Blog Blog articles 96 articles Blog Travelling with some "do-gooding" on the side - reflections on voluntourism While it is possible to buy experiences abroad, the real opportunities that can launch or advance a career in... Beat Geiser 14 September 2023 Blog Beyond 'localisation': embracing locally led practices For almost 30 years, institutional discussions have emphasised local ownership, the active involvement and empowerment... Sera Pantillon • Shazia Islamshah 10 August 2023 Blog Quality check: Assessing volunteering opportunities For the uninitiated, determining the integrity of an organisation offering volunteer opportunities can be challenging... Beat Geiser 6 August 2023 Blog Development cooperation: working in complex systems Social systems are highly complex; a development practitioner must acknowledge that personal contribution, though often... Beat Geiser 4 July 2023 Blog Voluntary work, charity work or volunteering – do they bring career benefits? While some people are happy to take a "time-out", others prefer to get a taste of the professional field of... Beat Geiser 20 June 2023 Blog Why you should be on UN rosters If you aspire to work with the UN, being on a UN roster is an essential step towards achieving your goal. But wait –... Seraina Müller 13 June 2023 Blog Voluntary work, charity work, volunteering – what is what? Terms such as 'voluntary work', 'benevolat', 'assignments' or 'volunteering' can conjure up certain images and ideas. In... Beat Geiser 4 May 2023 Blog Design thinking: an innovative tool in the problem-solving toolbox of international cooperation "Now go change the world!" was the opening line of the design thinking workshop at Forum cinfo 2022. Easier said than... Chloé Favre 2 May 2023 Blog From Chad and Colombia, two participants tell all about the SDG Youth Programme – the perfect way to start working in international cooperation Julia Bosson and Vasco Ferreira da Costa both work as trainees at international cooperation organisations as... Sera Pantillon • Julia Bosson • Vasco Ferreira da Costa 24 April 2023 Blog The power of attitude: preparing for the future of international cooperation As an experienced professional in today’s international cooperation world, you probably already have a wealth of... Jérôme Faivre 20 April 2023 Blog “Understanding the realities of the communities with which your organisation works is essential” Anja Delaquis is a trainee with Helvetas in Nepal. In this interview, she shares her experience working in Nepal and how... Anja Delaquis • Sera Pantillon 3 April 2023 Blog The power of attitude: developing social and personal skills for a career in international cooperation As a young professional entering the sector, you may think that expertise and technical skills are the most important... Jérôme Faivre 29 March 2023 Blog Localisation - can you still contribute as a professional from the Global North? In international development, the process of handing over more decision-making power and resources to local actors is... Jennifer Hauser-Seiz 14 March 2023 Blog The difference between private banking and multilateral finance: insights from Matthias Hedinger Matthias Hedinger, a Principal Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), tells us about his... Seraina Müller 22 February 2023 Blog Accessing social security in an unpredictable global career situation At the beginning of our international careers, we tend to disregard social security, but later wish we had addressed... Chloé Favre • Nicole Töpperwien 17 February 2023 Blog Networking: no need to panic More than just a few of us are uncomfortable with networking. We want to connect with others, but for many this means... Beat Geiser 9 February 2023 Blog Professionals in international cooperation – finding the right balance as a family People interested in international cooperation often wonder if it aligns with starting a family. At Forum cinfo 22... Sina Baranyai 24 January 2023 Blog On the importance of keywords in UN applications, and more tips on how to get hired by the UN All who have considered applying to the UN have certainly heard about the fierce competition. We asked an expert to... Seraina Müller 9 January 2023 Blog What does a working day at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nairobi look like? A Digital Financial Services Specialist gives us an overview Adrian Mattmann (34) is a Digital Financial Services Specialist for the International Finance Corporation in Nairobi. We... Seraina Müller 28 December 2022 Blog "The International Finance Corporation needs innovative minds and fresh people to challenge us" Many paths lead to the financial sector of multilateral cooperation – Senior Insurance Specialist Martin Buehler had... Seraina Müller • Jennifer Hauser-Seiz 5 December 2022 Blog How competitive is entry into international cooperation, and how does that compare to climbing? Who would have thought that starting an international career is not much different from standing in front of a climbing... Seraina Müller 28 November 2022 Blog 1+1 = 3 | How job sharing creates value for an organisation The job sharing duo of Lisa and Tony is intergenerational, gender-mixed and complementary in terms of the experience... Lisa Lang • Tony Zuber 22 November 2022 Blog Eight career anchors: which ones drive your career? Dedication to a cause? Autonomy? Security? Faced with a career choice, what is your priority, and what would you never... Natacha