Internship- Inclusive Growth Team- RBAS Regional Hub

Background

Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in line with the priorities outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) supports the Arab States region to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development, and building resilience to crises and shocks. Within this work, the Regional Bureau for Arab States responds to needs across development settings including Least Developed Countries, Middle Income Countries, Net Contributor Countries and countries affected by crisis, with a view to support the building of resilience, fight climate change, leverage the promise of innovation, and prioritize the advance of women, youth and vulnerable groups as part of its commitment to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind in an increasing challenging regional context which has been further impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

The RBAS Regional Hub provides expanded technical backing to Country Offices and ensures effective, timely and responsive support focused on UNDP’s realigned programme priorities and tailored to the emerging and changing needs and priorities in the region. The Regional Hub in Amman offers a wide range of support to Country Offices including knowledge services, and operations, strategic policy advice, programme development and implementation, capacity development, policy research and analysis in various thematic areas. The Inclusive Growth team is one of those teams.

The team supports partners in the region to develop integrated, transformative and scalable solutions to tackle the interconnected challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and exclusion, in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. The team assists in enhancing prospects for inclusive growth, jobs and livelihoods at national and local levels, including through economic recovery and resilience-building in crisis and post crisis contexts, focusing on empowering women and youth, and advancing opportunities for the most vulnerable. It also supports research, policy and program guidance around: macroeconomic stability, private and financial sectors, fiscal policy and public finance management, economic transformation, social protection, women economic empowerment, urban and digital economy, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern is expected to consolidate and document UNDP's current approach and portfolio on livelihoods, economic recovery, resilience-building in crisis and post crisis contexts in the Arab Region and private and financial sectors, including engaging youth, women, and marginalized populations and ensuring cross-sectoral integration and sustainability. The intern will work under the day to day supervision of the Policy/ Programme Specialist for Livelihood, Economic Recovery and SMEs and overall guidance of the Inclusive Growth Team Leader.

 Specific tasks toward attaining these include:

• Conducting data collection, desk reviews of existing research and literature on Livelihood and Economic Recovery in Arab States, including in crisis and post crisis contexts, and desk review of what UNDP has been doing in Arab countries in realizing structural transformation, and implementing SDGs, and other tasks as required;

• Conducting research and analysis on private and financial sectors in the region; reviewing analytical studies and supporting the preparation of regional and country level policy documents.

• Collecting and analyzing data, case studies, and other existing data sourced from Arab countries.

• The intern may also be asked to:

  • Prepare policy briefs, sector scan, status papers on development challenges based on desk review studies and analysis for evidence-based advocacy and policy development in the relevant field.;
  • Assist in the development of new or ongoing initiatives, including review of policy literature in respect to the subject to enhance UNDP programming in the relevant field within the Arab Region;
  • Document good practices, cases studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing;
  • Prepare conceptual framework / concept notes on new areas of work or development challenges;
  • Assist in the development of technical support in development of new interventions or projects;
  • Prepare and review project documents;
  • Perform any other assignment given by the Team Leader (inclusive growth) or the Policy/ Programme Specialist for Livelihood, Economic Recovery and SMEs

Competencies

Professionalism:• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;• Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement;• Ability to work under pressure;

Communication:• Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively;• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;

Teamwork:• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;• Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;Planning & Organizing:• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resource for completing work;Accountability:• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honor commitments;• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;• Supports subordinates, provide oversight and take responsibility for delegated assignments;• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in Economics, Statistics, Business, Finance or related field;

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Statistics, Business, Finance or related field;

(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) in Economics, Statistics, Business, Finance or related field and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience:

Excellent communication skills; Ability to write clearly and concisely;

Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds;

Good command of information and communication technology.

Some knowledge of the Arab region would be helpful.

Languages:

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Arabic and French language skills would be an asset but not necessary.

Stipend

• The monthly amount of the stipend will be determined for each duty station based on the stipend rates published yearly by the OHR Policy and Compensation Unit. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.

• No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with an internship agreement.