18 February 2019

Internship(s) – Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon, Myanmar

Station: Central Statistical Organization (CSO) in Nay Pyi Taw and Centre for Economic and Social Development (CESD) in Yangon.

The interns will be working in two different organizations during the internship period (4-6 months).

First, the interns will assist the Director of the Industry Section and the Director of the Research and Development Section of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) in Nay Pyi Taw with the project “Towards inclusive development in Myanmar”. This project has two components: (i) an enterprise survey (known by the acronym MEMS) and the development of a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). More details about the project are available at https://www.wider.unu.edu/project/towards-inclusive-development-myanmar. Both the “Myanmar Enterprise Monitoring System (MEMS)” and the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) subprojects are collaborations between the CSO, the Development Economics Research Group (DERG) at the University of Copenhagen (KU) and United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). The central goal of the project is to support policy research and capacity development that aims at improving information and knowledge about economic policy issues and at strengthening CSO’s capability to appropriately address key development challenges associated with the country’s reform process, especially regarding data development for research.

Second, the interns will assist the director of the Centre for Economic and Social Development (CESD) in Yangon with the project “Reintegration Through Active Labor Market Reforms (REALM)”. The overall objectives of REALM are to: (i) Deepen understanding of the impact of recent labor market reforms and (ii) Gain context-specific insights into the complex relationship between labor market reforms and societal reintegration.

The main tasks of the interns will be to assist the two teams at CSO in Nay Pyi Taw and the research team at CESD in Yangon with the implementation (both in terms of deskwork and in the field) of the following tasks in the fall of 2019:

  • Training of CSO and CESD staff (this may include both preparation for field work as well as more course related training and practical data analysis).
  • Assist CESD with the implementation of three research projects related to the impact of (i) Social security provision, (ii) Skill certified worker training and (iii) Minimum wages.
  • Assist CSO with the collection of the second round of MEMS data.
  •  Assist CSO in the compilation of data for use in the development of a new SAM for Myanmar.

 Drafting of documents, papers and policy briefs related to the project.

Terms of internships

The positions will start 1 August 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter. The internship requirement is 30 hours per week. The interns will get a return airfare ticket, travel and health insurance, and costs covered for vaccines and visa permits. Bus tickets between Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon are also refundable by the projects. In addition, a small lump sum of 2,500 USD is payable to each intern to supplement living expenses while stationed in Nay Pyi Taw/Yangon, Myanmar. No extra payments for housing or living expenses are available. However, project related costs while working outside Nay Pyi Taw/Yangon are (subject to prior approval) refunded by the projects.

Information

Further information about the internship can be obtained from Professor John Rand, Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, DK1353 Copenhagen K, email: john.rand@econ.ku.dk.

Application

Applications should be submitted to john.rand@econ.ku.dk

Applications should include the following parts:
- A one page application letter describing your (relevant) skills for the project and your main reasons for applying.
- CV
- Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)

The deadline for applications is 15 March 2019. Applications received later than this date will not be considered. Interviews will be held shortly after the deadline and selected candidates can expect to be notified no later than 15 April 2019.