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Sustainable Finance Policy Specialist, the intern is expected to: 

Research: 

• Research and identify relevant  providers of capacity building on sustainable finance related topics. 

• Develop a tagging system to create a comprehensive database of these initiatives. 

• Assist in the analysis of the mapping results to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the current capacity building landscape for scaling up sustainable finance. 

• Develop research content showcasing a strong knowledge and understanding of the sustainable finance policies and regulations within the G20 countries. 

Writing & Editing: 

• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, and other communication materials to share the findings of the mapping exercise with relevant stakeholders. 

• Draft and edit a range of materials, including blog posts, brochures, presentations, and supporting documents for procurement and events. 

Stakeholder engagement: 

• Support the TAAP team in engaging with capacity building providers and other stakeholders to gather additional insights and facilitate collaboration. 

• Write meeting minutes for calls with external partners (ministry of finance, central banks, international organizations, financial institutions, etc.). 

Competencies

Functional Competencies: 

• Excellent writing and editing skills in English required. 

• Good interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro-active and taking initiatives. 

• Knowledge of finance, and/or sustainable finance is an asset. 

Corporate Competencies: 

• Commitment to UNDP's mission, vision, and values. 

• Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age differences. 

• Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty. 

Required Skills and Experience

1. Current enrolment in a graduate program (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant field such as sustainable finance, economics, environmental studies, international development or other relevant streams or having graduated with a university degree in international development or other related and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation. 

2. Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to gather, organize, and synthesize information from various sources. 

3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 

4. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

5. Familiarity with sustainable finance concepts, frameworks, and initiatives is desirable. 

6. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong organizational and time management skills.