Inclusive Innovation Journey Intern

Contract

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

Background

Launched at the United Nations in 2008, Business Call to Action (BCtA) aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by challenging companies to develop and grow inclusive business models that engage people at the base of the economic pyramid (BoP) as consumers, producers, suppliers, distributors of goods and services and employees. Over 270 companies, ranging from multinationals to small and medium social enterprises, and working in 82 countries, have responded to this call to action by committing to improve the lives and livelihoods of millions in developing countries through access to markets, financial services, affordable healthcare, water and sanitation, education and other critical services.

BCtA is piloting the Inclusive Innovation Journey a program that deals with facilitating the replication and adaptation of global innovation processes. It is focused on an upstream process to seed the ecosystem of local entrepreneurs with inclusive models so that governments have viable options of essential services providers, sensitized to the needs of low-income populations, from which to draw downstream. In order to ensure the replication effort is appropriately context-oriented and the innovation process is truly inclusive, solutions must be adapted to the needs and reality of local low-income populations as a central concern.

With the goal of promoting collaboration between governments and inclusive businesses through fostering the deployment of B4G services, the Inclusive Innovation Journey includes two capacity-building tracks: one for social enterprises and one for policymakers. At the end of the journey, a solution developed by an enterprise will be implemented within the government that will guarantee its delivery for low-income communities.

The upcoming pilots of the Inclusive Innovation Journey will be run in the sectors of telehealth and agribusiness.

The Inclusive Innovation Journey Intern will work in close collaboration with BCtA team members under the supervision of the Programme Manager, and benefit from broader interaction and engagement with UNDP’s Finance Sector Hub staff.

The intern will benefit from knowledge exchange and working experience with a group of highly motivated development professionals in UNDP. S/he will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in day to day work while benefiting from effective guidance and support from supervisors and team.

Possibilities for networking and sharing experience are significant, tough within the limitations of a virtual environment should the pandemic evolution not allow physical presence in UNDP’s premises.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key duties and responsibilities for this position include:

1. Support in the implementation of Inclusive Innovation Journey (IIJ)
2. Collaborate with the Programme Manager to coordinate the delivery of the training sessions for enterprises and policymakers
3. Research on similar initiatives to bring in points of improvement for the IIJ
4. Assist in the development of BCtA’s portfolio of tools
5. Mapp potential partners/content/service providers (inclusive of UNDP country offices) for the deployment of IIJ in new countries
6. Support the team in other activities, including but not limited to conducting research on inclusive business topics, preparing speaking points, and developing presentation and communication materials.

Competencies

• Strong analytical, research, reporting, and writing abilities.
• Team player; works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Able to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: listening and collaborating with a wide range of players, working in an international environment, being proactive, and taking initiative and responsibility.

Required Skills and Experience

Required skills and experience

Experience

Experience in incubator programs is an asset.

Experience in working with inclusive businesses and/or policymakers are an asset

Experience in the innovation department of an organization is an asset.

Education

Enrolled in graduate studies on business, international business, economics, or related fields.

Language

• Strong spoken and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Conditions

• UNDP interns receive a monthly stipend during the assignment;
• The intern can work from home;
• The intern is expected to be reasonably flexible with call times as needed;
• The intern must provide proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan;
• The intern must provide proof of university enrollment;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• 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 programs.

Application Procedure

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post.
• Current and complete CV in English.

Please group all your documents into one single PDF document as the system only allows you to upload a maximum of one document.

Candidates who are selected must submit before the interview the following documents:

• Official document(s) confirming your education status are stated in the Eligibility section above.
• Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the internship's location will be carried out. Selected interns must have medical and life insurance.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.

Subsequent Employment

The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies.

Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. More information is available at: http://www.undp.org/internships/

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Eligibility

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

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree program (such as a master’s program, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

(c) Have recently 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.

A person who is the child or sibling of a UNDP staff member is not eligible to apply for an internship at UNDP. An applicant who bears any other family relationship with a UNDP staff member may be engaged as an intern, provided that they must neither be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor be placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member.