Sample cover letter for Internship position at UNCDF

I am writing to express interest in the Financial Inclusion Policy Intern position.

I am a candidate for a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, concentrating in Economic and Political Development. I completed undergraduate work at the University of Michigan, Economics.

My international background includes 18 years of residence in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. I have two years of experience living and working in Accra, Ghana and I have spent 10 months residing in Lomé, Togo. I am at the intermediate French level, and I am currently enrolled in French for International Affairs.

I spent this past summer working in micro-finance in Accra, Ghana with Eco-Bank Accion. In addition to my responsibilities as Risk-Credit Intern, I conducted an independent research project on the impact of micro savings on vendor households, and developed a holistic working definition and model of financial literacy. My project included a literary review on the impact of financial literacy training programs on female microfinance clients in Bhopal, India.

I will apply the same initiative I took in conducting this independent research project to my activities as Financial Inclusion intern. Specifically, I will bring the following experience and capabilities:

• Micro-Finance: In Ghana, I evaluated prospective clients for business loans through financial, business and home evaluations. I worked with deposit collectors in Accra’s commercial hub to collect daily deposits from vendors. At Columbia University, I completed a research project titled: “Micro-savings as a sustainable complementary financial product and poverty-alleviating vehicle”. The thesis of this paper is that micro- savings can alleviate the vulnerability poor households face that cause them to disinvest in the efforts and endeavors that would improve their welfare.
• Quantitative Analysis: I successfully completed Econometrics I and II at Columbia University. I am able to analyze quantitative results of research papers to evaluate and critique the impact of a micro-finance program.
• Development Case Study Tools: I am currently taking Methods for Development where I am learning how to use tools (Log-frame Approach, Institutional Analysis and Stakeholder Analysis) that are frequently used in UN reports and will be useful in writing case studies.

  I have the organizational skills, initiative and independence to work on assignments effectively with minimal supervision. I am committed to the UNCDF mission, as well as firm believer that micro-finance is a powerful development tool. I look to discussing how I can contribute my skills and experience to the UNCDF team.

  I would appreciate an opportunity to go into further detail about your requirements and my qualifications in a personal interview.

  Thank you for your consideration,