Applications open for the 2025 World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme Monthly Salary: (CHF4,000)

The 2025 World Trade Organization (WTO) Young Professionals Programme is currently accepting applications. This program is designed for qualified individuals under the age of 32 as of January 1, 2025, from WTO Member countries that are underrepresented in the WTO Secretariat. The aim of the programme is to enhance participants’ understanding of WTO and skills related to international trade issues, with the goal of increasing representation from these Member countries in the WTO and other international organizations.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience at the WTO for a duration of one year, with no possibility of extension.

Monthly Salary: CHF4,000

Key Responsibilities: World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme

Participants will be assigned to a specific division within the WTO Secretariat based on the organization’s needs and the individual’s areas of interest. Each participant can indicate up to three areas of work within the WTO, in order of preference. Potential areas of work may include, but are not limited to, the following (listed alphabetically):

• – Accessions
• – Agriculture
• – Climate change
• – Communications and External Relations
• – Competition Policy
• – Council and Trade Negotiations
• – Digital Trade
• – Dispute Settlement
• – Economic Research and Statistics
• – Government Procurement
• – Intellectual Property Rights
• – Investment Facilitation for Development
• – Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
• – Market Access (tariffs and non-tariff barriers)
• – Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures
• – Technical Barriers to Trade
• – Trade and Development
• – Trade and Environment
• – Trade Facilitation
• – Trade Finance
• – Trade and Gender
• – Trade in Services and Investment
• – Trade Policy Analysis
• – Trade-Related Technical Assistance.
• – Trade Remedies (anti-dumping and countervailing duties)

Education: World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme

Applicants must hold an advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, international relations, law, environment studies, or other trade-related subjects relevant to the work of the WTO. The degree must be obtained before submitting the application.

Knowledge and Skills: World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme

• Candidates should possess a solid understanding of the WTO’s functions.
• They must have technical expertise in at least one of the aforementioned areas.
• Proficiency in drafting documents in English is essential. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is a plus.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a diverse setting is required.
• A demonstrated keen interest in international trade and the multilateral trading system is necessary.
• A strong dedication and enthusiasm for trade or WTO-related activities is expected.

Work Experience:

• Applicants should have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in the field of the WTO.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in French or Spanish is advantageous.

Information:

• Preference will be given to candidates from WTO Members with limited or no representation, as well as those from developing and least developed countries (LDCs) with minimal representation in the Secretariat.
• Priority will be given to developing and LDC WTO Members who have not been part of previous YPP cohorts.

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola*, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Botswana*, Brunei Darussalam*, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde*, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic*, Chad*, Chile, Congo*, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo*, Djibouti*, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon*, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada*, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau*, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong China, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait*, Kyrgyz Republic*, Lao People’s Democratic Republic*, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao China, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Republic of Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar*, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger*, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar*, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis*, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa*, Saudi Arabia*, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone*, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands*, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname*, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga*, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates*, Uruguay, Vanuatu*, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen*, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Please note that this Programme only accepts applications from nationals of WTO Members. We strongly encourage female candidates to apply.

To apply for the World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme

• All applications must be submitted in English and accompanied by a cover letter of motivation. The cover letter should indicate up to three areas of work, in order of preference, that the applicant would be interested in. Please note that applications without a cover letter of motivation will not be considered.
• For details visit the Official Webpage of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Young Professionals Programme.
• Deadline: April 2nd, 2024