Economic Research Intern

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background

The UN Reform Resolution tasks UNDP to provide countries with an “integrator function” to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by tackling multiple interlinked and interdependent development challenges. The UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the SDGs and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. Anchored in the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the GPN has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

An SDG Integration Team located with UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN) offers a menu of services emphasizing direct short- to medium-term engagements to respond rapidly to requests from country offices for support on national implementation and monitoring of integrated policy solutions, qualitative and evidence-driven analysis for accelerated progress, and knowledge sharing and upscaling of innovative approaches to sustainable development. The team’s work emphasizes the application of evidence-driven data and analytics for SDG implementation and reporting.

In this regard, advances in digital technology are creating data at unprecedented levels of detail and speed, turning the stories of people’s lives into numbers every minute of every day, across the globe. An important focus of the integration work is to complement traditional data (e.g., national statistics, NHDR like analysis) with new and alternative sources including digital ‘breadcrumbs,’ satellite data, and social media to identify emerging trends and gain new perspectives on issues in development. Another important aspect of the work lies on the development and use of economic models to I) assess the impact of achieving specific SDGs, ii)understand how fiscal and monetary policies supports sustainable development and iii) identify resource allocation, synergies, trade offs, and opportunities, among other aspects.

Under the guidance of the Global Policy Advisor of the SDG Integration Bureau for Policy and Programme Support/Global Policy Network, the Economic Research Interns will support the Integration Team’s within two workstreams, including (1) Microeconomic Modelling and Analysis, and (2) Macroeconomic Modelling and Analysis. Please indicate for which track you are applying for.

Duties and Responsibilities

In the cover note, candidate should indicate the track they are interested in:

• TRACK 1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
• TRACK 2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis

In the cover note, candidate should indicate the track they are interested in:

• TRACK 1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
• TRACK 2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis

TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Gather, organize, clean and format data from various sources (e.g., household surveys, censuses, international databases, etc..), ensuring accuracy and suitability for analysis
• Support the development of microeconomic and microeconometric models and analysis to assess the impact of various development policies/interventions on specific outcomes
• Conduct basic statistical and econometric analysis – such as regression and hypothesis testing - using relevant software (e.g., Stata, R, Excel)
• Conduct literature reviews of microeconomic research and methodologies, and synthesize the findings and insights
• Support drafting of different documents (e.g. reports, website content, briefs and concept notes).

TRACK 2: MACROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Assist in analysing recent and on-going changes in development indicators
• Gather, organize, clean and format data from various sources (e.g., government reports, central banks, international databases, etc..), ensuring accuracy and suitability for analysis
• Support the development of econometric models (e.g., forecasting, simulations) and macroeconomics analysis a (e.g., scenario analysis) to assess the impact of various development policies/interventions on the specific outcomes
• Conduct basic statistical analysis – such as time series analysis - using relevant software (e.g., Matlab, GAMS, EViews, R, Excel)
• Support the update of social account matrixes (SAM) and further development of structural econometric and general equilibrium models
• Conduct literature reviews of macroeconomic research and methodologies, and synthesize the findings and insights
• Support the drafting of different documents (e.g. reports, website content, briefs and concept notes).

Competencies

Candidate should have the following competencies:

• Self-starter, organized, independent and reliable
• Attention to detail
• Able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to differing opinions and views

Required Skills and Experience

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

Background in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics or related fields. A background in the preferred fields of study indicated below are a plus.

TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Preferred fields of study: Applied Economics, Microeconomics, Public Policy, Development, Social Studies or related fields.

TRACK 2: MACROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Preferred fields of study: Applied Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Policy, Development, Social Studies or related fields.

Experience related to TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Experience conducting primary/secondary data collection (e.g. censuses/household surveys) and literature review on topics related to development economics
• Experience conducting microeconomic analysis/research on multidimensional development challenges using quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national/sub-national levels
• Experience reviewing/analysing data from developing regions
• Experience working with R, Stata, Python

Experience related to TRACK 2: MACRO ECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS

• Experience conducting primary/secondary data collection
• Experience with theoretical and empirical macroeconomic modelling, simulations and forecasting
• Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national/sub-national levels
• Experience on macro-economic issues related to developing country/regional context
• Experience working with Matlab, R, GAMS, Python

Languages

• Excellent English language skills.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Conditions of internship

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

• UNDP HQ will provide a stipend 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. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
• Interns will need to use their own laptop/notebook. A workstation with wireless internet access will be provided at the Centre’s facilities and supervisory support provided by the Centre staff;
• 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;
• 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:

Please indicate for which track you are applying in the yoiur internship application cover letter:

1. TRACK 1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
2. TRACK 2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis