3 Inclusive Growth Paid Internships at UNDP in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Background About UNDP:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) operates in approximately 170 countries and territories, collaborating with partner nations to accomplish the goals of poverty eradication, reduction of inequalities, and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, UNDP assists partner countries in crafting policies, enhancing leadership capabilities, fostering partnerships, strengthening institutional capacities, and cultivating resilience to ensure the sustainability of development outcomes.

Background Information, Context, and Purpose of the Internship:

The United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA), headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, serves 46 Country Offices across sub-Saharan Africa. It is primarily responsible for developing high-quality knowledge and policy products while serving as the organization’s primary liaison with regional and continental bodies, such as the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities.

Additionally, the RSCA administers a newly launched, continent-wide Regional Programme aimed at advancing Africa’s transformational agenda in four key priority areas:

• Priority 1 – People: Focused on empowering African citizens, particularly women and youth, to have a more significant voice and influence in policymaking and implementation processes within the African Union, regional economic communities, and other regional mechanisms.
• Priority 2 – Prosperity: Aimed at ensuring that African citizens, especially women and youth, benefit from a regionally integrated, structurally transformed, and inclusive economy.
• Priority 3 – Planet: Geared towards supporting African citizens, particularly women and youth, in building resilience to environmental challenges, with backing from the African Union, regional economic communities, and other regional mechanisms.
• Priority 4 – Peace: Dedicated to assisting African citizens, particularly women and youth, in achieving tangible progress towards sustainable peace, with support from the African Union, regional economic communities, and other regional mechanisms.

The Regional Programme for Africa is firmly focused on addressing the multifaceted challenges confronting the region, with a strong emphasis on eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities. This is achieved by accelerating the structural transformation of economies from agriculture-based to manufacturing and beyond. Moreover, in the wake of the evolving aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a heightened emphasis on building resilience to multidimensional shocks in Africa. These priorities are deeply ingrained in the focus areas of the UNDP RSCA Inclusive Growth (IG) Team, particularly under Priority 2. The IG Team increasingly supports regional development that is not only inclusive and transformational but also sustainable and resilient, aiming to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities over time.

Specifically, within the framework of the African Agenda 2063 and UN SDGs 2030, the primary focus of the IG team is to assist African nations in harmonizing and merging these global and continental agendas for sustainable development into their respective National Development Plans. Furthermore, the UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-25, along with its Renewed Strategic Offer for Africa and the Regional Programme for Africa, have emphasized the need for the IG to collaborate more extensively within and across other thematic teams of UNDP RSCA (such as Gender, Youth, Natural Capital and Environment, Private Sector, Governance, and Resilience). This collaboration aims to develop and deliver a more comprehensive range of services, encompassing integrated policy and program development, assessments, tools and evidence, as well as capacity and implementation support in IG thematic areas. These thematic areas include employment generation, informality, social protection, structural economic transformation, SDG integration, and regional trade within the context of AfCFTA. Additionally, besides its role as an advisory service provider to partner countries, the IG Team remains engaged in implementing regional initiatives through the Regional Programme for Africa.

Given this context, the IG team is currently seeking to onboard three interns to bolster its efforts across the following overarching thematic areas, providing each intern with an opportunity for in-depth exploration in one of the three specified areas:

1. AUC/UNDP Inclusive Blue Economy Flagship: This internship offers candidates the chance to contribute to the development of the AUC/UNDP flagship programme focused on unlocking Africa’s Blue Economy potential within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Candidates passionate about sustainable development, environmental conservation, and inclusive growth will find this role particularly appealing. Interns will be involved in various aspects of the programme, including research, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the design of innovative solutions to address challenges in Africa’s blue economy. This role is ideal for individuals interested in exploring the intersection of environmental sustainability, social inclusivity, growth, and trade within Africa’s aquatic resources.
2. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Integration and Acceleration: Interns selected for this role will work under the overarching theme of assisting Member States in integrating the SDGs and related international and regional commitments into their plans, budgets, and statistics to expedite progress. Specific tasks will be defined during onboarding but are likely to involve collecting country-level data on SDG indicators and targets, as well as analyzing synergies and trade-offs. Additionally, interns may engage directly with the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and member countries as necessary.
3. Innovative approaches on Local Economic Development in the African context: This internship will focus on supporting the IG team in exploring innovative approaches to Local Economic Development (LED) in Africa that leverage the continent’s abundant natural resources in a sustainable, inclusive, and productive manner. Interns will conduct specific research, gather data and evidence, and identify opportunities for integrating LED into Africa’s Inclusive Growth processes through innovative applications.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the Inclusive Growth Team leads on SDG integration, Local Economic Development, and the Coordinator of the AUC/UNDP Inclusive Blue Economy Programme, the intern will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities, based on their chosen thematic area:

