Internship Opportunity At UNDP Regional Bureau For Africa
The UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is dedicated to advancing the United Nations Development Programme's Strategic Plan within the Sub-Saharan African region, with a strong focus on eliminating poverty and reducing inequalities. RBA provides strategic oversight and support to forty-six country offices, ensuring alignment with regional and corporate priorities.
The UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) Management Support Team (MST) provides strategic and operational support to RBA senior management and regional operations. MST leads on financial stewardship, performance monitoring, workflow coordination, and operational analytics to support strategic decision-making and ensure timely, accountable, and efficient delivery across RBA.
MST seeks an intern with a strong business / finance academic background, complemented by data analysis skills, to support financial reviews, operational analytics, performance dashboards, and internal management processes.
This internship offers hands-on exposure to financial and operational functions within a global development organization.
The intern will report to the Operations Advisor and will work closely with the operations team, regional advisors, and other stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making processes.
The internship is for a maximum of 6 months. The internship is not paid (however a stipend is provided) and is full-time.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intern will support MST in the following areas :
Financial & Business Support (Primary)
- Support financial analysis, budget monitoring, and expenditure tracking
- Assist in reviewing financial reports and COA / PTAEO mapping
- Conduct variance and trend analysis on RBA financial metrics
- Assist with financial performance presentations and briefing materials
Data & Analytics
Collect, clean, and analyze programmatic and operational dataSupport development of dashboards and performance tracking toolsAssist in automation of reporting workflowsDevelop clear and compelling data visualizations and dashboards to support decision-makingOperational & Administrative Support
Maintain unit action trackers and workflow logsAssist with planning, documentation, and coordination of meetings / retreatsDraft short briefs, notes, and process documentationKnowledge & Process Support
Document processes and support knowledge managementAssist in preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidance notesOther duties as assigned by the supervisor
Competencies
Professional Competencies
Strong financial and business acumenStrong analytical and quantitative skillsKnowledge of budgeting, financial analysis, and / or data analysis methodsAdvanced MS Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, data cleaning, visualization) requiredExperience using data tools (Excel required; Power BI / Tableau / Python / R an asset)Visual data storytelling skills, including ability to translate complex analysis into clear, compelling visualsExperience designing charts, dashboards, and data-driven narratives for diverse audiencesFamiliarity with data visualization best practices (clarity, accessibility, accuracy, and insight-driven design)Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretionStrong attention to accuracy, quality assurance, and data integrityCore Competencies
Excellent written and verbal communication skillsStrong organizational and time-management abilities, with the ability to manage multiple tasksDetail-oriented, proactive, and solution-driven mindsetAbility to work collaboratively and adapt in a fast-paced multicultural environmentDemonstrated reliability, professionalism, and commitment to learning
Required Skills and Experience
Currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within 1 year) from a Master's or Bachelor's program in :Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration, Data Science, Statistics, or related fieldStrong proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, functions)Experience or coursework with data analysis / visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Python, R) an advantageExcellent written and spoken English (French an advantage)No professional experience required; relevant academic or project experience preferredLearning Objectives
Gain exposure to UNDP operations and corporate systemsStrengthen financial and operational data analysis skillsApply business and process-improvement methodologies in a UN contextDevelop professional communication, reporting, and presentation skillsGain understanding of program management and resource stewardship in a global development organizationEnhance data visualization and narrative-building skills for presenting insights to senior stakeholdersApplication Requirements
CV or P11Cover letterAcademic Credentials / Proof of Academic Enrolment or graduation (within the past 12 months)Proof of medical insurance covering the entire duration of the internshipMedical Certificate of Good HealthNational ID or PassportWriting sample or data / analysis sample preferred but not requiredIntern Conditions
UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship,UNDP offers a modest monthly stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station,All other expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government, or institution,UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and / or illness or death incurred during the internship,The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed,Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship,The intern must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan,Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.