SDG Youth Programme
With a bachelor's or professional degree in hand, gain initial work experience with an internationally active NGO or social enterprise.
Do you often think about how you can drive systemic change through your actions? Have you ever wondered how international NGOs and social enterprises work to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Every year, the SDG Youth Programme offers five one-year trainee positions, each in a different organisation, partly in Switzerland and partly abroad.
Next call for application: April 2023
All "SDG Youth Programme" positions and other opportunities for graduates are published on our job portal cinfoPoste.
Stay informed by creating your profile now and turning on the relevant "job agents".
Why this programme
Do all the jobs you apply for require experience, even entry-level ones?
Your struggles to gain initial work experience are exactly what led us, Mercator Foundation Switzerland and cinfo, to create this new programme. We want to offer young people an insight into the professional field of international cooperation, with internationally active NGOs and social enterprises.
This opportunity will allow you to
- develop your expertise and contribute to finding solutions for tomorrow’s problems,
- discover your own motivation for international cooperation and the SDGs to facilitate your career in this area,
- learn from experienced colleagues within the host organisation / partner organisations,
- transfer newly acquired knowledge and skills back to the Swiss labour market and society,
- be remunerated for your work (paid traineeship).
Recently advertised positions, application is now closed
| Position | Host organisation | Location |
|---|---|---|
Trainee urban ecological transitionDiscover the activities of a private company with an international commitment to urban development; help us consolidate our analyses on ecological transition issues to improve the relevance of our services in this field. |
Urbaplan
|
Lausanne (7-8 months) + participation in international assignments (4-5 months) |
Local sustainable tourism facilitatorIn Morocco, Swisscontact implements projects for the professional integration of vulnerable youth, capacity building for agricultural cooperatives and the development of sustainable tourism. Your role will be to support the implementation of the sustainable tourism action plan with local actors and Swisscontact experts. |
Swisscontact
|
Morocco |
Climate Change and Education TraineePestalozzi Children's Foundation wants to strengthen its activities related to climate change. Support us in integrating environmental aspects into our projects and programmes in Switzerland and abroad. |
Pestalozzi Children's Foundation
|
Trogen, Appenzell (up to 9 months) + opportunity of field visits to countries such as Thailand, Serbia, etc. (at least 3 months) |
Trainee International Programmes and Digital TransformationGet hands-on experience with an international NGO by working on a topic that is at the forefront of innovation to address humanitarian and development challenges. |
Helvetas
|
Zurich (6-9 months) + participation in an international assignment (3-6 months) |
Climate Policy and Energy Management AdvisorSupport IDE-E in developing new areas of intervention in fields such as seawater desalination, circular economy/integrated waste management, sustainable water management, electric mobility and innovative energy and climate finance. |
Institute for Development, Environment and Energy (IDE-E)
|
Lausanne (up to 6 months) + Bogota (with partner organisation, at least 6 months) |
Minimum requirements
- The SDG Youth Programme is open to Swiss nationals or C Permit holders.
- You have a bachelor's degree (University or FH/HES), or an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education, or a Federal Diploma of Higher Education.
- You haven't yet gained relevant professional experience in international cooperation.
- You demonstrate a keen interest and motivation to contribute to the SDGs.
Any questions?
Get in touch
