Economic Research Assistant Intern

Background

Corporate Background:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

Internship Office Background:

The Development Economics Unit (DEU) supports UNDP’s economic analyses and forecasting, policy advisory, socio-economic strategy formulation and programming work, knowledge and experience sharing; economic evaluation and reporting. Led by the Development Economist, the DEU reports directly to the UNDP Resident Representative.

Key Outputs of the DEU include:

• Create, Populate and Maintain an Economic Statistical Database for Economic Policy Analysis and Outlook Forecasting;
• Monitor, Analyze and Forecast the Performance of the Economies of PNG, Oceania, and Asia;
• Prepare economic related reports including a Bi-annual PNG Economic Monitor/PNG Economic Pulse Rate report;
• Provide Economic Analysis to Selected UN assisted projects in PNG;
• Provide Economic Policy Advice to Counterpart Senior Level Government officials and entities including technical policy advice to government counterparts, especially in support of the 2030 Agenda and the introduction of sustainable and inclusive economic policies;
• Collaborate with UN economists in the Asia-Pacific region and lead/support analytical work on regional socio-economic issues;
• Support UNDP’s country office management, including strengthening program development and implementation;
• Draft Bougainville’s Post-Referendum Socio-economic Development Framework, including preparing an analytical piece on Economic and Investment Potential of Bougainville and concept note on the Bougainville Economic and Investment Forum;
• Create a Knowledge and Experience Exchange Program (KEEP-UN) and enter into MoUs with relevant government entities for Engaging in Knowledge and Experience Sharing with Stakeholders through delivering lectures/seminars and doing joint analytical work with think-tanks and universities.

Duties and Responsibilities

To deliver the above outputs, the current and envisaged workload of the unit, the DEU would require the support of intern. The Economic Research Assistant Intern will be directly supervised by the Development Economist to support with delivering the DEU’s work program.

• Support the Development Economist in the economic research work and project economic analyses (20%);
• Support diagnostic research work on Analyzing the Economic Potential of Bougainville (25%);
• Liaise with the think-tanks in PNG as well as Bank of PNG, National Statistical Office, the ADB and World Bank, and concerned Government Departments and the private sector including the PNG Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collating and compiling industry/sector specific data and abroad to collate socio-economic data/information (25%);
• Support the Development Economist in finalizing the report and in contributing to graphics or table preparation and review of facts (10%);
• Support the Development Economist in the preparatory work and in delivering the Bougainville Economic Summit (10%);
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed (10%).

Competencies

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently in the final year of a Bachelors degree; or
• currently enrolled in a Masters degree; or
• have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: Economics, Statistics, Law, Finance, Political Science or related fields.

IT skills:

• Proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• E-Views

Language skills:

• English required;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.