Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Working in International Organisations

Contents

Foreword ………………………………………………..…. Page 3 1.Interview ……………...……………………..….……….. Page 5 with MFA Director General for Personnel Ambassador Vittorio Claudio Surdo 2. International Organisations …………...……..….….. Page 7 What are they ? ………………….……...……............... Page 8 Arranging them in groups: the four families …....….… Page 9 3. The International Career………………….……….… Page 10 The ideal profile…………………………………....…….Page 11 Exemplary determination and drive Willingness to move Flexibility: turning precariousness into a plus Essential requirements

Editor in Chief: Counsellor Grammenos Mastrojeni Press and Information Serivce Editorial staff, Ansa News Agency: Alessandra Spitz; Arabella Marconi Acknowledgements: For the Directorate General of Personnel Director General for Personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Vittorio Claudio Surdo

Counsellor Alessandro Motta Counsellor Giuseppe Cavagna

Stefano Baldi Counsellor for the Italian permanent delegation to the United Nations - New York Thomas Botzios Diplomatic Officer at the Office of Competitions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4. Opportunities ……………………………………...…. Page 12 … in the UN System ……………………...….………. Page 13 Graduate and post-graduate students Internships Professionals with limited experience JPO Programme The UNDP’s LEAD Programme National UN competitions Professionals Fixed term contracts Mission experts Special positions Translators and interpreters … in International Financial Institutions ………...….. Page 20 Young Professionals programme (YPP) … in the European Union ………..……...…………... Page 20

Graduate and post -graduate students Internships Graduates with limited experience European Competitive Exam Professionals Detached National Experts Researcher agents Temporary agents Special positions Translators and interpreters ... Other ways to gain experience in international organisations .… Page 24 Election monitoring operations Expert missions UN Volunteers (UNV) 5. How to apply for a post …………………………….. Page 27 What is a Vacancy Notice? …………………………...… Page 28 When and where to look for a vacancy ……….……….. Page 30 Levels and earnings………………………………………..Page 31

Just a job? … Perhaps a bit more ...

Once the idea of a job in the world of international organisations begins to exert its attraction there are several factors to be considered, including the appealing salaries and opportunities for discovery that a career in a cosmopolitan environment can offer. Needless to say, however, there are any number of professions capable of offering such prospects nowadays; deciding to get involved in helping refugees, balancing trade flows or protecting human rights, means that one is probably thinking about something else as well: regardless of one’s point of departure, a choice of this kind inevitably means coming face-to-face with the concepts of peace and justice.

Just a Job?

Whether or not the choice is intentional, anyone

entering that “milieu” — which we initially tend to identify automatically with the United Nations — is bound to become part of the most up-to-date, evolved and promising mechanism that the Community of Nations has thus far created for building peace, and its indispensable foundation, justice. Despite all the recent talk of crisis and the need to reform it, everyone still thinks immediately of the United Nations, and not mistakenly: the UN is neither a panacea nor is it the organisation with the longest history, but there are still many reasons to consider it as standing for an even more articulated and indispensable system. It is not necessarily common knowledge that our global village is underpinned by a very dense network of inter-governmental agreements, and that it hosts approximately 250 international organisations that administrate an infinite number of services essential to modern governments. These range from meteorological to telecommunications services, from applying synchroton accelerators to cracking down on trafficking in artworks, and from vaccination campaigns to the Blue Helmets. However you choose to look at it the United Nations’ fundamental aims of peace and justice are always the final goal.

The difficulties inherent to the efforts of large

international bodies in dealing with major crises of every sort are a recurring consideration. Nevertheless, even before a crisis breaks out, international organisations constitute an ongoing forum that continuously proposes peaceful dialogue between nations as a way of jointly managing the quest for global well-being well in advance of any imbalance that could trigger conflict.

There is today an institutional web connecting a myriad of international bodies that apply a wide-range of expertise in pursuit of the UN’s objectives of peace and justice: the Universal Postal Union draws its inspiration from the aims of the United Nations, the free circulation of information being one of those conflict prevention instruments aimed at the growth of the individual; the World Health Organisation also operates in keeping with the principles of the United Nations, and among its many achievements the eradication of smallpox is a contribution to world peace of inestimable value; the European Union has also linked arms with the United Nations with the ultimate aim of rendering conflicts such as those that bloodied the Old Continent in the past impossible to repeat.

