Innovative finance internship, Generation Unlimited, Programme Group, Remote (2 positions)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Every Right

UNICEF has partnered with leading public and private organizations to launch a global partnership dedicated to expanding opportunity for young people, aged 10-24.  Generation Unlimited (GenU)’s mission is to skill the world’s 1.8 billion young people and connect them to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. It is centered on finding new ways to help every young person to get into school, learning, training, or employment by 2030 — with a focus on those in the greatest danger of being left behind, including girls, the poorest, those with disabilities, young people on the move and those affected by conflict and natural disasters.  

GenU brings together leaders from governments, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, international and civil society organizations, and young people themselves. The partnership will identify, co-create, resource and scale-up innovative solutions to expand opportunity for young people. Effective programmes will be matched with financing and technical support; investors will find viable solutions to invest in and strong accountability mechanisms that provide adequate assurance of results and fiscal management; and young people will participate meaningfully in the co-creation of solutions, informing, advising and helping implement at every step of the way.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of Advisor, Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Chief Executive Officer, in close collaboration with the Programmes, Partnerships, Youth Engagement, and Global Volunteer Initiative teams, the intern will support developing the Innovative Financing Strategy for Generation Unlimited encompassing both, global and country level, to ensure that GenU catalyzes results in support of young people across the world.

By supporting the Advisor, the intern will:

• Deep dive into GenU’s existing programmes and volunteers portfolio worldwide, to understand its functioning
• Deep dive into GenU’s existing partnership modalities
• Deep dive on Innovative Financing modalities that can be leveraged to amplify impact for young people
• Develop a blueprint of GenU 2.0’s Innovative Financing Strategy
• Develop a blueprint of a pilot on Innovative Financing such as through leveraging carbon credits for young people.
• Develop documentation for formulating the new strategy to GenU’s Board on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024

 

Learning benefits:

Learn about UNICEF’s mandate in young people’s development and how Generation Unlimited engages and collaborates with partners, regions and countries. Be a part of a team on the forefront of mainstreaming youth in governance, policy and advocacy.

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will… 

• Be enrolled in or having just completed a graduate academic programme in the field of business administration, public administration, public policy, economics, development studies, or similar fields.
• Have experience in working in public policy, international development, including in banking, financial services, impact investing, development finance, innovative finance, or similar fields is highly desirable
• Have strong analytical and writing skills are required
• Have the ability to synthesize and craft a strategy including compelling pitch decks and visualization is highly desirable
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

The below documents are required.

• Letter of verification from the university that the intern is currently enrolled in a Graduate or undergraduate Degree Program. It should also state the expected graduation date.  Recent graduates are allowed until 2 years after degree completion.
• Copy of their most recent official transcript showing excellent academic performance
• Copy of Identification Card (ID)
• One letter of signed recommendation on letterhead or from professional email address
• Certification of health insurance covering the full internship period

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

 

Remarks:  

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

There is no expectancy of employment at the end of this internship