Wicht • Daniel Glinz 21 November 2022 Blog Working at the World Bank through the eyes of Senior HR Specialist Mary Amanda Reinauer Working with a multilateral development bank, such as the World Bank (WB), can be highly attractive. But only some are... Chloé Favre • Natal Donnaloia 31 October 2022 Blog "How do I want to live my life within the system? What is my role?" Looking back on a year full of highlights and challenges for an SDG Youth Programme trainee Luc Bitterli participated in the first cohort of the SDG Youth Programme. As an intern at Swisscontact, he gained work... Sina Baranyai • Luc Bitterli 25 October 2022 Blog How to network successfully at career events Networking is more than helpful - it is essential to a successful career. This is even more true in a sector like Swiss... Jérôme Faivre 6 October 2022 Blog Médecins sans Frontières: "How we pioneered job sharing in our field programmes" Médecins sans Frontières introduced job sharing in Iraq and reduced the turnover rate for this complex position. Roya Milani 29 September 2022 Blog Switzerland at the UN by the Swiss of the UN Switzerland became a member state of the United Nations on 10 September 2002. Twenty years later, the presence of Swiss... Swiss Mission Geneva 6 September 2022 Blog Are you "cheating on your employer" by attending a career event? As a professional, you may wonder whether it’s an act of disloyalty to your employer if you attend a career event such... Jérôme Faivre 31 August 2022 Blog Diversity and inclusion: is the sector on the right track? Are diversity and inclusion adequately addressed in the Swiss labour market of international cooperation? cinfo and BASS... Irenka Krone-Germann • Loraine Ding • Jérôme Faivre 13 July 2022 Blog "Sometimes you must compromise if you want a family – but I stress compromise, not sacrifice" This is the third of three blogs exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a family whilst... Jane Carter 6 July 2022 Blog "The fear that all employees will demand unpaid leave is completely unfounded" Solidar Suisse offers its employees unpaid leave and unpaid parental leave so that they can dedicate their time to other... Ursula Jenny 22 June 2022 Blog "Being Swiss, we tend to be a bit reserved. Get out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to network and make yourself seen!" David Müller, working for UNDP with SDG investing, talks about his fascination with Africa, maintaining a good work-life... Neva Fark 22 June 2022 Blog "Talent has no boundaries" – The UN is seeking to recruit persons with disabilities Are you a professional living with disabilities and interested in working for the United Nations? We encourage you to... Gabriela Steinemann 1 June 2022 Blog People sometimes need change to evolve – sometimes without a reason NADEL employees can take an unpaid leave for no particular reason and on a regular basis. Isabel Günther 25 May 2022 Blog Medair: "Our Diversity and Inclusion journey" During the Forum cinfo 2021, Medair held a session to discuss their organisational journey towards integrating Diversity... Lucy Bamforth 18 May 2022 Blog Co-chairing an HR department Manuela and Kathrin, a job-sharing duo, tell us how they run the HR department of Helvetas. Discover the lessons learned... Manuela Häfeli • Kathrin Indermaur 11 May 2022 Blog An insight into the financial dynamics of WHO with Saran Thierwächter Saran Thierwächter is a Finance Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the end of last year, he discussed... Emily Siebeneich • Romain Bachmann 25 April 2022 Blog "It's amazing how quickly one adapts to life in a new country": The spouse's view During the Forum cinfo 2021 we held a session to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a... Jane Carter 20 April 2022 Blog Are you "extremely motivated"? Applicants often have difficulty with their cover letters and commonly resort to using empty phrases. Many seem to... Beat Geiser 5 April 2022 Blog How our employee Simon became a digital nomad A private sector company outlines the benefits and obstacles of mobile working. Get inspired. Loredana Contaldi 30 March 2022 Blog "If you really want to understand the country, try to spend as much time as possible outside the expat bubble" Luc Bitterli is a trainee for Swisscontact in Bangladesh. In this interview, he shares what motivates him, his most... Neva Fark 21 March 2022 Blog "When working abroad, you sometimes have to be relaxed enough to deal with upcoming issues day by day" Anja Hungerbuehler is doing an internship as an Innovation Capacity Amplifier with HEKS in Cambodia. In this interview... Neva Fark 14 March 2022 Blog Learning to take care of yourself before taking care of others Since finishing nursing school, Rebecca had the idea of being a humanitarian health worker. She joined us for a virtual... Natacha Wicht 1 March 2022 Blog Positioning your career in a post-pandemic world Michael Emery, HR Director of IOM-UN Migration, engages in a tough talk with journalist Nicoletta Cimmino on (post-... Neva Fark 28 February 2022 Blog "Working in a fragile and complex context takes a bit of humility" Farook Doomun, Deputy Representative for Operations at UNICEF talks about his experience in fragile humanitarian... Babette Pfander 21 February 2022 Blog An international childhood? It was a great start in life! During the Forum cinfo 2021, we held a session to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a... Jane Carter 