INT21-1

The aim of the NTP is to assist in the economic and social development of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), low‑income countries and comparable poor small and vulnerable economies in areas related to trade policy. It provides capital based mid-level public officials, with a minimum of 5 years of working experience on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues with the opportunity to learn more about matters dealt with in the WTO, under the direction of staff members of the WTO. Particular attention is given to African countries. Candidates are typically between 30 and 45 years of age, they receive a monthly lump sum plus travel expenses and will spend a total period of up to ten months with the WTO. The internship cannot under any circumstances exceed the 10 months. The official will be expected to complete specific and well defined tasks in that period in conformity with the objectives of the NTP. Tasks will need to have relevance for the beneficiary country in terms of capacity building and/or in the on‑going negotiations, and will be defined at the beginning of the traineeship. The tasks will be reviewed and established in close co-operation with the Head of the TA Coordination, Internships Programmes and Partnership Section and the relevant regional desks in ITTC.
As part of the internship training programme of the Netherlands Training Programme and as foreseen in the MOU, the interns will benefit from a one week training course at Institute Clingendael, Den Haag, Netherlands. This course brings together trade policy practitioners and government officials. The courses are interactive and include fields visits to various bodies and organizations.