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Internship on economic and quantitative methods applied to social protection

 

Grade: Internship 

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

Vacancy no.: INTERNROSTER/2025/1/SOCPRO/SOCPFACTS 

 

Job ID: 12931 

Department: SOCPRO 
Organization Unit: SOC/PFACTS 
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.
     

 

 

Department(s)

The Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) is responsible for promoting enhanced coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all through efficient, sustainable and comprehensive social security systems, including national social protection floors, in line with the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), and other ILO social security standards. The Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit (SOC/PFACTS) is responsible for providing advice to constituents on financing, actuarial and statistical issues applying the principles and values of ILO social security standards; articulating ILO positions on social security reforms, costing and financing of social protection systems, options for fiscal space and financial governance of social protection; as well as for collecting, statistically processing and producing global social protection data through the Social Security Inquiry and several quantitative tools. The unit also contributes to the development, resource mobilization and execution of development cooperation projects of the Department including within the context of the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All.

Learning areas

As an intern in SOC/PFACTS, you will be able to apply the knowledge you gained during your economics, statistics, mathematics or actuarial studies. Depending on your area of expertise, you will be exposed to one or more of the following areas of expertise of the unit:

1-    Public finance: In this area, you will work on the non-contributory side of social protection systems. You will gain experience in strategies to expand the fiscal space for social protection, along with various quantitative and planning tools to cost investments in social protection and estimate the impact of such investments; 
2-    Actuarial Services: In this area, you will work on the contributory side of social protection. You will gain an understanding of ILO’s Actuarial Models applied to different social protection branches, including, among others, pensions, employment injury, maternity, and health. Your daily work will aim at supporting actuaries to simulate the introduction of parametric changes to social security schemes around the world; 
3-    Statistical services: In this area of work, you will gain an understanding of social protection statistics. Your daily work will involve the collection and dissemination of comparable statistics on social protection coverage, benefit levels, and expenditure. You will be involved in managing the world’s most comprehensive database on social protection, containing information for more than 180 countries, as well as the corresponding dashboard. 

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, actuarial studies, or related fields.

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

Languages

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

Competencies

Applicants should be able to adapt to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, have good communication skills, and be able to work in teams.

Additional requirements

Good knowledge of social protection concepts and policies and proven ability to use Excel/PowerBI and a statistical software (particularly STATA, Python, Pandas, VBA) to perform data analysis would be considered an advantage. Capacity to use Artificial Intelligence to carry out research and automate tasks would also be viewed as an asset. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

 

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.

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