Much remains to be done, but what is most important is

the fact that, despite all its limitations, this relatively young system — unprecedented in human history and conceived to safeguard global peace and justice — is still flying negotiators in, funding evacuation operations and distributing aid to refugees. What would have happened at the end of the Cold War if organisations such as OSCE, the Council of Europe, NATO, the G7 or the European Union had not opened their doors to potentially unstable governments? Fortunately these bodies were already in existence and able to proceed in an innovative and global manner: by integrating instead of isolating. Neither is enough consideration given to the contribution being made to world peace by countless international humanitarian and development institutions. At times criticised for what are not always considered entirely fruitful programmes, nevertheless they exist and are working steadily at building peace by providing for human needs: this stands out in the history of humankind as an important innovation. Just a job? … perhaps a bit more.

4

Interview

Ambassador, the search for professional posts in intergovernmental organisations can seem like a “private affair”. And yet, through your Directorate General, the Ministry is seeking to publicise opportunities and encourage candidates to apply. Why is that?

Every individual’s working life is, of course, a private affair, whose consequences clearly impact on an individual’s daily existence. Nevertheless, each experience and professional practice has an undeniable public and social impact, and that impact is particularly accentuated at multilateral or intergovernmental level. There are many reasons for which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to support and increase the presence of Italians in international organisations by publishing opportunities and encouraging applications; I shall limit myself to underlining a few of them.

Interview

Interview with Ambassador Claudio Surdo the MFA Director General for Personnel

Interview

In the first place, there is every country’s obvious interest in

having its citizens in decision-making positions (especially at the upper levels) in international organisations. Nevertheless, this is not so as to reap any specific returns (all international officials are obligated to operate exclusively in the interests of the organisation they work for; careful respect for this precept represents part of the mandatory protection of the higher interests of all Member States in the good operation of the organisation itself), but in order that every individual – either as a result of culture or education – has a world vision that reflects that of his/her country of origin, and is thus more able – in the professional framework – to take on tasks convergent with the policies of that country. Then there is each national system’s further interest in being able to draw from a pool of highly qualified personnel as the need arises. Therefore, an increase in the number of Italian citizens able to boast high-level job experience in a multilateral context, and who are fruitfully engaged in the sector of international relations, is a clear benefit to our government — not to mention the prestige afforded to the country in general by this sort of presence. Finally, I believe that the Ministry, as an organ of the Italian government, should stand behind its citizens — obviously in the presence of the foreseen requirements— in their career aspirations. Have you seen progress recently in the assigning of posts to Italians in international organisations?

For six years now the Ministry has had a computerised data

bank for all information regarding the presence of Italians in international organisations. This has made it possible to constantly monitor our presence, and some very encouraging trends are appearing. Indeed, there are currently over 20 organisations (some of the most important of which include FAO, Unicef, OCSE, UNHCR and ESA) in which Italy is even “over-represented”, i.e. in each of these organisations the percentage of Italian officials is higher than our country’s budgetary quota. More in general, what appears to be in continual growth — although there

is clearly room for improvement — is the number of Italians holding medium to upper-level positions in leading international organisations. Perhaps it is not up to me to say so, but this seems a welcome and encouraging compensation for the support assiduously afforded to our best and most deserving candidates by our Representations at the various international organisations, as well as that bilateral support, which is often involved in this type of process. What, in your opinion, are the strong and weak points of Italian candidates?

The answer to this question carries the risk of generalising and

stereotyping, which is always damaging and from which I shall endeavour to abstain. The career of the international official presupposes, undoubtedly, some special prerequisites and unusual skills. Without any pretence of being exhaustive, among these I would cite adaptability, flexibility, interpersonal skills, predisposition for mobility and intercultural encounter, as well as, naturally, a knowledge of languages and adequate curriculum. Some of these factors are, so to speak, part of our genetic code, but any Italian intending to undertake a career in an international organisation will necessarily have to add to his/her “natural” strong points an excellent linguistic preparation (only recently has the importance of properly studying foreign languages begun to be felt in Italy, and English in the first place), a higher education plan that includes periods of study abroad (every Italian university faculty provides for numerous possibilities in this regard) and complete willingness to transfer abroad, even frequently (this latter aspect could seem like an obvious given, but cases of Italians whose willingness to work in international organisations is limited to the Rome offices of FAO are, unfortunately, not rare). Globalisation has clearly increased the importance of multilateral bodies. What needs to be examined is a dimension to which constant attention will need to be dedicated and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains strongly committed in this regard.

