INTERN - Sustainable Finance

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. In total, UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries to advance the achievement of the Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local level, in accordance with the commitments and principles set out in the New Urban Agenda. The position is located within the Cities Investment Facility, Office of the Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, Nairobi, Kenya.

The Cities Investment Facility (CIF) is a multi-stakeholder, partner-driven initiative of UN-Habitat. The Facility enables the flow of capital into urban development by supporting projects through the process of ideation, feasibility, development and financial close. It complements existing investment facilities and market-making services by enhancing early-stage project design and origination, particularly in low and middle-income countries and secondary cities.

The Cities Investment Facility (CIF) plays a critical role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by unlocking private capital for urban infrastructure development projects. This role will support the facilitation and delivery of project preparation support to high-potential urban infrastructure projects around the world, which are selected and admitted into the CIF Project Pipeline.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Sustainable Finance internship is for six months. Multiple internship positions are available.

The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

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

Under the supervision of the Special Advisor to the Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director, the interns will contribute to Cities Investment Facility team in the following ways;

⢠Project Development.
The intern will:
- Support the delivery of ideation, feasibility analysis, and project preparation support to sustainable urban development infrastructure projects in the CIF Project Pipeline.
- Engage with CIF Implementing Partners â global experts delivering project preparation support â to track, monitor and guide the project preparation process.
- Support and facilitate project assessment, due diligence and bankability assessment processes of projects within the CIF Project Pipeline.
- Assist in the identification and incorporation of ESG and SDG-oriented analysis and decision support methodologies within the CIF.
- Assist the development of a Donor Tracker: a database and analysis of relevant investors and financiers engaged by UN-Habitat, in support of launching a new Feasibility Fund Creating agendas, presentation materials, taking action notes and providing follow-up engagement, for internal UN-Habitat and external Partner meetings.

⢠Sustainable Finance.
The intern will:
- Liaise with current and potential partners in the areas of commercial and private investment and developing project pipelines.
- Support the development of partnership agreements: including memorandums of understanding, budgets, work plans, marketing collateral and other relevant materials for CIF relationships with partners as required.
- Contribute to developing and operationalizing CIFâs 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.

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:
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 program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent).
c. Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint).

Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of studies:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Sustainable Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Social Governance, Socially Responsible Investment, Economics, or related social science field including economic and human geography, political science, urban studies and business oriented urban planning.

Person Specification:
- Strong organizational skills and action-oriented delivery of tasks.
- Understanding of ESG and principles of sustainable finance (blended finance, public private partnerships, etc.).
- Basic understanding of financial performance metrics (discounted cash flow, profitability assessments, etc.) and decision analysis.
- Understanding of project management and tracking.
- Strong interest in sustainable urban development, and a passion for UN-Habitatâs work; a particular interest in energy policy would be beneficial.
- With six months to 1 year of experience in a similar role preferred, with a strong interest in developing a career in international events and project management.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Ability to work proactively and collaboratively as part of a diverse team across multiple time zones.

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.

Background in sustainable finance, banking, international relations, economics, financing or developing urban development projects, or other social science fields is required.

Commitment to gaining a strong understanding of the urban context, infrastructure project development processes and the de-risking of international development projects is desirable.

Excellent command of UK English, business English and an understanding of tailoring language based on audience is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete a short-written assessment.

Further shortlisted candidates may be invited to a final interview.

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:
1.A completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

- Title of the degree you are currently pursuing.
- Graduation Date.
- IT skills and programmes you are proficient in.
- Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2.Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

3.A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

United Nations Considerations

According to article , paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term âsexual exploitationâ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term âsexual abuseâ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term âsexual harassmentâ means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetratorâs working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI//3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on âManualsâ in the âHelpâ tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.