·       Switzerland provides junior staff to SDC's priority UN organizations so that they are better capacitated to implement their mandate and reach the goals of Agenda 2030.

·       The assignment of young Swiss volunteer interns to the field allows them to gain professional experience within a multilateral organization which positions them well in the international cooperation market.

-        The strategic placement of UNVs within the SDC's priority agencies, countries and priority themes facilitates the exchange between the SDC and the UN system on priority development issues.

Erwartete Resultate:  

Placement of ten Swiss university candidates and assignment for 12 months in priority UN organizations of the SDC[1]

[1] For the UNYV Programme, the following UN agencies are considered as priority organisations: UNDP, UNRCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women.

Resultate von früheren Phasen:   There is constant interest in the UNV Volunteer Internship program. Since the start of its participation in the program in 2004, the SDC has funded 160 Swiss internship positions. According to the result of the evaluation of the 2018 Volunteer Interns Programme, 66% of the Swiss young volunteers has kept working in a multilateral organization and 46% in the same institution where they completed their internship. Most of them are satisfied with their field Experience which positions them well in the international cooperation labor market. Some UNYVs have succesfully applied to SDC’s JPO Program based on their previous experience as UNYVs.

SDC Geographical divisions and Swiss Embassies are included in the identification of UNYV positions, based on priorities on the ground.

This Programme is complementary to the SDC JPO UN programme, which is also finalised to boost the retention of Swiss young professionals in the staff of multilateral priority organisations.

It also completes the general contribution of Switzerland to the UN Volunteers Programme (UNV) (800’000.- USD/year).

The GI Division is coordinated (with the support of Cinfo) with the other federal entities, which also have scondments through UNV (SDC Humanitarian Aid, Division of Peace and Human Rights, SECO).