6

International Organisations

There are a great many of them — approximately 250 — and it is difficult, if not impossible, to find a definition of “international organisation” to satisfy everyone. Indeed, depending on the context, the definition can vary considerably. The first step is to clearly distinguish between international governmental organisations — which is our focus here — and the non-governmental organisations that often work hand-in-hand with them but are quite different. Governmental organisations are bodies of various sorts created as frameworks within which governments can be associated, whereas non-governmental organisations, although they may have an international membership, nevertheless remain private bodies; a perfect and widely recognised example is the International Red Cross.

What are they ?

International Organisations

According to the Yearbook of International Organisations,

international intergovernmental organisations are distinguished by the fact that they:

- are founded on a formal legal agreement between governments and Sovereign States;

- include three or more governments that have signed the agreement; - have an active permanent Secretariat.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council’s definition in Resolution 288(X) of 27 February 1950 is more generic and indirect, stating that any international organisation not established on the basis of intergovernmental agreement must be considered a non-governmental organisation.

Photos: 1. European Union Parliament. Assembly; 2. IMF. Washington; 3. UN. New York; 4. United Nation’s General Assembly; 5. European Central Bank. Frankfurt; 6. European Union Parliament. Brussels; 7. UN. New York; 8. Unesco meeting; 9. FAO. Rome; 10. EU Commission. Brussels; 11. Unesco. Paris; 12. UN Security Council; 13. European Parliament. Strasbourg.

International Organisations

Arranging them in groups: the four families

It may be helpful to know that the main organisations can, for

practical purposes, be groups into four main families: - United Nations System: the United Nations itself and its

various sub-organisations such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), etc.;

- International Financial Institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and Regional Development Banks;

- European Union: the Commission, Parliament, the Court of Justice, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank;

- Finally, a mixed group that includes all the other international intergovernmental organisations: the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Council of Europe and many others.

-

Ifi

Regional Development Banks

World Bank Imf

Other Int’L ORGs

Eurostat

Ecb

Commission Court of Justice

Parliament

Ebrd

UN System

Unesco UN Segretariat

Undp Unhcr Fao

Who

Unctad

Unicef

Ilo

European Union

Cern

Council of Europe

Nato

Wto Osce

Oecd

9

International careers

-

International Careers

An interest in international relations and willingness to travel, coupled with an ability to understand the complexities underlying vastly differing situations, along with balanced judgement, flexibility, adaptability and ability to work under pressure: these are the ideal characteristics of anyone aspiring to a career in an international organisation. Is this aspiration reserved only for political science graduates or holders of a master’s degree in international relations?

The ideal profile …

International careers

International organisations offer a broad range of employment

opportunities that meet the most diverse professional requirements, aspirations and aptitudes: from the legal to the administrative sectors; from interpretation to translation; from human resources to logistics, finance, economics, international policy, communications, IT and statistics. In reality, almost any highly qualified professional skill can find application in an intergovernmental organisation.

Nevertheless, those interested should be aware of the difficulties

inherent to this type of career. In addition to the prescribed requirements — which are highly demanding both on the level of education as well as experience — the candidate must keep in mind that this type of occupation calls for a special predisposition as well as a substantial ability to adapt to conditions that include: living abroad, frequent travel and long hours of work in a highly dynamic, qualified and competitive environment that sometimes also requires adapting to conditions of discomfort. It is also true, however, that the result often turns out to have been worth the effort: aside from the prestige associated with the post as a consequence of the highly skilled activities, the continuing opportunities for professional growth and economic remuneration, working for an international organisation also offers moral gratification difficult to achieve doing other kinds of work: the knowledge that one is making a laudable effort at furthering development and peaceful collaboration between nations.

Exemplary determination and drive

Motivation does not simply mean determination in reaching goals

but also encompasses deep understanding of the principles underlying international cooperation. This is a career that requires a balanced, moderate and tolerant approach, along with the ability to integrate in a multicultural context and to be flexible in solving problems and making decisions.

Willingness to move

In many cases personnel are asked to relocate, especially in

those sectors associated with developing countries and emergency situations. This often involves a radical change in lifestyle. Take the case of the UNDP, whose personnel may be working at the central headquarters in New York one week only to be sent the following week to any of the developing countries where the UNDP is operating — switching, for example, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the very different landscape of Suva on the Fiji islands. This ability to adapt rapidly to frequent changes in environmental and cultural conditions is a skill that certainly cannot be learnt from books.

Flexibility: turning precariousness into a plus

Owing to the financial difficulties currently facing many

organisations, particularly within the UN system, in recent years international organisations have needed to hire personnel on the basis of fixed term contracts. This form of contract allows these organisations to tailor personnel expenditures to the annual funding allotted them. Aside from budget problems, however, there are those activities associated with special situations — such as emergency interventions or election monitoring — whose very nature implies a contract of limited duration. Developing a career on the basis of fixed term contracts means having the right equilibrium to do the job well while cultivating, at the same time, that spirit of initiative by which to build one’s future; it means gaining recognition for one’s current role while, in appropriate anticipation of contract expiration, applying for positions one has a chance of obtaining.

