Internship - Financial Assessment, Business Development Cash-Based Transfers Unit/FINB, Rome, Italy

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Internship - Financial Assessment

Business Development Cash-Based Transfers Unit (FINB)

HQ Rome HQ.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill an intern position for the Business Development Cash-Based Transfers Unit (FINB) based in Rome HQ.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIVISION

The Corporate Finance (FIN) Division serves as an adviser to internal stakeholders by providing financial guidance in support of corporate projects. It works to create innovative partnerships with financial sector actors and humanitarian partners and develops tools and guidance for effective financial management. Efforts in the area of capacity building help to ensure that WFP’s finance staff are empowered and updated on new financial landscapes and latest technologies. The function adapts to emerging financial management practices and technologies with innovative projects and process re-engineering meant to maximise WFP’s efficiency in the use of resources.

Cash-based transfers (CBT) represent an increasing share of WFP’s total humanitarian assistance (34 percent in 2021), and include assistance distributed as physical banknotes, e-money, mobile money, vouchers, or debit cards.

In support of WFP's global scale up of cash-based transfers, the Corporate Finance function through the Business Development and Cash Based Transfers Branch (FINB) is tasked to scale up an effective and efficient CBT distribution, as well as to build capacities of finance and non-finance management for handling financial aspects of CBT interventions. On this regard FINB has recently developed corporate tools and guidance, providing day-to-day technical advice and assistance to Country Offices while also undertaking a range of other strategic activities and engagements internally as well as with external service providers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Title of Post: Internship
• Supervisor: Head of the Financial Sector Intelligence and Innovation
• Unit: FINB
• Country: Italy
• Duty Station: Homebased position for HQ Rome
• Duration of internship: 8 months
• Expected Start Date: 1 November 2023

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the Supervision of the Head of the Financial Sector Intelligence and Innovation, the candidate will support the Financial Sector Intelligence (FSI) in the humanitarian sector. Main tasks include:

• Conduct market research into data collection from external channels such as FSPs’ webpage, Central Banks’, and other international sources (e.g., WB and IMF);
• Assist in supporting COs with the completion of the FSI;
• Assist in the improvement of the automation and benchmarking of the FSI template;
• Collect lessons learned and make proposals to further improve the tool;
• Assist in the consolidation of available material and secondary information into multi-facetted report, ad-hoc documentation and communication material for local use and global reusability;
• Provide overall support to the FSI team in its various activities;
• Other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Currently enrolled in at least two years undergraduate or graduate programme from a recognized university OR recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate programme (within six months prior to the application to the internship programme) in Economics or Finance, Business Administration or related fields.
• University course attendance in the past 12 months.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Overall understanding of market research
• Knowledge of global financial markets, sub-sectors and financial institutions
• Overview of payment instruments and related regulatory settings
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a diverse team

WORKING LANGUAGES

• Excellent written and spoken English is required (proficiency/level C).
• Knowledge of another additional UN language is a plus

SUPERVISION

Direct supervision of the Head of the Financial Sector Intelligence and Innovation (FSII). Chief, FINB will be the second-level supervisor.

TRAINING COMPONENTS

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, weLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

LEARNING ELEMENTS

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should deliver:

• Revised and come up with a more automated version of the FSI template 2024
• Assisted in the data collection for all assigned countries
• Collection of FAQ on the FSI and collection of lessons learnt
• Provided ad-hoc reporting

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

• VA Reference no: 828969
• Closing Date: 27 August 2023 at 11:59pm Rome time

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.
• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.
• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.
• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.
• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Saving Lives

Changing Lives