Switzerland pursues its foreign policy interests by maintaining a presence in international organizations. In pursuing its multilateral interests it gives priority to the following measures:

•  ensuring that Swiss nationals are represented at the highest levels of such organizations 
•  increasing the number of Swiss citizens in the executive bodies (administrations) of international organizations 
•  providing support to individuals looking for employment in international organizations

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) supports Swiss candidates in elections to the executive bodies of international organizations through campaigns targeted at members of the electoral bodies, in most cases member states. The Swiss government (through its diplomats) or independent experts represent Switzerland in high-level bodies, in particular the following :

• Former legal advisor to the FDFA and international law professor, Lucius Caflisch, member of the United Nations International Law Commission for the period from 2012 to 2016 and chairman of the 64th session of the International Law Commission in 2012
• Professor Bertrand Calpini, President of the Commission for Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the period from 2010 to 2014
• Monique Jametti Greiner, vice-director of the Federal Office for Justice, member of the Governing Council of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) for the period from 2009 to 2013
• Professor Walter Kälin replacing Helen Keller as member of the UN Human Rights Committee for the remaining period until 2014
• Professor Jean Martin, member of the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) of UNESCO for the period from 2010 to 2013
• Patricia Schulz, Head of the Federal Office of Equality between Men and Woman, member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for the period from 2011 to 2014
• Professor of climate and environmental physics, Thomas Stocker, co-chair of the Working Group I (scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, for the period from 2008 to 2013
• Mr Jean Zermatten, director and co-founder of the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE), (Switzerland), member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations, for the period from 2009 to 2013
• Professor Jean Ziegler, member of the Consultative Committee of the Human Rights Council, for the period from 2009 to 2012
• Human Rights Council of the United Nations for the period from 2010 to 2013
• Council of the International Telecommunications Union for the period from 2011 to 2014
• Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union for the period from 2008 to 2012

Generally, participation in an executive body is achieved through a process of appointment rather than election. Election campaigns are therefore not necessary for such posts. For example, the UN Secretary-General appoints his special representatives or the special rapporteurs of the United Nations. Swiss citizens appointed to such posts include the following (in order of importance of post):

• Konrad Osterwalder, rector of the United Nations University
• Former United Nations Legal Counsel, Nicolas Michel, special advisor and mediator of the border dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon
• International law professor Walter Kälin, representative of the UN Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons
• Delegate for international tax matters and vice-director of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, Jürg Giraudi, member of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters for the period from 2009 to 2013

In addition to political posts, the FDFA is active in promoting the presence of Swiss nationals in the administrations of international organizations through various targeted measures. To remedy Switzerland’s under-representation in this area, it pursues a two-pronged strategy involving the following measures:

• Firstly, to inform and advise interested Swiss nationals of career opportunities in international organizations through participating in main career promotion forums
• Secondly, to finance internships in international organizations for so-called junior professional officers (JPO) for a period of two years

In addition, Switzerland also supports internship programmes in international organizations reserved for under-represented countries, for example the junior professional officers programme at UNESCO.

Under the following link you will find more information about career opportunities in international organisations.
 Career in international organizations