Internship on Social Protection

Grade: Internship

Publication date: 07 April 2025

Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 30 April 2025

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

Job ID: 12765

Department: SOCPRO

Organization Unit:

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:

• 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.
• 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 E-Mail schreiben.

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:

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

Department(s)

Internships are possible with the ILO Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) or the International Social Security Association (ISSA) :

The Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) is responsible for promoting enhanced coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all through efficient and sustainable national social protection floors and comprehensive social security systems, in line with the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and other ILO social security standards. SOCPRO consists of four units: the Social Policy Unit, the Programming, Partnerships and Knowledge-sharing Unit, the Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit, and the Actuarial Services Unit. The Social Policy Unit is responsible for providing technical advisory services to constituents in developing and enhancing policy frameworks that govern social protection schemes and programmes and overall national social protection systems, The Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit is responsible for providing financial, actuarial and statistical advice to constituents applying the principles and values of ILO social security standards. The Programming, Partnerships and Knowledge-sharing Unit is responsible for effectively supporting the management and the operations of the Department, supporting the development and management of global partnerships, coordinating the communication and dissemination of social protection knowledge and providing strategic, technical and operational support for the ILO’s Global Flagship programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All. The ILO Actuarial Services Unit, manages the actuarial services for social insurance valuations, namely through development cooperation projects.

The International Social Security Association (ISSA) is the world's leading international organization for social security institutions, government departments and agencies. Founded in 1927 under the auspices of the International Labour Organization, the ISSA counts more than 320 member organizations in 162 countries. The ISSA's aim is to promote dynamic social security as the social dimension in a globalizing world by supporting excellence in social security administration. Internship is possible under the ISSA Social Security Development Branch (development of the knowledge base, research and policy analysis, ISSA technical commissions, and the documentation service).

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

Learning Area

As an intern in the ILO Universal Social Protection Department or the ISSA, you will be exposed to a whole range of areas covered by social protection, composed of contributory and non-contributory social security programmes (i.e. social assistance and social insurance schemes). This includes policy design, issues of implementation, delivery and administration, monitoring and evaluation, including through quantitative methods and tools, related to contributory and non-contributory social security programmes providing income security and access to health care in case of unemployment, old-age, sickness, disability, work injury, maternity or poverty and vulnerability in general as well as to overall social protection systems. Both the ILO Universal Social Protection Department and the ISSA aim to promote the extension and improvement of social security protection globally and to develop practical analytical methodologies and tools reflecting the latest developments.

You would be gaining experience working with specialists who are involved in a broad range of tasks including: researching and analysing recent trends and developments in social security; concisely summarizing social-security policies; collecting social security-related statistical data and other information; promoting social security worldwide through application of international labour standards (like ILO Convention 102 and Recommendation 202); analysing the financial and actuarial situation of social protection systems and schemes; providing technical assistance to countries on the formulation of gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive national social protection policies and strategies and legal frameworks, as well as the implementation/management of social security schemes; and preparing ISSA/ILO Universal Social Protection Department publications and organizing technical meetings and analogous activities.

Interns should expect to devote between 20% to 30% of their time to support the administration of technical activities.

Education

The candidate must be enrolled in their final year of graduate degree programme or must have completed such a programme no longer than 1 year ago. Applicant should currently follow a course of study in economics, econometrics, law, social policy, actuarial sciences, statistics, social sciences or related fields.

Experience

Relevant work experience in social security/protection or international development; qualitative research experience, knowledge of IT, quantitative modelling, or applied policy research would be an advantage. Programming experience and relevant studies in econometric modelling, or actuarial sciences or applied statistics are required for an internship in the Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Branch of SOCPRO.

Languages

Applicants should have working knowledge (both oral and written) of English and at least one of the ILO's official languages (French or 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.

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 E-Mail schreiben - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.