Apply Now: Young Professionals Programme

The selected young professionals are allocated to a specific division of the WTO Secretariat in accordance with the needs and priorities of the organization and based on the areas of interest of the young professional.

Focus Areas

• Accessions
• Agriculture
• Climate change
• Communications and External Relations
• Competition Policy
• Council and Trade Negotiations
• Digital Trade
• Dispute Settlement
• Economic Research and Statistics
• Fisheries Subsidies
• Government Procurement (GPA)
• 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/Climate Change
• 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)

Funding Information

• Participants under the programme receive a monthly salary of CHF 4,000.
• One year without possibility of extension.

Costs Covered

• The WTO also provides appropriate medical cover and travel costs.

Eligibility Criteria

• A candidate must:
  • Be a natural person from a WTO member
  • Have an advanced university degree in law, economics, and other international trade-related subjects relevant to WTO work
  • Have a minimum of two years’ relevant experience
  • Demonstrate a high level of interest in international trade and commitment to WTO-related work
  • Be fluent in English. A good working knowledge of one of the WTO’s other official languages, French or Spanish, would be an advantage
  • Be 32 years of age or younger at the expected start date of the YPP, if selected.
  • Preference is given to candidates from WTO members without any representation at the professional level in the Secretariat.
• All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date – Geneva (Switzerland) time – stated in the vacancy announcement.

Application Requirements

• Education:
  • Advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, international relations, law, environment studies, or other trade-related subjects relevant to the work of the WTO (e.g. international investment law, trade and gender, etc.). Applicants must have obtained their advanced university degree by the time they submit their application.
• Knowledge and Skills:
  • General knowledge of the work of the WTO.
  • Technical knowledge in one or more of the areas of work indicated above.
  • Good drafting skills in English. Ability to draft in French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, in a multicultural environment.
  • Demonstrated strong interest in international trade and the multilateral trading system.
  • Commitment and passion for trade or WTO-related work.
• Work Experience:
  • Minimum two years of professional experience relevant to the work of the WTO.
• Languages:
  • Fluency in English. A good working knowledge of either French or Spanish would be an advantage.

For more information, visit WTO.