24 January 2022 Blog "I never regretted leaving my well-paid job in Switzerland to start from scratch with an NGO in Colombia" At the age of 35, Tony Zuber changed his career and started working in international cooperation abroad. In this... Neva Fark 17 January 2022 Blog "It’s a life of extremes – on the one hand, the most rewarding work there is, on the other, the most draining and demanding" Karin Hofmann had worked several years in conflict zones with the ICRC. She talks about her most challenging experiences... Neva Fark 14 January 2022 Blog "Impact investing is critical for providing investments where capital is scarce and for building capacities locally" Eva Tschannen is Head of Technical Assistance at the impact investment firm, responsAbility. She talks about sustainable... Neva Fark 11 January 2022 Blog "Prepare yourself and be mindful; you will not get a second chance to make a first impression" As an expat, it is not always easy to find your place in a new team in a foreign country – Anvar Sabzaliev has... Neva Fark 6 January 2022 Blog "Ce sont les petites décisions qui façonnent notre vie", entretien avec Christian Castelli Rencontrez Christian Castelli, Policy and Best Practice Officer auprès de la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au... Guillaume Wegmüller 1 December 2021 Blog "We should all take an interest in our future. It's where professionals and organisations have to evolve to remain relevant" Gerd Leonhard, a leading futurist, shares his main observations and foresight for the next ten years and what they might... Neva Fark 2 November 2021 Blog «Der Klimawandel ist ein globales Thema, wobei die UNO eine unersetzliche Rolle spielt», Interview mit Martina Volpe Donlon Lernen Sie Martina Volpe Donlon, Leiterin der Klimakommunikation bei der UNO in New York, kennen. Ladina Gisler • Resmy Paracherry 1 November 2021 Blog «Die WHO ist die Weltfeuerwehr», Interview mit Gaudenz Silberschmidt Lernen Sie Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Direktor der Abteilung Health and Multilateral Partnerships der... Lukas Plattner 25 September 2021 Blog What is required for a posting in international cooperation? What skills should you have (or be able to learn easily on the job) for a posting abroad, for example as a UN Youth... Natal Donnaloia • Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 September 2021 Blog "Il est important de montrer que l'ONU est plus qu'un forum pour résoudre des conflits", entretien avec Aline Stössel Rencontrez Aline Stössel, stagiaire auprès des Nations unies à Genève. Lukas Plattner 1 July 2021 Blog «Unser Ziel ist eine Welt ohne Hunger», Interview mit Corinne Fleischer Lernen Sie Corinne Fleischer, Direktorin des UNO-Welternährungsprogramm (WFP) für den Nahen Osten und Nordafrika, kennen... Lukas Plattner 15 June 2021 Blog "L’ONU est bien loin d’être obsolète", entretien avec Mirko Manzoni Rencontrez Mirko Manzoni, envoyé personnel du Secrétaire général de l’ONU pour le Mozambique. Association Suisse-ONU 1 June 2021 Blog Why networking between Swiss UN staff is essential There are currently around 300 Swiss nationals working at the United Nations. Often, they do not know their Swiss... Jérôme Faivre • Nora Landheer 5 May 2021 Blog "Saisir les opportunités et être à l’écoute de soi", entretien avec Gilles Cerutti Rencontrez Gilles Cerutti, Conseiller Stratégique du Président du CICR. Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 18 March 2021 Blog «Die Schweiz hat den Dialog und die Kompromissfindung in der DNA», Interview mit Frank Grütter Lernen Sie Frank Grütter, Botschafter, Leiter der UNO-Abteilung im Eidgenössischen Departement für auswärtige... Ladina Gisler • Resmy Paracherry 8 March 2021 Blog "Connecter et rassembler", entretien avec Nadia Isler Rencontrez Nadia Isler, Fondatrice et Directrice du SDG Lab. Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 1 February 2021 Blog «Schweizer Fachleute können einen wichtigen Beitrag in der UNO leisten», Interview mit Karin Grimm Lernen Sie Karin Grimm, Policy Specialist (Women, Peace and Security) bei UN Women in Mali, kennen. Lukas Plattner 1 February 2021 Blog International cooperation: new challenges in the labour market The international cooperation labour market has expanded significantly over the past decade. However, governmental and... Irenka Krone-Germann • Loraine Ding • Peter Stettler 12 November 2020 Blog "L'ONU n'est pas en crise, mais en transformation", entretien avec Salman Bal Rencontrez Salman Bal, Directeur du Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI). Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 15 September 2020 Blog Working in international cooperation: five clichés you should be aware of Not sure how to get started on pursuing your interest in a career in international cooperation? Be aware of these... Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 March 2020 Blog The cornerstones of organisational transformation Professionals from a variety of organisations tell us about their path to innovation. Find here the key takeaways. Loraine Ding 17 February 2020 Blog Internship, traineeship or junior programme? What else? Internships and co. give you the opportunity to gain work experience in international cooperation. How do they differ... Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 February 2020 Blog Innovation in non-profit organisations Should NGOs and NPOs be innovative? If so, how do you develop innovation in organisations whose intention is to provide... Dino Beerli 1 February 2020 Blog A fund to foster innovation Swiss Solidarity launched an innovation fund to support the Swiss NGOs to develop innovation within their projects... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 20 January 2020 Blog "The richest experience I've ever had", Vittoria Groh Vittoria Groh spent one year in Haiti as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks us... Jérôme Faivre 10 January 2020 Blog Making innovation visible Maya Shah, Innovation Coordinator at Médecins Sans Frontières, believes innovation is a permanent challenge to the... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 8 January 2020 Blog Innovation is a must for NGOs Thierry Agagliate, Head of Innovation at Terre des Hommes, understands innovation not just as an invention or a new idea... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 20 December 2019 Blog "You learn a lot by doing", Helen Stevenson Helen Stevenson spent one year in Central Asia as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She... Milena Cuzzucoli 17 August 2018 Blog "Be prepared for new challenges and stressful situations, but also for a fulfilling experience", Mirco Keller Mirco Keller spent one year in Burundi as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". He talks us... Milena Cuzzucoli 10 August 2018 Blog The changing landscape of international cooperation New actors take their role in international cooperation, aid modalities are in transformation and the SDGs set new... Sandra Rothböck 15 November 2016 Blog "My job at a UN agency", Eva Mennel Meet Eva Mennel, Director Human Resources at UNICEF. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 3 October 2016 Blog "The gap between what I imagined and what I experienced was considerable, in a positive way", Sabina Stein Sabina Stein spent one year in Colombia as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Vittoria Groh 10 August 2016 Blog "Living and working within the United Nations system", Nathalie Meyer Meet Nathalie Meyer, Social Policy Specialist within the NETI Programme, UNICEF. Learn more about her position and... Babette Pfander 4 April 2016 Blog "My job in a development bank", Carlos Mollinedo Meet Carlos Mollinedo, Chief Strategy Economist at the African Development Bank. Learn more about his position and... Babette Pfander 7 March 2016 Blog "My job in a development bank", Katharina Falkner-Olmedo Meet Katharina Falkner-Olmedo, Division Chief at the Inter-American Development Bank. Learn more about her position and... Babette Pfander 1 February 2016 Blog "My job in a Swiss NGO for children's aid", Sylvain Fournier Meet Sylvain Fournier, Country Representative for Terre des hommes. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 February 2016 Blog "My job with an international humanitarian aid organisation", Christelle Crot Meet Christelle Crot, Technical Advisor at Médecins Sans Frontières. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 4 January 2016 Blog "I felt keenly the weight of responsibility as I went about my duties", Omar Azzabi Omar Azzabi spent one year in West Africa as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". He talks... Omar Azzabi 19 December 2015 Blog "My job in a development bank", Jean-Luc Bernasconi Meet Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Lead Economist at the World Bank in Tunis. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 November 2015 Blog "My job in a corporate foundation", Miren Bengoa Meet Miren Bengoa, Executive Director of the Chanel Corporate Foundation. Learn more about her position and career path. Camille Aubry 1 October 2015 Blog "My job at a UN agency", Jeremias Blaser Meet Jeremias Blaser, Deputy Country Director for UNDP in Ghana. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 October 2015 Blog "My job as a programme coordinator in an NGO", Jens Engeli Meet Jens Engeli, Programme coordinator at Helvetas. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 October 2015 Blog "My job in peace promotion", Rachel Gasser Meet Rachel Gasser, Deputy Head of the Mediation Program at swisspeace. Learn more about her position and career path. Camille Aubry 1 October 2015 Blog "My job as an NGO programme manager", Fortunat Büsch Meet Fortunat Büsch, Programme Manager at the Swiss Red Cross. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 3 August 2015 Blog "My career in international financial institutions", Laurent Corthay Meet Laurent Corthay, Specialist in private sector development with the World Bank. Learn more about his position and... Camille Aubry 6 July 2015 Blog "My job as a programme officer at the Swiss Confederation", Barbara Profeta Meet Barbara Profeta, Programme Officer at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Learn more about her position and... Camille Aubry 1 June 2015 Blog "This year contributed greatly to my personal and professional development", Julia Moser Julia Moser spent one year in Sri Lanka as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Sandrina Moreira 15 May 2015 Blog "My job in the exchange of personnel in development cooperation", Judith Reusser Meet Judith Reusser, Specialist with Comundo. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 March 2015 Blog "Mutual learning, action and enthusiasm", Amanda Eyer Amanda Eyer spent one year in Ecuador as as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Amanda Eyer 30 July 2014
