The World Trade Organization Internships are now open for post-graduate students from member countries. The WTO Secretariat maintains a variety of internship programmes, and internship selections are based on merit, taking account of eligibility criteria, academic qualifications and expertise.
Internship Descriptions
There are three World Trade Organization Internships 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.
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:
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Information about the responsibilities of the WTO’s divisions is available here.
Duration: Up to a maximum of six months.
Award Benefits
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 for the World Trade Organization Internships 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
The World Trade Organization Internships are 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.
China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme
The China’s LDCs and Accessions Programme, sponsored by the Government of China, aims to help recent graduates and young professionals from least-developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries gain work experience at the WTO. The Accessions Division, in close coordination with the Human Resources Division, manages the implementation of the programme. The Accessions Division and the Government of China meet annually to review the operation and implementation of the programme.
General functions
Interns work of this division is to facilitate the negotiations between WTO members and countries/customs territories seeking to join the WTO.
Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance their understanding of trade law, economics and trade policies more generally.
Duration: Up to 10 months.
Award benefits
Interns under the programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including weekends and official holidays that occur within the selected periods). In addition, travel expenses (economy class air fare) to and from Geneva is covered by the WTO.
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 for the World Trade Organization Internships must:
- be a national of a WTO member state or a country or customs territory engaged in accession negotiations.
- be a national of a least-developed country (LDC) or developing country.
- have completed his/her undergraduate studies in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, law, political science, international relations), and have completed at least one year of his/her postgraduate studies.
- be no older than 30.
How to apply
Interested candidates, who meet the above criteria, should complete two steps for their application to be considered:
Complete a general internship application form on the WTO external jobs platform.
Send a separate email to ChinaProgramme@wto.org to indicate your interest in the China WTO Accessions Internship Programme, with a copy of the online application form attached to the e-mail.
Deadline
There is no opening or closing date for applications. Internships may be offered at any time during the year.
WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies
The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies (also known as the PhD Internship Programme) aims to support the development of academic expertise on WTO issues in developing countries. The WTO Secretariat invites doctoral students from developing countries to conduct research at the WTO and provides them with mentoring/advice in close collaboration with the students’ academic supervisors.
General functions
Participants in the PhD Internship Programme are expected to advance their doctoral thesis during their time at the WTO, taking advantage of access to WTO facilities and information as well as opportunities for interaction with the general trade policy community. They are not expected to undertake assignments on behalf of the WTO Secretariat. A mentor is allocated to the doctoral student for the duration of his/her internship. The role of the mentor is to provide the student with advice, as required, in close collaboration with the student’s academic supervisors. Before the end of the PhD Internship Programme, the participant is required to give a seminar on his/her work.
Duration: From three to six months.
Award benefits
Interns under the PhD Internship Programme receive a daily allowance of CHF 60 (including weekends and official holidays falling within the selected period). In addition, travel expenses (economy class air fare) to and from Geneva is covered by the WTO.
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.
- be a national of a least-developed country (LDC) or a developing country.
- undertake a PhD or equivalent in economics, law, international relations or in a closely related WTO discipline.
- be in the final stage of his/her PhD and therefore at the writing-up stage (75% minimum completion) of the thesis.
- work in one of the three official languages of the WTO, i.e. English, French and Spanish.
How to apply
Candidates who wish to participate in the WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies are invited to fill out the application form and submit the required documents.
Candidates can apply for any of the three categories of the World Trade Organization Internships using the below link.
