Job Title: Economic Research Intern (Home-Based)
Organization: UNDP
Location : home-based
Application Deadline : 26-Oct-23 (Midnight New York,
USA)
Job Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract : Internship
Post Level : Intern
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is
expected to start) 01-Nov-2023
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 6 months
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.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment,
including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will,
therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Background
The UN Reform Resolution tasks UNDP to provide countries
with an “integrator function” to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by
tackling multiple interlinked and interdependent development challenges. The
UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) draws on expertise globally to provide more
effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in
achieving the SDGs and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent
manner. Anchored in the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme
Support (BPPS), the GPN has the responsibility for developing all relevant
policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is
aligned with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
An SDG Integration Team located with UNDP’s Global Policy
Network (GPN) offers a 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. The team’s work emphasizes the application of evidence-driven data
and analytics for SDG implementation and reporting.
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
(e.g., national statistics, NHDR like analysis) with new and alternative
sources including digital ‘breadcrumbs,’ satellite data, and social media to
identify emerging trends and gain new perspectives on issues in development.
Another important aspect of the work lies on the development and use of
economic models to I) assess the impact of achieving specific SDGs,
ii)understand how fiscal and monetary policies supports sustainable development
and iii) identify resource allocation, synergies, trade offs, and
opportunities, among other aspects.
Under the guidance of the Global Policy Advisor of the SDG
Integration Bureau for Policy and Programme Support/Global Policy Network, the
Economic Research Interns will support the Integration Team’s within two
workstreams, including (1) Microeconomic Modelling and Analysis, and (2)
Macroeconomic Modelling and Analysis. Please indicate for which track you are
applying for.
Duties and Responsibilities
In the cover note, candidate should indicate the track they
are interested in:
- TRACK
1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
- TRACK
2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis
In the cover note, candidate should indicate the track they
are interested in:
- TRACK
1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
- TRACK
2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis
TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
- Gather,
organize, clean and format data from various sources (e.g., household
surveys, censuses, international databases, etc..), ensuring
accuracy and suitability for analysis
- Support
the development of microeconomic and microeconometric models and analysis
to assess the impact of various development policies/interventions
on specific outcomes
- Conduct
basic statistical and econometric analysis – such as regression and
hypothesis testing - using relevant software (e.g., Stata, R, Excel)
- Conduct
literature reviews of microeconomic research and methodologies, and
synthesize the findings and insights
-
- Support
drafting of different documents (e.g. reports, website content, briefs and
concept notes).
TRACK 2: MACROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
- Assist
in analysing recent and on-going changes in development indicators
- Gather,
organize, clean and format data from various sources (e.g., government
reports, central banks, international databases, etc..), ensuring accuracy
and suitability for analysis
- Support
the development of econometric models (e.g., forecasting, simulations) and
macroeconomics analysis a (e.g., scenario analysis) to assess the impact
of various development policies/interventions on the specific outcomes
- Conduct
basic statistical analysis – such as time series analysis - using relevant
software (e.g., Matlab, GAMS, EViews, R, Excel)
- Support
the update of social account matrixes (SAM) and further development of
structural econometric and general equilibrium models
- Conduct
literature reviews of macroeconomic research and methodologies, and
synthesize the findings and insights
- Support
the drafting of different documents (e.g. reports, website content, briefs
and concept notes).
Competencies
Candidate should have the following competencies:
- Self-starter,
organized, independent and reliable
- Attention
to detail
- Able
to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities
- Demonstrated
ability to successfully interact with individuals of diverse cultural
backgrounds and sensitivity to differing opinions and views
Required Skills and Experience
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.
Education
Background in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics or related
fields. A background in the preferred fields of study indicated below are a
plus.
TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
- Preferred
fields of study: Applied Economics, Microeconomics, Public Policy,
Development, Social Studies or related fields.
TRACK 2: MACROECONOMIC MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
- Preferred
fields of study: Applied Economics, Macroeconomics, Public Policy,
Development, Social Studies or related fields.
Experience related to TRACK 1: MICROECONOMIC
MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
- Experience
conducting primary/secondary data collection (e.g. censuses/household
surveys) and literature review on topics related to development economics
- Experience
conducting microeconomic analysis/research on multidimensional development
challenges using quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Knowledge
of the SDGs and their application at the national/sub-national levels
- Experience
reviewing/analysing data from developing regions
- Experience
working with R, Stata, Python
Experience related to TRACK 2: MACRO ECONOMIC MODELLING
AND ANALYSIS
- Experience
conducting primary/secondary data collection
- Experience
with theoretical and empirical macroeconomic modelling, simulations and
forecasting
- Knowledge
of the SDGs and their application at the national/sub-national levels
- Experience
on macro-economic issues related to developing country/regional context
- Experience
working with Matlab, R, GAMS, Python
Languages
- Excellent
English language skills.
- Knowledge
of another UN language is desirable.
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 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.
Selected candidates must submit following
documents prior to joining:
- Letter
from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
- Copy
of passport;
- A
copy of his/her school transcript;
- Proof
of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and
removal of mortal remains or life insurance and a medical certificate of
good health prior to starting the internship.
- A
signed UNDP Internship Agreement.
Note:
Please indicate for which track you are applying in the
yoiur internship application cover letter:
- TRACK
1: Microeconomic modelling and analysis
- TRACK
2: Macroeconomic modelling and analysis
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