Blog Travelling with some "do-gooding" on the side - reflections on voluntourism While it is possible to buy experiences abroad, the real opportunities that can launch or advance a career in... Beat Geiser 14 September 2023
Blog Beyond 'localisation': embracing locally led practices For almost 30 years, institutional discussions have emphasised local ownership, the active involvement and empowerment... Sera Pantillon • Shazia Islamshah 10 August 2023
Blog Quality check: Assessing volunteering opportunities For the uninitiated, determining the integrity of an organisation offering volunteer opportunities can be challenging... Beat Geiser 6 August 2023
Blog Development cooperation: working in complex systems Social systems are highly complex; a development practitioner must acknowledge that personal contribution, though often... Beat Geiser 4 July 2023
Blog Voluntary work, charity work or volunteering – do they bring career benefits? While some people are happy to take a "time-out", others prefer to get a taste of the professional field of... Beat Geiser 20 June 2023
Blog Why you should be on UN rosters If you aspire to work with the UN, being on a UN roster is an essential step towards achieving your goal. But wait –... Seraina Müller 13 June 2023
Blog Voluntary work, charity work, volunteering – what is what? Terms such as 'voluntary work', 'benevolat', 'assignments' or 'volunteering' can conjure up certain images and ideas. In... Beat Geiser 4 May 2023
Blog Design thinking: an innovative tool in the problem-solving toolbox of international cooperation "Now go change the world!" was the opening line of the design thinking workshop at Forum cinfo 2022. Easier said than... Chloé Favre 2 May 2023
Blog From Chad and Colombia, two participants tell all about the SDG Youth Programme – the perfect way to start working in international cooperation Julia Bosson and Vasco Ferreira da Costa both work as trainees at international cooperation organisations as... Sera Pantillon • Julia Bosson • Vasco Ferreira da Costa 24 April 2023
Blog The power of attitude: preparing for the future of international cooperation As an experienced professional in today’s international cooperation world, you probably already have a wealth of... Jérôme Faivre 20 April 2023
Blog “Understanding the realities of the communities with which your organisation works is essential” Anja Delaquis is a trainee with Helvetas in Nepal. In this interview, she shares her experience working in Nepal and how... Anja Delaquis • Sera Pantillon 3 April 2023
Blog The power of attitude: developing social and personal skills for a career in international cooperation As a young professional entering the sector, you may think that expertise and technical skills are the most important... Jérôme Faivre 29 March 2023
Blog Localisation - can you still contribute as a professional from the Global North? In international development, the process of handing over more decision-making power and resources to local actors is... Jennifer Hauser-Seiz 14 March 2023
Blog The difference between private banking and multilateral finance: insights from Matthias Hedinger Matthias Hedinger, a Principal Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), tells us about his... Seraina Müller 22 February 2023
Blog Accessing social security in an unpredictable global career situation At the beginning of our international careers, we tend to disregard social security, but later wish we had addressed... Chloé Favre • Nicole Töpperwien 17 February 2023
Blog Networking: no need to panic More than just a few of us are uncomfortable with networking. We want to connect with others, but for many this means... Beat Geiser 9 February 2023
Blog Professionals in international cooperation – finding the right balance as a family People interested in international cooperation often wonder if it aligns with starting a family. At Forum cinfo 22... Sina Baranyai 24 January 2023
Blog On the importance of keywords in UN applications, and more tips on how to get hired by the UN All who have considered applying to the UN have certainly heard about the fierce competition. We asked an expert to... Seraina Müller 9 January 2023
Blog What does a working day at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nairobi look like? A Digital Financial Services Specialist gives us an overview Adrian Mattmann (34) is a Digital Financial Services Specialist for the International Finance Corporation in Nairobi. We... Seraina Müller 28 December 2022
Blog "The International Finance Corporation needs innovative minds and fresh people to challenge us" Many paths lead to the financial sector of multilateral cooperation – Senior Insurance Specialist Martin Buehler had... Seraina Müller • Jennifer Hauser-Seiz 5 December 2022
Blog How competitive is entry into international cooperation, and how does that compare to climbing? Who would have thought that starting an international career is not much different from standing in front of a climbing... Seraina Müller 28 November 2022
Blog 1+1 = 3 | How job sharing creates value for an organisation The job sharing duo of Lisa and Tony is intergenerational, gender-mixed and complementary in terms of the experience... Lisa Lang • Tony Zuber 22 November 2022
Blog Eight career anchors: which ones drive your career? Dedication to a cause? Autonomy? Security? Faced with a career choice, what is your priority, and what would you never... Natacha Wicht • Daniel Glinz 21 November 2022
