Intern for Data Collecting and Analysis, UNDP

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the UNDP, the Global Policy Network (GPN) is the engine for thought leadership, UNDP’s programmatic work and a vital delivery mechanism of our integration function. The GPN also draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the SDGs.

The SDG Integration Team located with the GPN aims to build a coherent and consolidated 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.

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 with new and alternative sources including digital ‘breadcrumbs,’ satellite data, social media to identify emerging trends and gain new perspectives on issues in development.

The SDG Acceleration Diagnostic initiative aims to build a systems-level approach that creates evidence-based policy options and combines with systematic interrogation of feasibility to drive development impact in the decisive decade. This process will establish best-in-class approaches to connect analytical capabilities and modeling to assess context and develop options, with qualitative methods to evaluate the options against potential bottlenecks. We will work with six (6) pilot countries to test the diagnostic during this project through support from leading experts and all analytical insights will be visualized and made available on UNDP’s Data Futures Platform.

The Data interns will partake in data collection and analysis at a national and subnational level for each of the 6 pilot countries. This in-depth analysis of the country-level landscape with data and knowledge resources will be undertaken to develop a scoping note with national partners. The insights generated from the analytics are a critical input into the diagnostic tool and will help identify accelerators relevant for the specific country context.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Data collecting and analysis Intern will be responsible for the following:

• Undertake a desk review for the selected pilot country to synthesize the SDG current-state and country-level landscape through integrated analytics and review of available data sources and relevant resources.
• Perform regular data collection for socio-economic related indicators at national and sub-national level from primary or secondary data sources
• Maintain data sets and systematically code and enter data points into centralized dataset, ensuring consistency and transparency in approach.
• Continuously scan for new and developing information in order to increase accuracy of information.
• Providing insights and feedback on indicators in order to ensure indicator improvements.
• Double check data quality through spot-check and verification exercises.
• Interpret data, analyze results using statistical techniques and provide ongoing reports that enable tracking various development trends over time.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Interns will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Global Policy Advisor of the SDG Integration, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support/Global Policy Network.
• The Interns will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The Intern will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Duration of the Work - The role is expected to span across three (3) months through support to the SDG Acceleration Diagnostic project.

Duty Station - This assignment will be home-based and will report remotely to the UNDP office in New York, USA.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Self-starter; organized and reliable;
• Able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 suite of tools;

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience conducting primary data collection to measure and assess socio-economic impacts (required);
• Experience conducting analysis on multidimensional development challenges using quantitative and qualitative research methods (required);
• Experience with macroeconomic or microeconomic analysis including policy scenario analysis
• Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level (desired);
• Experience reviewing data from developing regions (desirable);

Language:

• Fluency in English (required);
• Knowledge of another UN language or local language (desired).

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 the amount of USD 1,000 monthly for full time internship 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.