OFFICE( 18)/16 
18-1318 
 
 
The recruitment policy of the WTO is to seek to attract and retain staff members  
offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity.  
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity.  
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/T/18 -14 Issued on:  19 March 2018  
 
Title:  Young Professional  
  Application Deadline (CET):  16 April 2018  
 
Grade:  N/A 
 Division:  Various  
 
Contract Type:  Temporary appointment  
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 3,500  monthly salary  Duration:  One year without possibility of 
extension  
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking candidates for THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMME for 201 9. 
 
The WTO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a unique opportunity for qualified 
young professionals up to the age of 32 years , as at 1 January 201 9, from eligible 
developing and least -developed country (LDC) WTO Members, to enhance their 
knowledge and skills on WTO and international trade issues.  The Programme aims to 
widen the pool of professionals from these countries who can later be more competitive 
with respect to recruitment in t he WTO and/or other regional and international 
organizations.  
 
All applications MUST be accompanied by a  cover letter of motivation , which should   
indicate  UP TO THREE areas of work (see details under General Functions), in order of 
preference , that the applicant would be interested in. Applications with no 
accompanying letter  of motivation  will not be considered.  
 
This is a limited programme that offers selected young professionals with the 
opportunity to gain work experience in the WTO. There is no gua rantee of an extension 
of the programme or of a job offer after the one -year programme.  
 
 
General Functions  
 
The selected Young Professional will be placed in a specific Division of the WTO Secretariat in 
accordance with the needs and priorities of the Org anization; and based on the identified areas of 
interest of the Young Professional. Each Young Professional may express interest in not more than 
three areas of WTO work; and in order of preference.  
 
The areas of work may include, inter alia,  the following  (in alphabetical order):  
 
- Accessions  
- Agriculture  
- Council and Trade Negotiations  
- Dispute Settlement  
- Economic Research and Statistics  
- Government Procurement  
- Intellectual Property Rights  
- Market Access (t ariffs and non -tariff barriers)  
- Media and external relations  
OFFICE( 18)/16 
 
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  - Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures  
- Technical Barriers to Trade  
- Trade and Development  
- Trade and Environment  
- Trade Facilitation  
- Trade in Services and Investment  
- Trade Policy Analysis  
- Trade -Related Technical assistance.  
- Trade Remedies (anti -dumping and counterveiling duties)  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Advanced university degree in law economics, or other international trade -related subjects 
relevant to the work of the WTO . 
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Good drafting skills in English. Ability to draft in French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.  
Ability to  work independently and in a team.  
Demonstrate s strong interest in international trade.  
Commitment and passion for trade o r WTO -related work.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
Minimum two (2) years of professional  experience  relevant to the work of the WTO . 
 
Languages:  
 
Fluency in English. A good working knowledge either French or Spanish  would be an advantage.  
 
Additional Information:  
 
Preference shall be given to nationals from WTO Members without any representation at the 
professional level in the Secretariat ; and have not participated in previous cohorts  of the YPP .  The 
list of such WTO Members as at 1 March 201 8 is set out below:  
 
Afghanistan  Macao, China  
Albania  Maldives  
Angola  Mali  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  Mauritania  
Belize  Moldova, Republic of  
Brunei Darussalam  Mozambique  
Burkina Faso  Myanmar  
Cabo Verde  Namibia  
Cambodia  Nicaragua  
Central African Republic  Niger  
Congo  Oman  
Cuba  Papua New Guinea  
Djibouti  Qatar  
Dominica  Saint Kitts and Nevis  
Fiji Saint Lucia  
Gabon  Samoa  
Grenada  Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  OFFICE( 18)/16 
 
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  Guinea -Bissau  Singapore  
Guyana  Solomon Islands  
Haiti  Sri Lanka  
Honduras  Suriname  
Hong Kong, China  Swaziland  
Israel  Tajikistan  
Kuwait, the State of  The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia  
Kyrgyz Republic  Tonga  
Lao People's Democratic Republic  United Arab Emirates  
Lesotho  Vanuatu  
Liberia  Yemen  
 
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.  
 
The WTO may use various communication technologies such as video or teleconference for the 
assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of 
various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference c hecks.  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW  
______________________________________________________________________  
Please note that all candidates must complete an o nline application  form.  
To apply, please visit the WTO's E -Recruitment website at: https://erecruitment.wto.org . 
The s ystem provides instructions for online application procedures.  
 
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has  
been posted and well before the closing date – Central European Time (CET) –  
stated in the vacancy anno uncement.  
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE  
CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED  
 
The WTO is a non -smoking environment.