Intern: ITC in Iraq – Inclusive Economic Development

ITC Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland

Nov. 26 - May 27

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). ITC supports the international competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and inclusive, sustainable development through trade and enterprise development. In Iraq, ITC implements complementary European Union-supported initiatives contributing to economic inclusion of Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WYVC), decent employment, business development and stronger institutions. This internship will support three linked workstreams: • JOBS (Jobs and entrepreneurship Opportunities to Build Sustainable inclusive Development – SAAVI Phase 2), Expected Result 4 (ER4): enhancing self-reliance and durable solutions for displacement-affected populations and vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, through demand-driven skills, access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, financial inclusion and awareness of relevant rights. • BEIT (Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation: Towards Decent Work and Affordable Housing in Iraq), Objective 3.3: support to ITC’s work in housing and construction, with particular attention to investment facilitation, sector governance, MSME participation and opportunities for sustainable, affordable housing. • MASAR, Expected Result 3 (ER3): operationalisation of relevant technical and vocational education and training (TVET) policies and institutional frameworks, including inter-ministerial protocols, standard operating procedures, implementation tools and targeted support to institutional adoption. The intern will contribute to desk research, stakeholder and institutional mapping, technical documentation, coordination, reporting and knowledge management across these workstreams, under staff supervision. The internship is a learning assignment and does not entail independent policy advice or responsibility for project delivery. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES Under the direct supervision of the designated ITC Senior Programme Officer, and in collaboration with the Iraq projects’ team, the intern will undertake the following tasks: JOBS – ER4 | Economic inclusion, self-reliance and durable solutions • Conduct desk research on economic inclusion barriers and opportunities for internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, women, youth and other vulnerable groups in targeted areas of Iraq. • Support mapping of labour-market opportunities, employers, business support organizations (BSOs), vocational training providers, entrepreneurship initiatives and financial service providers relevant to employment and self-employment pathways. • Assist in consolidating information on beneficiary outreach, skills development, employment referrals, enterprise support, access-to-finance linkages and rights-awareness activities; organize evidence for progress reporting with appropriate data protection and disaggregation. • Prepare background briefs, analytical summaries, presentations and meeting records for coordination with implementing partners and other stakeholders. BEIT – Objective 3.3 | Housing and construction sector support • Support the preparation and documentation of technical consultations with public institutions, private-sector representatives, investors and business support organizations. • Help maintain action trackers, stakeholder contact matrices and records of outputs relevant to the workstream, as requested by the supervisor. MASAR – ER3 | TVET governance and reform operationalization • Assist in mapping TVET institutions, coordination mechanisms, stakeholder mandates, focal points and decision-making or approval processes, with emphasis on private-sector engagement. • Support evidence reviews on institutional and procedural bottlenecks affecting work-based learning, occupational standards, curriculum approval, assessment and labour-market feedback. • Prepare working matrices, meeting minutes and draft inputs for inter-ministerial protocols, standard operating procedures, coordination terms of reference and implementation tools, under technical guidance. • Support follow-up on consultations, pilot operationalisation and institutional adoption of selected reform measures, including maintenance of agreed actions and validation milestones. Cross-cutting support • Prepare well-referenced research notes, PowerPoint presentations, meeting documentation and concise progress updates. • Support the planning and follow-up of online and in-person stakeholder meetings, workshops and technical events. • Maintain organized project files and knowledge products, respecting confidentiality, safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion and conflict-sensitive approaches. INDICATIVE OUTPUTS (UNDER SUPERVISION) • Stakeholder and institutional mapping matrices for relevant workstreams. • Short research notes and presentation materials on ER4 inclusion pathways, BEIT housing/construction issues and MASAR TVET institutional operationalisation. • Meeting briefs, minutes, action trackers and documented follow-up on consultations and technical working sessions. • A consolidated end-of-internship handover note describing outputs, lessons learned and pending follow-up. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons equally, including persons with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Applicants to the programme shall, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in a or b above) and, if selected, shall commence the internship within one year of graduation. Relevant studies include economics, international development, public policy, international relations, business administration, social sciences or a related field. SKILLS • Interest in inclusive economic development, labour markets, entrepreneurship, private-sector development, housing/construction or TVET governance, preferably in fragile or displacement-affected contexts. • Ability to conduct structured desk research, critically assess sources, synthesize findings and prepare clear, accurately referenced written outputs. • Strong organizational and communication skills; proficiency in standard office software, spreadsheets and presentation tools. Data visualization and basic monitoring skills are assets.

• Fluency in English; • Arabic and/or other UN languages would be a strong asset.

Not available.

Interns 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.