Background

The Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development (GCTISD) is a joint initiative by the Government of Singapore and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to identify and co-create technological and innovative solutions to help countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals. We draw on the expertise of innovative talent in Singapore and around the world, and curate partnerships that will allow us to take this know-how to the places where it is needed most.

Our areas of focus are Sustainable and Digital Agriculture, Smart Cities and Digitalisation, and Sustainable Finance. For each of our programmes we are bringing together policymakers, practitioners, leading private sector actors, entrepreneurs, civil society, and other stakeholders to build practical solutions that will create lasting impact through deep collaboration.

SUSTAINABLE AND DIGITAL AGRICULTURE

The world needs to feed ten billion people in 2050, which will require increasing food production by up to 98 percent within the next 30 years. At the same time, we need to mitigate the effects of this production boost on the environment and natural resources, given that agriculture accounts for around a fourth of global greenhouse gas emissions and two-thirds of global freshwater withdrawals and consumption. Additionally, given the adverse impact of climate change on weather patterns and natural resources, there is a need to make agriculture climate resilient.

The Global Centre is engaged in scaling the adoption of digital technologies, including emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), to transform agri-food systems globally and make them sustainable and resilient. Technology can play a key role in improving agricultural productivity, reducing the need of agricultural inputs, increasing incomes of smallholder farmers, preventing food loss and waste, and enabling greater inclusion of disadvantaged groups including women farmers.

The Global Centre seeks to an Intern to support software development, product management, and partnership development. Our Interns will be given the opportunity to work on assignments that complement their academic studies and connect with the thematic focus of the Centre. 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Full stack web/mobile application development with a variety of coding languages;
  • Create consumer products and features using at a minimum Python;
  • Implement web or mobile interfaces using XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript;
  • Build report interfaces and data feeds;
  • Integrate and build a remote sensing data product;
  • Thematic desk research and writing assignments on various topics under Sustainable and Digital Agriculture, including on agri-food tech trends and developments, and press releases or articles that feature the work under this focus area;
  • Developing concept notes on initiatives aligned with the workstream;
  • Editing articles, briefs, documents, and other relevant written work;
  • Research and outreach for partnership development with actors in the agri-food space, including for existing and potential partners;
  • Developing simple multimedia content and collaterals for the Centre’s website, social media platforms, and other outreach platforms;
  • Assisting in the reviewing of strategies, programme design, and workplans for initiatives under the workstream;
  • Event management support for the Centre’s activities (in person and online);
  • Ad-hoc support to the GCTISD Director and staff.

Competencies

Candidate should have the following competencies:

  • Self-starter; organized and reliable;
  • Able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities;

Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to differing opinions and views.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications and requirements

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic requirements:

  • (a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  • (c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) 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.

Education:

Please refer to the above academic requirements.

  • Preferred fields of study: engineering and technology (computer science, electrical and electronics, systems); agriculture technology; food science and technology.

Experience:

  • Experience developing data products with emerging digital technologies (AI, blockchain, IoT, etc.) is desirable;
  • Experience working with big data, optimization, and object-oriented design is desirable;
  • Interest in digital agriculture, agri- and food-tech venture capital firms or startups is desirable;
  • Computer literacy in standard office software applications is essential;
  • Experience with social media for organisations, graphic design software, and/or working on publications is an added advantage;
  • Familiarity with international development and public service challenges is an added advantage.

Languages:

  • Excellent English language skills.
  • Knowledge of a second language is desirable.

Application Process

Internship candidates are expected to submit electronically through the UNDP job portal:

Note: UNDP internship application form, CV and original text need to be combined in one PDF document for upload.

Conditions of internship

I Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarize themselves with prior to applying:

  • UNDP GC-TISD will provide a stipend in the amount of SGD859.13 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship Policy.;
  • Any further costs associated with the internship must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs;
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan;
  • UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
  • The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. Interns must not apply for or be appointed to a position that should be encumbered by a staff member during the period of their internship;
  • Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
  • UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

Selected candidates must submit following documents prior to joining:

  • Letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
  • Copy of passport and Singapore visa (or visa status);
  • A copy of his/her school transcript;
  • Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance and a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship.
  • A signed UNDP Internship Agreement.

Note: GC-TISD will consider both duty station and home-based options for this internship. Only short-listed candidates will be contracted.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.