The WTO Secretariat maintains a variety of internship programmes for post-graduate students. Internship selections are based on merit, taking account of eligibility criteria, academic qualifications and expertise.
There are three internship programmes at the WTO. (1) The WTO Internship Programme is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations; (2) The China LDC and Accessions Programme (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme); and (3) the WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies. Both (2) and (3) are reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).
The internship programmes are designed to increase the diversity of the WTO.
More information about each programme is provided below:
WTO Internship Programme
China’s LDCs, Accessions and General Internship Programme
WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies
WTO Internship Programme
The WTO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for post-graduate students from WTO member and observer countries to gain valuable experience from working at the WTO.
General assignments
Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance the individual’s understanding of the WTO and of trade policy more generally. However, internships include opportunities in other specialist areas, such as finance, human resources, language services, IT and communications. The division to which the intern is assigned determines the precise nature of the work to be undertaken. Many interns work in the following areas:
Trade law
Economics
Statistics
Trade policy
Languages
Administration (procurement, finance, human resources)
Information, communication and external relations
Information management
Information about the responsibilities of the WTO’s divisions is available here.
Duration
Up to a maximum of six months.
Remuneration
Interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including week-ends and official holidays falling within the selected period). Travel expenses to and from Geneva cannot be paid by the WTO, and such travel is not covered by the Organization’s insurance.
Medical health insurance coverage is mandatory in Switzerland, and interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance prior to commencing their internship at the WTO.
Eligibility
A candidate must:
be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations
have completed his/her undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline and have completed at least one year of his/her postgraduate studies
be at least 21 years old and a maximum of 30 years old during the internship.
How to apply
Candidates should submit their applications through the WTO external jobs platform and only candidates selected for interview are contacted. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. A roster of suitable candidates is maintained from which interns are selected. Suitable applications are maintained on the roster for one year.
Intake to the WTO Internship Programme is on an ongoing basis, with no specific recruitment period. However, there may be specific vacancy notices for internship positions requiring particular qualifications and skillsets published on the WTO’s e-Recruitment website.
Link to apply: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/iypp_e.htm
