Partnerships and Financing for Development - Intern

Job Description

Work Location

• Mbabane, Eswatini

Expected Duration

• 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

• The United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) leads the UN Country Team (UNCT), comprising all UN entities present in Eswatini, and represents the UN Secretary-General to the Government.
• The RC’s main objective is to bring together UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities, ensuring the UN is a relevant and reliable partner to the government.
• The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports the RC and the UNCT through inter-agency coordination, providing strategic, operational, and analytical assistance.

Key Functions of the RCO include:

• Strategic analysis, planning, and positioning of the Country Team.
• Preparation and monitoring of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Support to joint UN programming and operations management.
• Provision of policy guidance.
• Joint advocacy and communications.

Background and Purpose of the Role:

• Following UN General Assembly Resolution 72/279 on the repositioning of the UN Development System, the UNSDCF is the central planning instrument guiding UN support for the 2030 Agenda.
• The Assistant Economic Analyst will provide evidence-based economic policy analysis and advice to support the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Eswatini.
• The intern will work under the supervision of the Partnerships and Financing for Development Officer, with secondary guidance from the Team Leader and Strategic Planner.

Internship Details:

• Duration: 6 months.
• Type: Unpaid, in-person internship at the duty station in Mbabane, Eswatini.

Responsibilities:

• Support the mapping, analysis, and engagement of strategic stakeholders.
• Enhance the RCO’s capacity to identify and engage with new and existing partners.
• Conduct research and analysis to inform partnership and financing strategies.
• Support coordination efforts across UN agencies and external partners.
• Gain exposure to multilateral development work, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning processes.

Qualifications / Special Skills:

• No professional experience required.
• Applicants must be:
• • A student in the final year of a first university degree (bachelor or equivalent),
  • Enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. programme, or
  • A recent graduate (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. within the past year).
• Preferred field of study: Economics, economic policy and planning, economic policy management, public policy, or related fields.
• Knowledge of Eswatini’s social and economic development context.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills (e.g., econometric tools, Microsoft Office, data analysis).
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Interest in UN coordination, volunteerism, and sustainable development.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Siswati is desirable.

Additional Information:

• Applicants with previous UN internship experience should provide details (entity, start and end dates).
• Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations.
• Travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or sponsoring institution.
• Non-resident interns may need to obtain appropriate visa and work authorization before starting

Deadline : Nov 26, 2025