Economist Intern

Work LocationGeneva, Switzerland Expected duration1 February 2026 - 30 July 2026 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND: The international Trade Centre is the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, which provides technical assistance and capacity building to policymakers, the private sector and trade and investment support organisations to help them use trade as an engine for sustainable growth and employment generation. ITC works to support the achievement of the sustainable Development Goals by connecting micro, small and medium enterprises to global value chains. By enabling small business export success in developing countries, ITC helps generate sustainable incomes and livelihoods, especially for women and youth while taking into consideration sustainable elements such as the environment and social responsibility. The position is in the Strategies and Policies for Trade and Investment (SPTI) section within the Division of Market Development (DMD). The intern will contribute to the Research team within SPTI, with two main outputs: SME Competitiveness Outlook (SMECO): The SMECO is ITC's annual flagship report on SME competitiveness. The report provides guidance to policy makers, SMEs and trade and investment support institutions on the latest trends affecting SMEs. SME Competitiveness Survey (SMECS): As part of its analysis on the competitiveness of SMEs, ITC collects data on the competitiveness of enterprises in several countries. The data collection aims to assess the key elements that affect the competitiveness of SMEs. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall guidance of the Chief and direct supervision of the Programme Officer in SPTI/DMD, the selected candidate is expected to: • Conduct literature review for the SME Competitiveness Outlook 2027. • Assist with data analysis on the creative sector and produce charts using Stata and Excel. • Perform firm-level data analysis for the Promoting SME Competitiveness series: develop Stata do-files, analyze SME performance indicators, present results in Excel, summarize key findings, and revise based on feedbacks. • Contribute to drafting one chapter of one of the reports in the Promoting SME Competitiveness series based on survey data and the literature review. • Support the team with ad hoc analytical tasks, including quantitative analysis, preparation of concise briefs, and refinement of materials based on input from the Chief, management, and external partners. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants to the programme shall, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: a) Be enrolled in the final academic year of the first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or b) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or c) Have graduated with a university degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s equivalent) and, if selected, must commence the internship within one year of graduation. Desirable Skills: - Ability to gather and synthesize research material from academic and non-academic sources and form sound conclusions; - Excellent quantitative analysis skills; including proficiency in MS Excel and Stata or similar software; - Experience analysing trade and firm level data is an asset. - Excellent written communication skills. LanguagesAdvanced knowledge of English is required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable. Additional InformationLEARNING ELEMENTS: • Gain meaningful work experience in the area of trade-related technical assistance aimed to expand academic, professional and personal learning • Gain experience in the work of ITC and deepen knowledge and understanding of ITC’s goals and mission • Gain exposure in specialized events related to the United Nations & 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development • Gain exposure to survey design and implementation, including sample selection, analytical techniques, and related software • Gain exposure in database creation, data analysis and data visualization Intern Specific textInterns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.