The World Trade Organization (WTO) is calling for the program for the 2022 Young Professionals Programme (YPP).
Announcing the program in an announcement on its website on Friday, April 9, the organisation said the programme allowed qualified young professionals from developing and least-developed nations to better their knowledge regarding the WTO and global trade problems.
The WTO stated YPP selection would give preference to young professionals in growing and least-developed countries that were members of the WTO and whose nationals were now under-represented or maybe not represented at the organisation’s Secretariat.
It included that YPP was a part of the Secretariat’s overall aim to increase its diversity to reflect the make-up of its membership.
The organization clarified further that YPP was an exceptional chance to obtain hands-on experience that could help open the door for future professional opportunities in the field of multilateral diplomacy and global trade.
Candidates up to age 32, as of 1 January 2022, from eligible countries were invited to submit their application by 29 April 2021.
The chosen candidates will work in the WTO Secretariat for one year, beginning in January 2022.
The 2021 cadre of Young Professionals comprises 14 professionals in Bangladesh, Belize, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Guatemala, Georgia, Indonesia, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Chinese Taipei and Thailand, according to the WTO.
They were chosen from more than 2,400 candidates after a competitive selection process.
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Almost 60 professionals have engaged in the programme since it was established in 2017, WTO stated.
Love of adventure and a positive attitude is required from participants at the programme.
Selected young professionals are allocated to several branches of the WTO Secretariat according to their qualifications and the requirements of their branch.
The areas of work may include accessions, agriculture, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights, market accessibility, media and external relations, WTO rules, trade and development, trade and environment, trade in services and investment, trade facilitation, trade policy evaluation and trade-related technical assistance.
The online application form may be accessed on the WTO e-Recruitment website and should be done no later than 29 April 2021, said the WTO.
More information about these young professionals can be obtained here.
Nigerian renowned economist Ngozi Okonjo Iweala clinched the post of this director-general of this organization after defeating others at three rounds of screening, while her last rival and South Korean candidate to the post Yoo Myung-hee finally withdrew her candidacy on February 5, 2021, paving the way for the Nigerian-American Okonjo-Iweala to become the first female and African to lead the institution.
Okonjo-Iweala assumed office as the WTO director-general on March 1, 2021.