Blog Working at the World Bank through the eyes of Senior HR Specialist Mary Amanda Reinauer Working with a multilateral development bank, such as the World Bank (WB), can be highly attractive. But only some are... Chloé Favre • Natal Donnaloia 31 October 2022
Blog "How do I want to live my life within the system? What is my role?" Looking back on a year full of highlights and challenges for an SDG Youth Programme trainee Luc Bitterli participated in the first cohort of the SDG Youth Programme. As an intern at Swisscontact, he gained work... Sina Baranyai • Luc Bitterli 25 October 2022
Blog How to network successfully at career events Networking is more than helpful - it is essential to a successful career. This is even more true in a sector like Swiss... Jérôme Faivre 6 October 2022
Blog Médecins sans Frontières: "How we pioneered job sharing in our field programmes" Médecins sans Frontières introduced job sharing in Iraq and reduced the turnover rate for this complex position. Roya Milani 29 September 2022
Blog Switzerland at the UN by the Swiss of the UN Switzerland became a member state of the United Nations on 10 September 2002. Twenty years later, the presence of Swiss... Swiss Mission Geneva 6 September 2022
Blog Are you "cheating on your employer" by attending a career event? As a professional, you may wonder whether it’s an act of disloyalty to your employer if you attend a career event such... Jérôme Faivre 31 August 2022
Blog Diversity and inclusion: is the sector on the right track? Are diversity and inclusion adequately addressed in the Swiss labour market of international cooperation? cinfo and BASS... Irenka Krone-Germann • Loraine Ding • Jérôme Faivre 13 July 2022
Blog "Sometimes you must compromise if you want a family – but I stress compromise, not sacrifice" This is the third of three blogs exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a family whilst... Jane Carter 6 July 2022
Blog "The fear that all employees will demand unpaid leave is completely unfounded" Solidar Suisse offers its employees unpaid leave and unpaid parental leave so that they can dedicate their time to other... Ursula Jenny 22 June 2022
Blog "Being Swiss, we tend to be a bit reserved. Get out of your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to network and make yourself seen!" David Müller, working for UNDP with SDG investing, talks about his fascination with Africa, maintaining a good work-life... Neva Fark 22 June 2022
Blog "Talent has no boundaries" – The UN is seeking to recruit persons with disabilities Are you a professional living with disabilities and interested in working for the United Nations? We encourage you to... Gabriela Steinemann 1 June 2022
Blog People sometimes need change to evolve – sometimes without a reason NADEL employees can take an unpaid leave for no particular reason and on a regular basis. Isabel Günther 25 May 2022
Blog Medair: "Our Diversity and Inclusion journey" During the Forum cinfo 2021, Medair held a session to discuss their organisational journey towards integrating Diversity... Lucy Bamforth 18 May 2022
Blog Co-chairing an HR department Manuela and Kathrin, a job-sharing duo, tell us how they run the HR department of Helvetas. Discover the lessons learned... Manuela Häfeli • Kathrin Indermaur 11 May 2022
Blog An insight into the financial dynamics of WHO with Saran Thierwächter Saran Thierwächter is a Finance Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO). At the end of last year, he discussed... Emily Siebeneich • Romain Bachmann 25 April 2022
Blog "It's amazing how quickly one adapts to life in a new country": The spouse's view During the Forum cinfo 2021 we held a session to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a... Jane Carter 20 April 2022
Blog Are you "extremely motivated"? Applicants often have difficulty with their cover letters and commonly resort to using empty phrases. Many seem to... Beat Geiser 5 April 2022
Blog How our employee Simon became a digital nomad A private sector company outlines the benefits and obstacles of mobile working. Get inspired. Loredana Contaldi 30 March 2022
Blog "If you really want to understand the country, try to spend as much time as possible outside the expat bubble" Luc Bitterli is a trainee for Swisscontact in Bangladesh. In this interview, he shares what motivates him, his most... Neva Fark 21 March 2022
Blog "When working abroad, you sometimes have to be relaxed enough to deal with upcoming issues day by day" Anja Hungerbuehler is doing an internship as an Innovation Capacity Amplifier with HEKS in Cambodia. In this interview... Neva Fark 14 March 2022
Blog Learning to take care of yourself before taking care of others Since finishing nursing school, Rebecca had the idea of being a humanitarian health worker. She joined us for a virtual... Natacha Wicht 1 March 2022
Blog Positioning your career in a post-pandemic world Michael Emery, HR Director of IOM-UN Migration, engages in a tough talk with journalist Nicoletta Cimmino on (post-... Neva Fark 28 February 2022
Blog "Working in a fragile and complex context takes a bit of humility" Farook Doomun, Deputy Representative for Operations at UNICEF talks about his experience in fragile humanitarian... Babette Pfander 21 February 2022
Blog An international childhood? It was a great start in life! During the Forum cinfo 2021, we held a session to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with raising a... Jane Carter 24 January 2022
