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)?
This one-year programme is a fantastic way for you to get to know the world of international cooperation, in particular the multilateral system, and to launch your career. 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. Vacancies are advertised in batches. Per batch you can apply for up to three positions. Check out our FAQ section to learn more about what's involved.
Opportunities aligned with the Global Goals
The positions are diverse and reflect the thematic priorities of UN organisations and the World Bank, all of which address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
15 open positions in 13 countries
Discover current opportunities at the United Nations and World Bank by interacting with the map or browsing the list below. Please note that the deadline for applications is 10 April 2024.
Open positions at the UN
- Programme Associate - EVAWG/HR, UN Women, Burundi
- Human Rights Associate, OHCHR, Colombia (Bogotá)
- Human Rights Associate, OHCHR, Colombia (Pasto)
- Gender Equality Programme Analyst, UN Women, Lebanon
- Human Rights Monitoring Associate, OHCHR, Mexico
- Human Rights Monitoring Associate - ESCAZU, OHCHR, Mexico
- Associate Programme Management Officer, OHCHR, Moldova
- Associate Programme Support Officer, UN Women, Sri Lanka
- Rule of Law Associate, UNODC, Nigeria
- Women, Peace and Security Programme Associate, UN Women, DRC
Open positions at the World Bank
- Digital Development Project Associate, World Bank, Guinea
- Water Analyst, World Bank, Laos
- Research Analyst, World Bank, Nepal
- Climate Finance and Carbon Market Analyst, World Bank, Bangladesh
- Social Protection Analyst, World Bank, Togo
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.
More job offers coming in August
This year, the job offers will be published in two phases on cinfoPoste. Make sure you're always informed by creating your profile and activating the "job agent" function tailored to your interests.
The first batch of jobs is already available (see above). Look out for the second batch in August. Remember, you're allowed to apply for up to three positions in each phase.
How to apply
For an insight into the application 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 the 2023 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 programme owner
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.
Host organisation – the 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.
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