JPOs4UN Programme 2023-2028

Due to a variety of factors such as concerns over comparatively low job security, salary or social insurance schemes, Swiss nationals are underrepresented within priority UN humanitarian agencies (WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA as well as UNRWA), especially when compared with the amount of financial contributions Switzerland provides.

For Switzerland, its Swiss nationals within partner agencies may be a valuable source of information on their inner opportunities and challenges. In order to have greater presence with these partners, Switzerland directly supports them to hire young Swiss nationals so that they can get experienced and eventually start a career within the UN.

SDC has mandated CINFO, a Swiss foundation focused on the Swiss job market for international cooperation, to support on the whole programme management; it identifies candidates, follows up on administrative issues and counsels JPOs on hiring and retention matters.

Young and experienced Swiss professionals with interest in working in multilateral humanitarian aid organizations.

1. Young Swiss professionals are provided opportunities to work in SDC priority MOs and have improved their career perspectives;
2. Swiss nationals strengthen SDC Multi-H priority MOs workforce for the implementation of their mandate and on the Agenda 2030. 
3. Increased presence of Swiss experienced professionals in the top three priority humanitarian MOs (WFP, UNHCR, OCHA) in the medium/long-term.  

Expected results:  

1. JPOs: 11 young Swiss professionals are recruited and employed for SDC’s Humanitarian Aid priority UN humanitarian organizations. At least 60% of these JPOs have been retained following assignment, thus contributing to increasing the presence of Swiss nationals in priority MOs and the relevance of Switzerland-UN policy dialogue. SDC programme officers engage at least with Swiss JPOs twice a year.
2. HR Marketing: WFP, UNHCR and OCHA receive a 20% increase of quality applications from Swiss experienced professionals by the end of 2024.

Results from previous phases:  

1. Since 2014, JPOs4UN resulted in 9 batches of young professionals recruited for a total of 38 JPOs. Out of these, 11 are still in the programme and 27 finished their 3-year contract. 13 are still working for the UN as of January 2023. Retention after JPO varied between 0% (UNRWA) to 83% (OCHA). 
2. While JPOs4UN does not have a positive discrimination policy, ±66% of JPOs financed are women.
3. Major success factors include the quality and engagement of the supervisors as well as the personal network the JPOs build within the multilateral organizations (MOs) (HQ, country offices).