Blog "I never regretted leaving my well-paid job in Switzerland to start from scratch with an NGO in Colombia" At the age of 35, Tony Zuber changed his career and started working in international cooperation abroad. In this... Neva Fark 17 January 2022
Blog "It’s a life of extremes – on the one hand, the most rewarding work there is, on the other, the most draining and demanding" Karin Hofmann had worked several years in conflict zones with the ICRC. She talks about her most challenging experiences... Neva Fark 14 January 2022
Blog "Impact investing is critical for providing investments where capital is scarce and for building capacities locally" Eva Tschannen is Head of Technical Assistance at the impact investment firm, responsAbility. She talks about sustainable... Neva Fark 11 January 2022
Blog "Prepare yourself and be mindful; you will not get a second chance to make a first impression" As an expat, it is not always easy to find your place in a new team in a foreign country – Anvar Sabzaliev has... Neva Fark 6 January 2022
Blog "Ce sont les petites décisions qui façonnent notre vie", entretien avec Christian Castelli Rencontrez Christian Castelli, Policy and Best Practice Officer auprès de la Force intérimaire des Nations unies au... Guillaume Wegmüller 1 December 2021
Blog "We should all take an interest in our future. It's where professionals and organisations have to evolve to remain relevant" Gerd Leonhard, a leading futurist, shares his main observations and foresight for the next ten years and what they might... Neva Fark 2 November 2021
Blog «Der Klimawandel ist ein globales Thema, wobei die UNO eine unersetzliche Rolle spielt», Interview mit Martina Volpe Donlon Lernen Sie Martina Volpe Donlon, Leiterin der Klimakommunikation bei der UNO in New York, kennen. Ladina Gisler • Resmy Paracherry 1 November 2021
Blog «Die WHO ist die Weltfeuerwehr», Interview mit Gaudenz Silberschmidt Lernen Sie Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Direktor der Abteilung Health and Multilateral Partnerships der... Lukas Plattner 25 September 2021
Blog What is required for a posting in international cooperation? What skills should you have (or be able to learn easily on the job) for a posting abroad, for example as a UN Youth... Natal Donnaloia • Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 September 2021
Blog "Il est important de montrer que l'ONU est plus qu'un forum pour résoudre des conflits", entretien avec Aline Stössel Rencontrez Aline Stössel, stagiaire auprès des Nations unies à Genève. Lukas Plattner 1 July 2021
Blog «Unser Ziel ist eine Welt ohne Hunger», Interview mit Corinne Fleischer Lernen Sie Corinne Fleischer, Direktorin des UNO-Welternährungsprogramm (WFP) für den Nahen Osten und Nordafrika, kennen... Lukas Plattner 15 June 2021
Blog "L’ONU est bien loin d’être obsolète", entretien avec Mirko Manzoni Rencontrez Mirko Manzoni, envoyé personnel du Secrétaire général de l’ONU pour le Mozambique. Association Suisse-ONU 1 June 2021
Blog Why networking between Swiss UN staff is essential There are currently around 300 Swiss nationals working at the United Nations. Often, they do not know their Swiss... Jérôme Faivre • Nora Landheer 5 May 2021
Blog "Saisir les opportunités et être à l’écoute de soi", entretien avec Gilles Cerutti Rencontrez Gilles Cerutti, Conseiller Stratégique du Président du CICR. Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 18 March 2021
Blog «Die Schweiz hat den Dialog und die Kompromissfindung in der DNA», Interview mit Frank Grütter Lernen Sie Frank Grütter, Botschafter, Leiter der UNO-Abteilung im Eidgenössischen Departement für auswärtige... Ladina Gisler • Resmy Paracherry 8 March 2021
Blog "Connecter et rassembler", entretien avec Nadia Isler Rencontrez Nadia Isler, Fondatrice et Directrice du SDG Lab. Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 1 February 2021
Blog «Schweizer Fachleute können einen wichtigen Beitrag in der UNO leisten», Interview mit Karin Grimm Lernen Sie Karin Grimm, Policy Specialist (Women, Peace and Security) bei UN Women in Mali, kennen. Lukas Plattner 1 February 2021
Blog International cooperation: new challenges in the labour market The international cooperation labour market has expanded significantly over the past decade. However, governmental and... Irenka Krone-Germann • Loraine Ding • Peter Stettler 12 November 2020
Blog "L'ONU n'est pas en crise, mais en transformation", entretien avec Salman Bal Rencontrez Salman Bal, Directeur du Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI). Guillaume Wegmüller • Marta Zaragoza Navarro 15 September 2020
Blog Working in international cooperation: five clichés you should be aware of Not sure how to get started on pursuing your interest in a career in international cooperation? Be aware of these... Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 March 2020
Blog The cornerstones of organisational transformation Professionals from a variety of organisations tell us about their path to innovation. Find here the key takeaways. Loraine Ding 17 February 2020
Blog Internship, traineeship or junior programme? What else? Internships and co. give you the opportunity to gain work experience in international cooperation. How do they differ... Jérôme Faivre • Beat Geiser 5 February 2020
Blog Innovation in non-profit organisations Should NGOs and NPOs be innovative? If so, how do you develop innovation in organisations whose intention is to provide... Dino Beerli 1 February 2020
