Knowledge Innovation and Solutions Team Internship

EMBEDDING KNOWLEDGE SOLUTIONS IN PUBLIC POLICY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Climate Change and Sustainable Development - Knowledge Innovation and Solutions Team Internship Proposal

Background

Knowledge is indispensable to good public policy. By helping ask better questions, defining problems more appropriately, and developing more feasible options, knowledge is vital to informed decision-making and effective public policy. In Asia and the Pacific, knowledge is produced by many development actors, the academe, private sector, state-funded think tanks, civil society organizations, and international organizations including multilateral development banks. Well-informed policies can foster much-needed projects and programs that support climate change action and sustainable development, drive resources where they are most needed and optimize benefits to and development impact for stakeholders.

ADB defines knowledge solutions as knowledge-based ideas, designs, approaches products, and processes that resolve problems that can be incorporated in and delivered through TA and projects, as well as ADB’s business activities, and valued by its clients for their value-addition.

This internship will support a stocktaking initiative of knowledge outputs and knowledge solutions that have been used in policymaking in Asia and the Pacific. The expected outcome will be an increased understanding of where, when, and how knowledge products are embedded in public policy and how they can be more consistently and effectively serve as drivers for climate action and sustainable development. 

Scope of work

1. Formulation of a conceptual framework on the pathways by which knowledge is embedded in the process of policymaking and resource planning and allocation in developing countries.
2. Preparing a synthesis report highlighting the findings of research work including recommendations to enhance the development impact of knowledge outputs and knowledge solutions.

Detailed tasks

1. Stocktaking of use cases on how knowledge outputs and knowledge solutions have been used in policymaking.
2. Summarize use cases highlighting how knowledge was embedded in the development and approval of a policy and delimiting cases to those linked to climate action and sustainable development.
3. Conduct stakeholder interviews on how knowledge outputs and knowledge solutions have become embedded in public policy and how they can be effectively integrated in policymaking initiatives.
4. Prepare a presentation for discussion with relevant departments in ADB.
5. Finalize a report including the conceptual framework and summaries of the use cases and recommendations for ADB operations.

Deliverables

1. Literature review and survey as part of the stocktaking exercise
2. Presentation on use cases and results of the survey, including recommendations.
3. Final report

Minimum qualification

• The intern should have at least 3 years’ work experience in the public and/or private sector.
• Strong analytical and research skills, as well as excellent English communication and writing skills.  
• Must be a full-time first year student in good standing at LKYSPP i.e. a minimum of GPA of 4.0 out of 5 at the time of application.
• Must be a national of an ADB member country.

Working Arrangements and Reporting Requirements 

Logistical and administrative arrangements for the Program will be as follows:

a. ADB will provide the interns with assistance for the following:

• use of a workstation with computer and phone, ADB email, official documents and public databases, and office supplies for official use; 
  
• initiate the process for obtaining visa from Singapore or other locations, if needed, by providing a “Letter of Acceptance”. Interns will be responsible for visa extension, which can be done through ADB’s in-house travel agency – Marsman Travel; 
• transportation upon arrival;
• briefing and short office tour on the first day;
• contact information of ADB accredited brokers to assist in finding suitable accommodation/housing; and
• ADB Identification Card equivalent to short-term consultant.
• Access to Services: Students are entitled, but not necessarily limited, to the following: (i) access to ADB Library and materials; (ii) learning session designed for interns/students; (iii) participation in in-house learning and development programs at discretion of the supervisor and BPHP; (iv) use of headquarter services (commercial banks, communication center, laundry, etc.); (v) membership in the clubs of ADB upon payment of membership fees, and participation in departmental recreational gatherings; and (vi) access to medical consultation at ADB clinic.
•  Leave: In case of vacation leave, prior approval from supervisors is required. In case of sick leave, subsequent notice to supervisors is required. In both cases, BPHP must be informed. Leave beyond two (2) days needs to be consulted with supervisors and BPHP in advance. 

b. LKYSPP will provide the selected intern with an allowance of up to S$1224 (Singapore dollars) for a 3-month internship e.g. from 3 June 2024 to 23 August 2024. Of the 3 month-internship (i.e. 12 weeks), 9 weeks of the internship will take place in Manila and the remaining 3 weeks will take place remotely. 
 
Based on the NUS Academic Calendar, the summer vacation for 2024 is from 13 May to 4 August 2024. This implied that if a LKYSPP student starts his or her internship with ADB on 3 June, the student can do internship on:

1. a full-time basis for 9 weeks (i.e. 40 hours a week from 3 June to 2 August 2024) and on
2. a part-time basis for 3 weeks (i.e. 16 hours a week from 5 Aug to 23 August 2024).

The total number of internship hours for the 12-week internship (Refer to item 1 + 2) will work out to be 408 hours. If the student worked for 408 hours during the 3-month internship between 3 June to 23 August 2024, the total internship funding provided by the school to the student will be S$1224 for the 3-month internship duration.

If the student worked for less than 408 hours during the internship duration of 3 June to 23 August 2024, the internship funding provided by the school to the student will be pro-rated according to (a) the number of hours worked multiply by (b) the per hourly rate of $3 per hour.

If a student does more than 408 hours of internship during the internship duration of 3 June to 23 August 2024, the funding support provided will still be capped at S$1224.  Any expenses exceeding S$1224 will be covered by the student. The interns will also be covered under the NUS Group Student Insurance.

Please note that the allowance will only be paid at the end of the internship, after all deliverables have been submitted.

This allowance/funding from the School is subject to the following terms and conditions:

Terms and Conditions of LKYSPP Internship Funding/Allowance
a) You successfully meet all the requirements, deliverables and deadlines of the internship, as stipulated above.

b) You continue to be a full-time student in good standing, enrolled in a postgraduate programme at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School), National University of Singapore in Semester 2.

c) You successfully complete the entire duration of the internship. In the event that the internship is prematurely terminated, you are required to report this immediately to the school. The school will then advise on any actions necessary, and reserves the right to claw back the full amount of funding provided.

d) You submit to LKY School Career Services, the following supporting documents, within two weeks of completing the internship/submission of the Final Report:

1. A write-up on your internship experience (minimum 250 words). This will be used to determine whether the School would like to feature your story in our publicity materials. The School may also choose to publish this write-up.
2. A minimum of 3 high-resolution photos featuring highlights of your internship, including at least one showing you ‘in action’ or you with the logo of the internship organization.
3. We understand that you may have done your internship remotely during the last 3 weeks. And in such cases, you may not be able to obtain photos showing you “in action” at your workplace.
   You may record yourself in a video, offering 3 tips to future students who want to do the internship you did. This video can be the deliverable, in replacement of the 3 high-resolution photos.
4.  A confirmation letter from your internship employer stating that the internship is an unpaid internship.
5. Completed feedback form with signature of your internship supervisor. Please request for your supervisor to submit the completed feedback form to AA on the last day of your internship.
6. Organization logo of your internship employer and their written consent for the School to feature their logo on the School's marketing/publicity materials (e.g. website). (Special consideration may be given on a case-by-case basis if the internship employer does not consent to this request).

To apply, please submit a CV through the NUS Talent Connect (JOB ID: 228344).