Talent programme: Swiss Youth at the United Nations and World Bank
Are you a Swiss national under the age of 29 with a Master's degree? Do you want to gain work experience abroad while making a positive impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Read more about the programme, the positions, the minimum requirements, what you will get, and the players involved.
About the Programme
This one-year programme is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain further work experience in international cooperation, particularly the multilateral system. The programme takes care of all your major expenses such as travel, relocation and insurance, and also gives you a monthly living allowance. It's important to remember that this opportunity is only available to people from Switzerland, as it is funded by the Swiss government. Check out our FAQ section to learn more about what's involved.
When to Apply
We typically advertise positions in batches twice a year, with the next recruitment cycle beginning in early 2025. If you’d like to stay updated, you can create a profile on cinfoPoste, and we’ll notify you about interesting opportunities in multilateral organisations.
Previous positions
20 locations in 16 countries on 5 continents - take a look at the global vacancies we advertised in August 2024.
Positions funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- WASH Climate Specialist – UNICEF, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Disability Inclusion and Decent Work Coordinator – UNICEF, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Environment Analyst – UNDP, Cairo, Egypt
- Junior Associate Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment – UN Women, Chișinău, Moldova
- Gender Responsive Inclusive Governance Associate – UN Women, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Associate SRH Officer in Emergencies – UNFPA, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Communication Associate in Social and Behaviour Change – UNICEF, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Programme Support Associate – UNFPA, Skopje, Macedonia
- Youth and Inclusive Associate – UNFPA, Lusaka, Zambia
- Governance Monitoring and Evaluation Associate – UNDP, Harare, Zimbabwe
Positions funded by the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD)
- UN Youth Volunteer in Protection – UNHCR, Barranquilla, Colombia
- Junior Project Associate – UNDP, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Associate Development Coordination Officer – UN RCO, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Gender Equality and Rule of Law Programme Analyst – UN Women, Beirut, Lebanon
- Human Rights Monitoring Associate – OHCHR, Mexico City, Mexico
- Partnerships and Advocacy Analyst 2026 World Cup – UNODC, Mexico City, Mexico
- Rule of Law Associate – UNODC, Abuja, Nigeria
- Conflict Prevention Associate – UN RCO, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Human Rights Associate – OHCHR, Bangkok, Thailand
- Gender and Humanitarian Action Associate – UN Women, Nariño, Colombia
Minimum requirements for all positions
- Swiss nationality
- Master's degree in a relevant field
- Ideally 12 months of relevant work experience (min. 3 months - max. 24 months)
- Max. 28 years of age at the time of application
- Excellent command of English and knowledge of two official Swiss languages (active knowledge of at least one of them)
- Demonstrated thematic interest in economics, finance, international cooperation, human development, environment, etc.
About the recruitment process
You can apply for up to 3 positions in the programme. Make sure that your profile on cinfoPoste is complete and up to date. For an insight into the process, please see our FAQs:
What you get
YES, you are a valued team member
You will be an integral part of the UN organisation / World Bank personnel during your assignment.
YES, your chances are very good
As the programme is reserved for Swiss graduates, there is no international competition when applying.
YES, your work is rewarded
To help you get the most out of your assignment, all travel, relocation, life and UN health insurance costs are covered.
Programme Deep Dive: Webinar, alumni stories and survey results
Watch the recordings of past webinars to learn more about the programme and the application and recruitment process. Former participants also talk about what motivated them to apply. They also share their experiences during their assignments.
In 2022, we conducted a survey of past participants. We asked them about their experiences during the programme and about their careers a few years after the programme.
The roles of Switzerland, cinfo, UNV and the host organisation
The Swiss government – the donor
The UN Youth Volunteers positions are funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Confederation (PHRD), and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). As a result, these positions are open to Swiss nationals only.
cinfo – the facilitator
cinfo is mandated by the Swiss Confederation to promote the programme, publish all vacancies, process the applications and conduct the recruitment process. cinfo also prepares the selected UN Youth Volunteers candidates for their assignment, and ensures to follow-up during and after the mission.
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) – the contractual and administrative employer
UNV administers the global talent programme. UNV partners with all funding governments (Switzerland in this case) and the host organisations, and deploys the selected UN Youth Volunteers in their countries of assignment.
Multilateral Entitiy – the operational employer
The partner organisation is responsible for managing the UN Youth Volunteer who is part of their office team during the assignment.
Still got questions?
We have summarised and answered the most frequently asked questions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you cannot find the answer you are looking for.
Get in touch
Get in touch
