Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for UNDP’s external relations and advocacy functions. The Bureau leads and supports the organization in cultivating, building, and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. These relationships encompass a wide range and a number of key constituencies and development partners, including programme countries, existing and prospective donor countries/emerging economic powers, multilateral institutions such as the IFIs, the European Commission, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia and think tanks, the wider UN system, various UN inter-governmental bodies, as well as global, regional and national media. The main functions of BERA are (1) Resource mobilization, coordination, and partnership management (2) UN & Multilateral coherence; and (3) External Communication to raise UNDP’s profile and improve communication.  BERA’s top priorities over the next 12 months are fundraising and positioning of UNDP in light of the recently agreed Agenda 2030 for sustainable development and UN reform imperatives.

BERA consists of the Directorate, Strategic Analysis Unit, and three Groups: Partnerships (PG) Communications (CG), and UN System Affairs (UNSAG).  In addition, BERA has Representation Offices in five major donor capitals and regional advisors posted in each of the five UNDP regional hubs.

The Public Partnerships Group (PG) facilitates UNDP’s partnerships and actively supports resource mobilization for UNDP’s work globally from governmental and non-governmental actors alike. Within PG, the Financial Institutions Team (FIT) was established in mid-2015 to work across UNDP to support corporate, regional and country-specific collaboration with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), multilateral development banks, regional, sub-regional and national development banks.

Within the Public Partnerships Group, The International Financial Institutions Partnerships team leads the formulation of UNDP’s coherent & strategic priorities with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) and develop partner-specific strategies, working closely with regional/central bureaus and GPN to build, manage, and position strategic partnerships with IFIs and DFIs. The team provides internal advisory services and coordinates on partnerships with IFIs/DFIs inside UNDP, working closely with regional bureaus and GPN to address operational bottlenecks to enable smooth and responsive modality options for working with IFIs at country level. The team also provides internal knowledge and capacity building (research, analysis, trainings), works closely with other parts of the house to implement IFI external engagement opportunities ; and builds internal and external networks and partnerships to support quality UNDP thought leadership vis a vis IFIs/DFIs. As part of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, the team also works to diversify IFI partners while deepening collaboration with existing IFIs around sustainable & green financing. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and direction of the IFI Partnership Analyst, the Intern will undertake tasks from the list below. Learning and mentoring as well as facilitating exposure to a range of experiences for the intern will be an explicitly targeted goal during the internship.

Strengthen strategic external communications planning:

• Develop an Excel-based communications content planning schedule drawing on available data of projects from various internal sources (eg: Power BI, Salesforce)
• Track ongoing UNDP projects supported by IFIs globally and identify/alert on opportunities to communicate externally about them through human interest stories, media advisories or announcements, social media etc. in collaboration with Communications Team

Support with the organization of virtual/in-person events

Generate data, research analysis and mappings:

• Analyze financial data in Microsoft Power and create Excel databases, graphs, charts, etc. to ensure up-to-date data
• Undertake analyses and mappings of IFIs strategies, strategic initiatives, funding announcements, annual or other key meetings and policy documents/reports and summarize for UNDP’s consumption
• Maintain up-to-date bullet points of summarized financial progress and results, meeting briefs, and other routine updates
• Monitor publicly available websites, news, and social media on a daily basis and enter relevant IFI partner intelligence in Salesforce

Strengthen internal knowledge management:

• Research and update IFI Profiles and IFI Partnerships Snapshots based on existing template in Canva
• Support the update and maintenance of internal knowledge products and training materials in UNDP’s internal Sharepoint, including IFI Partnerships  Toolkit
• Support with the design of pitch/presentation decks for use in various fora
• Support the organization of missions, meetings, events, webinars, etc
• Prepare meeting minutes/notes to file; and undertake follow-up actions as needed including timely management of internal filing system, files for intranet pages and Salesforce
• Participate in assigned internal meetings, take notes, and prepare after-meeting summary notes and actions.

Competencies

• Data expertise: Required proficiency in creating data sets from Microsoft Excel data, Power BI. Knowledge of Salesforce useful.
• Innovation: Has interest in developing materials and working off existing templates using tools including Canva, Microsoft Sharepoint and Powerpoint for editing internal knowledge content, pitch decks, and other resources.
• Interest in development-related areas, multi-stakeholder engagement, international or multilateral organizations.
• Problem solving: Has good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data for practical implementation.
• Teamwork: Communicates effectively when working in a team, and can work independently with a proactive attitude and a goal-oriented mindset
• Planning and Organization: Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities.
• Collaboration: Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Has interest and motivation in working in an international organization.
• Commitment to continue learning: Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.
• Delivery: Is a self-starter and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set; good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities, effective when working in teams and independently.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s / postgraduate university in international relations, political science or related field.
• Enrollment in graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent or higher).
• Enrollment in the final academic year of a university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent). A university degree within one year of graduation.

Relevant national/international experience in development, international relations, financing, management, communications, business consulting, knowledge management or related field.

Deliverables:

• Internal and external project monitoring databases developed and/or maintained on Excel
• Communications content planning calendar developed and maintained,
• Consistently monitoring of UNDP-IFI stories, development of social media messages and graphics
• Consistent tracking of UNDP projects tracked and disseminated for Salesforce and for external communications opportunities (eg: social media)
• Timely summaries of meetings, after-action points developed and shared to ensure greater internal coordination and coherence
• Standard Presentations developed; talking points gathered or developed;
• Support to the development of briefs for high-level visits, meetings and other outreach activities;
• Intranet/web presence updated and enhanced, specifically the update of UNDP’s IFI Toolkit site on Sharepoint

General administration and logistical support provided including meetings, events, workshops, webinars, etc.