Blog A fund to foster innovation Swiss Solidarity launched an innovation fund to support the Swiss NGOs to develop innovation within their projects... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 20 January 2020
Blog "The richest experience I've ever had", Vittoria Groh Vittoria Groh spent one year in Haiti as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks us... Jérôme Faivre 10 January 2020
Blog Making innovation visible Maya Shah, Innovation Coordinator at Médecins Sans Frontières, believes innovation is a permanent challenge to the... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 8 January 2020
Blog Innovation is a must for NGOs Thierry Agagliate, Head of Innovation at Terre des Hommes, understands innovation not just as an invention or a new idea... Loraine Ding • Natacha Wicht 20 December 2019
Blog "You learn a lot by doing", Helen Stevenson Helen Stevenson spent one year in Central Asia as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She... Milena Cuzzucoli 17 August 2018
Blog "Be prepared for new challenges and stressful situations, but also for a fulfilling experience", Mirco Keller Mirco Keller spent one year in Burundi as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". He talks us... Milena Cuzzucoli 10 August 2018
Blog The changing landscape of international cooperation New actors take their role in international cooperation, aid modalities are in transformation and the SDGs set new... Sandra Rothböck 15 November 2016
Blog "My job at a UN agency", Eva Mennel Meet Eva Mennel, Director Human Resources at UNICEF. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 3 October 2016
Blog "The gap between what I imagined and what I experienced was considerable, in a positive way", Sabina Stein Sabina Stein spent one year in Colombia as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Vittoria Groh 10 August 2016
Blog "Living and working within the United Nations system", Nathalie Meyer Meet Nathalie Meyer, Social Policy Specialist within the NETI Programme, UNICEF. Learn more about her position and... Babette Pfander 4 April 2016
Blog "My job in a development bank", Carlos Mollinedo Meet Carlos Mollinedo, Chief Strategy Economist at the African Development Bank. Learn more about his position and... Babette Pfander 7 March 2016
Blog "My job in a development bank", Katharina Falkner-Olmedo Meet Katharina Falkner-Olmedo, Division Chief at the Inter-American Development Bank. Learn more about her position and... Babette Pfander 1 February 2016
Blog "My job in a Swiss NGO for children's aid", Sylvain Fournier Meet Sylvain Fournier, Country Representative for Terre des hommes. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 February 2016
Blog "My job with an international humanitarian aid organisation", Christelle Crot Meet Christelle Crot, Technical Advisor at Médecins Sans Frontières. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 4 January 2016
Blog "I felt keenly the weight of responsibility as I went about my duties", Omar Azzabi Omar Azzabi spent one year in West Africa as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". He talks... Omar Azzabi 19 December 2015
Blog "My job in a development bank", Jean-Luc Bernasconi Meet Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Lead Economist at the World Bank in Tunis. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 November 2015
Blog "My job in a corporate foundation", Miren Bengoa Meet Miren Bengoa, Executive Director of the Chanel Corporate Foundation. Learn more about her position and career path. Camille Aubry 1 October 2015
Blog "My job at a UN agency", Jeremias Blaser Meet Jeremias Blaser, Deputy Country Director for UNDP in Ghana. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 October 2015
Blog "My job as a programme coordinator in an NGO", Jens Engeli Meet Jens Engeli, Programme coordinator at Helvetas. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 October 2015
Blog "My job in peace promotion", Rachel Gasser Meet Rachel Gasser, Deputy Head of the Mediation Program at swisspeace. Learn more about her position and career path. Camille Aubry 1 October 2015
Blog "My job as an NGO programme manager", Fortunat Büsch Meet Fortunat Büsch, Programme Manager at the Swiss Red Cross. Learn more about his position and career path. Babette Pfander 3 August 2015
Blog "My career in international financial institutions", Laurent Corthay Meet Laurent Corthay, Specialist in private sector development with the World Bank. Learn more about his position and... Camille Aubry 6 July 2015
Blog "My job as a programme officer at the Swiss Confederation", Barbara Profeta Meet Barbara Profeta, Programme Officer at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Learn more about her position and... Camille Aubry 1 June 2015
Blog "This year contributed greatly to my personal and professional development", Julia Moser Julia Moser spent one year in Sri Lanka as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Sandrina Moreira 15 May 2015
Blog "My job in the exchange of personnel in development cooperation", Judith Reusser Meet Judith Reusser, Specialist with Comundo. Learn more about her position and career path. Babette Pfander 1 March 2015
Blog "Mutual learning, action and enthusiasm", Amanda Eyer Amanda Eyer spent one year in Ecuador as as part of the talent programme "Swiss Youth at the United Nations". She talks... Amanda Eyer 30 July 2014
