Internship on Cooperative Education and Training

 

Grade: Internship 

Publication date: 07 April 2025
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 30 April 2025

Vacancy no.: INTERNROSTER/2025/1/ENTERPRISES/COOP/SSE 

 

Job ID: 12808 

Department: ENTERPRISES 
Organization Unit: COOP/SSE 
Location: Geneva, Switzerland  
Duration of contract: 3 to 6 months (starting on the 1st or the 15th of a given month)


 

You are applying to the ILO generic internship roster, which is published twice per year. The roster will be made available to all departments and field offices, which will then select and directly contact suitable candidates. Due to the high volume of applications, the ILO does not inform candidates about the status of their application. 

 

 

The ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for you to:

 

  1. Increase your understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving you directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies.
  2. Gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to your field of study.

 

Please note that you:

 

  • Are requested to apply to a maximum of three internship profiles, otherwise you will be automatically disqualified.
  • Must upload a cover letter. Your CV or resumé uploaded as attachments are not accepted.
  • Are able to withdraw your application at any time via the Jobs Applied section of your profile.
  • May not be contacted for the duration that this roster is active. Should this be the case, we encourage you to reapply if you are still eligible and available.
  • Should not expect employment at the end of the internship.
  • Must apply before the deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

 

The ILO values diversity:

 

We welcome applications from qualified candidates, including from persons with disabilities and those from non- or under- represented member States

If needed, reasonable accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities in the recruitment phase as well as during the internship to promote equality of opportunities. If you are unable to complete your online application form due to a disability, please send an email to internship@ilo.org.

If you are a national of a non- or under-represented member State, who is pursuing or has completed their studies in their home country, you may be eligible to have your travel costs covered by the ILO to Geneva, Switzerland.

 

IMPORTANT:

 

You can only apply for an internship if you:

 

  1. Have no close relative serving in the ILO (mother, father, brother, sister).
  2. Have not already undertaken an internship at the ILO.
  3. Are enrolled in a Master’s or a Doctorate Programme, or have completed such a programme in the year preceding the application.
  4. Have a working (both oral and written) knowledge of English. This is mandatory.
     

 

 

Departments(s)

The internship is located in the Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy (COOP/SSE) Unit within the Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition (ENTERPRISES) Department. The Department’s overall mission is to promote sustainable enterprises to achieve the ILO goal of social justice through decent work. 

 

The department is organized around four units: Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy; Multinational Enterprises and Enterprises Engagement; Small and Medium Enterprises, and; Social Finance. Technical specialists on Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity and Just Transition are based in Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWT) in all regions and provide policy and technical support services to the tripartite constituents on the promotion of sustainable enterprises. They also form part of the wider Global Technical Team for ENTERPRISES. 

 

The ILO has had an organizational unit dedicated to the work on the cooperative, social and solidarity economy since 1920. The ILO activities on this portfolio are guided by the ILO’s Resolution, Strategy and Action Plan (SAP) on decent work and the social and solidarity economy.

Learning areas

As an intern on cooperative education and training, you will be exposed to a range of areas related to promoting decent work in and through cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities. This includes maintaining collaborative relationships with the International Training Centre of the ILO, cooperative education and training institutions, including those part of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on SSE, and other partners. You will also support the identification of training needs and contribute to developing, updating and adapting training and capacity development resource and learning materials, tools and activities, as well as to their monitoring and evaluation.
 

Interns should expect to devote 10% to 20% of their time to administrative tasks.

Education

Degree in economics, management, social sciences, international relations, development studies, or a related field.

The candidate must be enrolled at least in a Master's degree programme or have completed such a programme no longer than 1 year ago.

Experience

Experience in supporting the design, adaptation or implementation of education and training programmes or courses, preferably related to cooperative development.  Familiarity with adult learning methodologies and digital tools for communication, knowledge management or online collaboration would be an advantage.

Languages

Working (both oral and written) knowledge of English and the other ILO’s official languages (French, Spanish) are an asset.

Proficiency in a third ILO language or another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian) is an advantage.

Competencies

Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes.

Additional requirements

Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection.

Research and analytical skills.

Drafting skills.


 

How to apply:

 

1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs 

2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs 

3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile

4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline. 

 

Selection process:

 

Following a first screening by the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), hiring departments will short-list applicants. You will be directly contacted should an internship opportunity match your profile. If you have not been contacted by any department within six months after your application, you can consider that you have not been selected by any department for this roster. If still eligible, you may apply to the next roster. 

 

If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the hiring department for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

 

Stipend/Financial compensations:

 

As an intern in Geneva, you will receive a stipend of 2450 CHF per month from the ILO, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive 2450 CHF per month. Your travel to Geneva will be at your own expense. In addition to the amounts referred above, each intern shall receive the amount of CHF45 per month, or the equivalent amount in the currency in which the monthly stipend is paid, which is a contribution from the Office towards the cost of medical insurance to cover the period of the internship.

 

Qualified candidates from non- and under- represented countries may be eligible for a special fund that provides financial assistance for round-trip airfare (economy class) in addition to the stipend.

 

Insurance:

 

Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).

 

Fraud warning:

 

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.