1. The AUC/UNDP Inclusive Blue Economy Flagship:
   • Conduct background research on specific themes and contexts related to the Blue Economy in Africa.
   • Analyze policies to propose integrated solutions addressing challenges within Africa’s blue economy.
   • Assist in organizing and participating in stakeholder engagement events.
   • Contribute draft sections for the AUC/UNDP Inclusive Blue Economy Flagship programme.
2. SDG Integration and Acceleration:
   • Collect data on SDG indicators and targets.
   • Analyze synergies and trade-offs among SDG ambitions within and across countries.
   • Engage directly with the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and member countries.
   • Produce a final report summarizing findings and recommendations.
3. Local Economic Development:
   • Review relevant literature and documents pertaining to the concept and application of LED globally.
   • Generate data and evidence from the literature review and compile it into a preliminary report for feedback.
   • Identify potential entry points, in consultation with the IG Team, for designing follow-up policy and programmatic interventions.
   • Share the first draft of the report for feedback and inputs.
   • Produce a draft final report incorporating feedback and inputs received, and submit it for finalization.

All interns will also be required to:

• Attend team meetings.
• Assist in administrative processes as needed.

Competencies:

Core
InnovationAbility to make new and useful ideas work	Level 2: Analyzes complex technical materials (including data) and makes concise, relevant recommendations
LeadershipAbility to persuade others to follow	Level 2: Proactively identifies new opportunities and challenges
People ManagementAbility to improve performance and satisfaction	Level 2: Takes ownership of responsibilities
CommunicationAbility to listen, adapt, persuade and transform	Level 2: Understands, explains and shares information on assigned tasks with accuracy and clarity
DeliveryAbility to get things done while exercising good judgement	Level 2: Meets goals and timelines for delivery of products or services;
Technical/Functional
EconomicsKnowledge of economic concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 2: Execute & Learn: Execute & Learn: Perform defined tasks
Social InclusionKnowledge of inclusive growth, decent employment and social protection concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 2: Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work
EntrepreneurshipKnowledge of Entrepreneurship in the developing world and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations	Level 2:Execute & Learn:Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work
Knowledge ManagementAbility to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge	Level 2: Technical Assistance: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

Education:

• Currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at a recognized and accredited university in the fields of economics, public policy, development studies, or a related area.

Experience:

• While work experience is not mandatory, any relevant experience, particularly in international development, would be advantageous.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in MS Office applications.

Knowledge and Research:

• Understanding of and previous research experience on topics related to international development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and familiarity with the UN system are assets.

Writing and Editing Skills:

• Excellent drafting and editing skills with a keen attention to detail.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills and experience collaborating within multicultural teams, both small and large.

Additional Skills:

• Proficiency in graphic design, visual arts, and/or communications would be beneficial.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English is required, while knowledge of French is desirable.

Internship Requirements:

• The intern is responsible for arranging necessary visas and travel to and from the duty station (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).
• If the intern is not financially supported by any institution or program, UNDP will provide a stipend to cover basic daily expenses such as meals and transportation.
• UNDP does not assume responsibility for costs related to accidents, illness, or death incurred during the internship.
• The intern must provide proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan.
• Interns are not considered staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• Additional information about the UNDP Internship Programme can be found at http://www.undp.org/internships.

Closing Date: March 28, 2024 (Midnight New York, USA)

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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