Intern - Sustainable Finance, I at UN-Habitat

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background; the intern's assigned office as well as the internship period.

Under the direct supervision of the Special Advisor to the Executive Director, the intern will:

Project Development

• Assist with project development and feasibility analysis of a range of UN-Habitat projects.
• Support due diligence and bankability assessment of projects within the CIF pipeline in tandem with implementing partners external to UN-Habitat.
• Assist in the identification and incorporation of ESG and SDG-oriented analysis and decision support methodologies within the CIF.
• Assist with developing a database and analysis of relevant investors and financiers who can support these CIF projects.

Sustainable Finance and Investment

• Liaise with current and potential partners in the areas of commercial and private investment, and developing project pipelines.
• Support the development of partnership agreements, memorandums of understanding, work plans, and other relevant materials for CIF relationships with partners as required.
• Contribute to developing and operationalizing CIF’s strategy, roadmap, and business model.
• Assist with developing a database and analysis of relevant donors, investors, and financiers who can support the work of UN-Habitat and CIF.

Marketing and Communication

• Assist in designing and implementing the overall marketing strategy for CIF.
• Draft, format, edit and post original web site content/news stories/ social media content, including graphics, photographs, and video.
• Conduct research on thematic issues.
• Assist with planning and producing marketing campaigns across CIF social media channels.
• Contribute to internal UN-Habitat publications.
• Prepare specific content and materials (documents, reports, strategies) designed for the public, working closely with external partners, in English.
• Prepare promotional presentations and distribute marketing materials.

Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including facilitating meetings.
• Proficient in the Office Suite, particularly, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of ESG and principles of sustainable finance (blended finance, public-private partnerships, etc.).
• Understanding of principles of organizational design, strategy and business model development, operations management, partnerships building, and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of Investment analysis in a Public-Private Partnership framework
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the social and mass media marketing management and techniques is preferred.

All roles:

• Contribute to or develop a personal project of their own that aligns with the intern’s interests and the agency’s sustainable financing work.
• Enhance the internal flow of information and communication through the preparation of briefing notes, minutes of meetings, and through the web

Competencies

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent
• Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office).
• Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter and the New Urban Agenda;
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of studies:

• Sustainable Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Social Governance, Socially Responsible Investment, Economics, and/or related Social Science field, including Economic and Human Geography, Political science, urban studies, and business-oriented urban planning.
• Previous experience with Urban Development, Infrastructure, Sustainability, Urban Financing, Sustainable Financing, and International Development is preferred but not required.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, and the ability to network is asset.
• Strong sense of independent work and being quick learner is an asset.
• An appetite to contribute to strategic planning and astute strategic thinking is an asset.
• Strong understanding of the urban context, infrastructure development processes, and de-risking of international development projects.
• Excellent command of UK English, business English and an understanding of tailoring language based on the audience.

Work Experience

• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.