Internship Opportunity – SDG Impact Intern at UNDP

Background

SDG Impact is part of the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), working to accelerate private sector contributions towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Its objective is to help businesses and investors embed sustainability at the core of management decisions and direct capital to where it can make the most difference to people and planet.

We are pushing against the boundaries of our social and natural systems. Inequality, climate change and other sustainable development issues have been exacerbated by COVID-19. According to the OECD, there is an annual SDG financing gap of US$ 3.7 trillion – up from US$2.5 trillion before the pandemic. That is just part of the problem – the other part is knowing how much of it will actually contribute to the SDGs. Indeed, there is increasing pressure from consumers and end-investors for genuine sustainable practices and reduced SDG-washing.

While there is a growing awareness from enterprises and investors that their prospects depend on the health of people and planet, it is not enough. We are not yet on a sustainable path. Many business and investment decisions, whether knowingly or not, are having negative impacts on people and planet that could be avoided or significantly reduced by simply considering all aspects of impacts of their decisions. Making informed decisions is harder without a universal yardstick for sustainable management practices despite the numerous reporting standards and taxonomies available. Businesses and investors are still not able to authenticate their contribution to sustainability and achieving the SDGs which fuels “SDG-washing”. Secondly, private capital is not targeted to where it is needed most – only 20% of global capital is held in developing countries which represent 84% of the world’s population. We need action.

UNDP’s SDG Impact provides innovative solutions to enable the private sector to make decisions that advances the achievement of the SDGs and reduce the risk of SDG-washing. Our SDG Impact Standards, along with the upcoming SDG Impact Assurance Framework and  Seal sets the bar for management best practices that embed sustainability at the core of any organization. We also provide training and education to give users the knowledge and skills to implement the SDG Impact Standards. Our goal is to foster a change in mindset in management where sustainability is at the heart of decision-making. The SDG Investor Maps identifies investment themes and business models that help intermediaries build an investment pipeline aligned to national sustainable development needs and priority areas. Further, by leveraging UNDP’s 170 Country Offices, we can connect the public and private sectors across the economic ecosystem, including to explore solutions where there are currently limited opportunities for the private sector to invest.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall purpose of the internship is to support the SDG Impact team on its impact management workplan. Under the direct supervision of the SDG Impact IMM Advisor, and the overall guidance of the Senior SDG Investment Advisor, the intern’s specific responsibilities include:

SDG Impact Standards and SDG Investor Maps

• Support preparation and conduct of awareness-raising, communications and materials, plans, and activities for UNDP’s internal and external stakeholders to increase awareness and adoption of SDG Impact Standards. Think opportunities to link/embed SDG Investor Maps into conversations where it fits.
• Accompany and contribute to SDG Impact Standards workshops, especially regarding stakeholder coordination, management of logistics and coordination as per arising needs.
• Assist in the mapping and documentation of enterprise and fund examples from UNDP programme databases that matches the SDG Impact Standards.
• Support database management for outreach efforts using a basic Client Relationship Management (CRM) template.

Competencies

Functional 

• Self-starter, proven ability to work independently and in an entrepreneurial setting.
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under pressure and short deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills, innovative, creative and ability to coordinate well with UNDP partner agencies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, especially power point.
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in and outside UNDP.
• Respectful of the mandates and roles of different partners, particularly government supported institutions and can build and sustain productive and mutually beneficial partnerships.   

Core 

• Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.
• Shows interpersonal skills and works collaboratively in small and large multi-cultural teams with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.
• Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner.
• Remains calm, composed and patient, regardless of his/her own state of mind in the face of conflict. 

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications – Applicants to the UNDP 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.

Skills & Experiences

• Knowledge of required.
• Demonstrated interest in SDG financing, especially impact measurement and management, financing for development, SDG-aligned investing, or sustainable development required
• Experience living or working in developing countries is preferred.
• Proven capacity in research and data analysis required.
• Knowledge in project management, including tools and principles, required.
• Concise writing skills required.
• Strong computer application user skills required.
• Completion of the IMM for SDGs course preferred.
• Knowledge of using Content Management Systems (CMS) preferred.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Working knowledge of additional languages preferred.