The World Trade Organization (WTO) Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is now accepting applications from qualified young professionals under the age of 32, as of January 1, 2025, from WTO Members with limited or no professional representation in the WTO Secretariat. The programme aims to enhance participants’ knowledge of WTO and skills in international trade issues, with the goal of broadening their representation in the WTO and other regional and international organizations. Selected young professionals are given a unique opportunity to gain work experience in the WTO.

Key Details

Duration: One-year programme without possibility of extension.

Monthly Salary: CHF 4,000

General Functions

Selected young professionals will be assigned to a specific Division of the WTO Secretariat based on their interests and the needs of the organization. Each participant can express interest in up to three areas of WTO work, indicating their order of preference.

Areas of work include, Accessions, Agriculture, Climate Change, Communication 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, 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).

Eligibility

Nationality: Preference shall be given to nationals from WTO Members without any representation as well as from developing and least developed countries (LDCs), Members with low representation (up to three staff members) at the professional level in the Secretariat. Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.

Education: Advanced university degree in relevant subjects such as economics, law, or international relations, obtained before the application submission. Applicants must have obtained their advanced university degree by the time they submit their application.

Work Experience: Minimum two years of professional experience relevant to WTO work.

Languages: Fluency in English; knowledge of French or Spanish is advantageous.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted in English and accompanied by a cover letter of motivation, indicating up to three preferred areas of work. Applications with no accompanying letter of motivation will not be considered.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: April 2, 2024

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Young Professionals Programme.