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About WTO

The WTO is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade. With effective cooperation in the United Nations System, governments use the organization to establish, revise, and enforce the rules that govern international trade.

Your role

The WTO Secretariat maintains three internship programmes for post-graduate students wishing to gain practical experience and deeper knowledge of the multilateral trading system. Only a limited number of such internships are available. Internship selections are based on merit, eligibility criteria, academic qualifications, and expertise.

The programmes, listed below, are designed to increase diversity at the WTO, and more information about each may be found in the links provided alongside:

• The WTO Internship Programme is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations
• The China LDC and Accessions Programme (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme) - Reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least-developed countries
• The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies - Reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least-developed countries

Contractual Terms and Conditions:

• An agreement will be established between the intern and the Director of the Human Resources Division, specifying the conditions of service and details of any remuneration.

Additional Information:

• Internships are for a minimum of three months and up to a maximum of six months in total with no extension, are dependent on the needs of Divisions, and may commence at any time during the year.
• Depending on Divisional needs, an internship may be split between two Divisions (3 months and no less in each Division and not exceeding six months in total). In this case, the two internship assignments may be carried out at different times and not consecutively, as long as the applicant meets all the requirements for an internship as per the "Eligibility" criteria set out above.
• It is not permissible to return to the programme at a later date after completing a full six-month internship programme, nor is it permissible to move from one programme to another following a six-month stint.
• An internship does not, in any way, entail the right to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat. Interns may, nevertheless, apply to external vacancies only.

For detailed information about this role, Click here

Training, development & rotations

The WTO is committed to providing training to its staff so that the organization can carry out its mandate and adapt to new challenges. Training courses and career/personal development are key ingredients to ensuring that staff members keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

Staff are offered opportunities to improve their effectiveness in their current job, and to prepare for new tasks or a change of role. Learning needs are reviewed at an individual, departmental and organisational level so that both staff and the organization benefit. The WTO's Learning Service uses a variety of methods to cater for the learning and development needs of staff, such as training courses, learning networks, mentoring and coaching. 

Salary & benefits

Paid interns receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 i.e INR 4962 (including weekends and official holidays falling within the selected period). No other remuneration of any kind shall be paid.

They take care of you and your loved ones and will support you with a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. Below are some highlights:

• Health Insurance
• Work From Home
• Job Training
• Performance awards
• Dependency allowances
• Social security, etc.

Work-life balance

The WTO is conscious of the need for a good work-life balance and therefore offers a range of options to ensure that staff can reach a good balance between their work life and personal life. These options include flexible working arrangements (e.g. staggered work hours, various working schedules, telecommuting) and part-time work.

Culture & vibe

A career at the WTO Secretariat means a lot of things. You will be working in a truly diverse environment, interacting with more than 600 staff members from about 80 countries. You will have the opportunity to work in the WTO's three official languages - English, French and Spanish - and participate in the evolution of multilateral trade. If you find this appealing, a career at the WTO could be for you!

About you

Eligibility:

• Interns are recruited from among nationals of WTO Member states and Observer governments.
• Interns shall have completed at least one year of their postgraduate studies (for example, Master's) in a relevant discipline (for example, economics, law, political science, international relations).
• The minimum age for an intern is 21 years and the maximum age is 30 years.
• A roster of suitable candidates is maintained from which interns are selected. In addition to the internship programmes, the need may also arise to recruit interns at short notice for specific tasks. These recruits will also be drawn from the roster. Names will be maintained on the roster for one year and no more.

How to apply

To apply for this role, just click on the "Apply on employer site" button below, which navigates to the career page where the application can be submitted directly.