The World Trade Organization (WTO) seeks applications for its 2025 Young Professionals program from developing and least-developed countries. Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
About World Trade Organization Young Professionals Program
The World Trade Organization (WTO) seeks to attract competent, efficient, and integrity-driven staff while promoting merit and diversity. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, it prioritizes these standards.
The 2025 Young Professionals Program (YPP) is aimed at qualified individuals up to 32 years old from WTO Member countries with limited representation. The YPP enhances knowledge and skills in international trade issues. The goal is to expand representation from these countries in the WTO and other international organizations.
Applications, accompanied by a cover letter of motivation, must be submitted in English. Candidates should indicate up to three preferred areas of work. Selected participants gain one year of work experience in the WTO without the possibility of extension.
Key Notes:
- Young Professionals will be assigned to a specific division based on organizational needs and the applicant’s preferences.
- Applicants may express interest in up to three areas of WTO work, specifying their order of preference.
Benefits of World Trade Organization Young Professionals Program
Selected candidates receive a monthly salary of CHF 4,000 for one year, in addition to enhancing their knowledge and skills in international trade issues.
World Trade Organization Young Professionals Program Requirments
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
Education:
- Advanced university degree in related fields such as economics, international relations, law, or trade-related subjects
- The applicant should have obtained the degree before submission of the application
Knowledge and Skills:
- Applicants must have a general understanding of WTO’s work.
- Technical expertise in one or more relevant areas.
- Proficient drafting skills in English; knowledge of French or Spanish is advantageous.
- Capability to work independently and in diverse teams.
- Strong interest and commitment to international trade and the multilateral trading system.
Work Experience: Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.
Languages: Fluency in English; proficiency in French or Spanish preferred.
More Information:
- Preference goes to nationals from WTO Members without representation or with low representation.
- Priority goes to developing and least developed countries without prior YPP participation.
- Only applications from WTO Member nationals are accepted.
- The selection committee may use various communication technologies for assessments.
- The application deadline is strictly considerable.
- The WTO is a non-smoking environment.
Eligible Countries
Following are the eligible countries that are divided into priority and non-priority countries:
Priority Countries:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Grenada
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Suriname
- Tonga
- United Arab Emirates
- Vanuatu
- Yemen
Non-Priority Countries:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Benin
- Plurinational State of Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong China
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Macao China
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Republic of Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Chinese Taipei
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Viet Nam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Areas of Work
Following are the working areas that applicants can apply for:
- 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
- MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)
- 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)
Required Documents
- Application in English
- Cover letter indicating preferred areas of work
Application Date and Process
- Submit applications online through the link to the application website with the required documents before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
Application Deadline
02 April, 2024
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World Trade Organization Young Professionals Program
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