Call for Application – World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 (Funded). This programme offers selected young professionals the opportunity to gain work experience in the WTO. It is a one-year programme without possibility of extension.
WTO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) Areas of Work
– Accessions
– Agriculture
– Climate change
– Communications and External Relations
– Competition Policy
– Council and Trade Negotiations
– Digital Trade
– Dispute Settlement
– Economic Research and Statistics
– Fisheries Subsidies
– Government Procurement (GPA)
– Intellectual Property Rights
– Investment Facilitation for Development
– Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
– Market Access (tariffs and non-tariff barriers)
– Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures
– Technical Barriers to Trade
– Trade and Development
– Trade and Environment/Climate Change
– Trade Facilitation
– Trade Finance
– Trade and Gender
– Trade in Services and Investment
– Trade Policy Analysis
– Trade-Related Technical Assistance.
– Trade Remedies (anti-dumping and countervailing duties)
General functions
The selected young professionals are allocated to a specific division of the WTO Secretariat in accordance with the needs and priorities of the organization and based on the areas of interest of the young professional. The areas of work may include accessions, agriculture, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights, government procurement (GPA), competition policy, market access, rules, trade and development, trade and environment, trade in services and investment, trade facilitation, trade policy analysis and trade-related technical assistance.
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Duration
One year without possibility of extension.
Remuneration and benefits
Participants under the programme receive a monthly salary of CHF 4,000. The WTO also provides appropriate medical cover and travel costs.
Eligibility
A candidate must:
- be a natural person from a WTO member
- have an advanced university degree in law, economics, and other international trade-related subjects relevant to WTO work
- have a minimum of two years’ relevant experience
demonstrate a high level of interest in international trade and commitment to WTO-related work - be fluent in English. A good working knowledge of one of the WTO’s other official languages, French or Spanish, would be an advantage
- be 32 years of age or younger at the expected start date of the YPP, if selected.
- Preference is given to candidatess from WTO members without any representation at the professional level in the Secretariat. A
- list of under-represented WTO members will be provided when the request for applicants is posted.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, international relations, law, environment studies, or other trade-related subjects relevant to the work of the WTO (e.g. international investment law, trade and gender, etc.). Applicants must have obtained their advanced university degree by the time they submit their application.
Knowledge and Skills:
- General knowledge of the work of the WTO.
- Technical knowledge in one or more of the areas of work indicated above.
- Good drafting skills in English. Ability to draft in French and/or Spanish would be an advantage.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, in a multicultural environment.
- Demonstrated strong interest in international trade and the multilateral trading system.
- Commitment and passion for trade or 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 of either French or Spanish would be an advantage.
How to Apply
The request for applications for the Young Professionals Programme is published each year on the WTO external jobs platform. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. Applicants must submit a letter of motivation along with the completed online application.
Additional information
Being a young professional does not entail the right to a vacancy in another part of the Secretariat. Young professionals may nevertheless apply for external vacancies.
For more information: Visit the website for World Trade Organization Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 (Funded)