Nevertheless, the main essential requirements for anyone

aspiring to a career in international organisations include, above all, advanced educational credentials, experience and knowledge of languages, and it is on these that all the various opportunities hinge.

11

Opportunities

International organisations have positions for physicists as well as agronomists, for physicians as well as lawyers; for the young professional attracted for the first time to the challenge of an experience abroad as well as the seasoned professional looking to make a change. While the job opportunities offered by international governmental organisations (IGOs) such as the UN, the WTO and the European Union are numerous, although they are not always easy to identify or to subsequently obtain.

Opportunities

The measured approach

Opportunities

The first and most obvious way to find a professional

position in an international organisation is to regularly check the job vacancy notices on the Internet websites of the organisations themselves, in sector journals and internationally circulating daily newspapers and, if one is in possession of the necessary requirements, to then apply for the position. In reality, however, this route is reserved for very well established professionals who generally have a great deal of experience in governmental organisations. It is easier to reach such a goal by degrees, following a measured approach that leads from internship to short contracts and, with time, to more stable positions. Often a good deal of imagination and careful attention goes into to undertaking this path, but various opportunities to get started have by now been made available, some of which follow below:

…in The United Nations System

For final-year university students and recent graduates Internships

The majority of international organisations offer graduate

and post-graduate students the possibility of doing internships which usually last a few months. Internships have many advantages, ranging form the acquisition of a certain familiarity with the international organisation milieu to the practical application of flexible and open-minded attitudes and continual practice in foreign languages. The internship thus constitutes an initial real opportunity to begin to accumulate the work experience that will be needed later, a first step toward more long-term employment in international organisations. This type of training does, however, have some disadvantages: the main one is the fact that there is usually no remuneration associated

with internships; travel and living expenses are borne entirely by the intern. Moreover, having completed one or more internships does not grant any privilege over other prospective interns in gaining access to other internships, nor does it imply any obligation on the part of the international organisation to extend the period of collaboration or to transmute the internship into a job.

For information on internships at the UN in New York: e-mail: OHRM_interns@un.org Tel +1.212.9637522 Fax +1.212.9633683 Internship application forms can be downloaded at: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/internsh/intern.htm and are to be submitted to: Coordinator of the Internship Programme Room S-2500J United Nations New York, N.Y. 10017 – U.S.A. For information on internships in Rome: United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Piazza San Marco 50 00186 Roma Monday through Friday 9–13 Tel +39.06.6789907 Fax +39.06.6793337

Un Internships

Opportunities

Despite these limitations, internships remain the only

experience working in an international organisation to which graduates and post-graduates can realistically aspire. “Take care, however, — warns Stefano Baldo, author of Carriere Internazionali [International Careers], “the most detailed manual on the subject — to get in you need a solid academic background and an excellent command of English and at least one of the other official United Nations languages. Previous experience abroad can also be a preferential factor”. Finally, one precious piece of advice: never apply for a summer internship, since the majority of applications are made for that period and, consequently, the possibility of being accepted is greatly reduced. Better to apply for one in the winter. Professionals with limited experience

a) the JPO Programme

The Associated Experts Programme known as JPO (Junior

Professional Officer) is a cooperation initiative financed and carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to encourage international organisations’ recruitment of young Italian professionals, thus allowing them to get that minimum of professional experience that, as was mentioned earlier, is one of the necessary (but not sufficient) conditions for being hired for a traditional vacancy in an international organisation.

Application requirements include: age of 30 or under (which

rises to 33 for graduates in medicine and surgery), degree earned in conclusion of a minimum of four years of full-time study, and excellent spoken and written English.

INTERVIEW

Sara Raffaella Rezoagli Diplomat Ten years in the field, working in the United Nations system: suggestions from one who’s made it…

With ten years of international cooperation, for the most part in United

Nations Agencies, both as a long-tem officer as well as brief mission consultant, Sara Raffaella Rezoagli, is today part of the diplomatic corps of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is among those young people who have been able to build a brilliant professional curriculum studded with important professional field-experiences in various countries for various international organisations. “I began working for non-governmental organisations — explains Raffaella Rezoagli — then I went on to the UN system where I worked for various agencies such as Unido, Ifad, Unops and UNDP, especially in Asia and the Middle East. My specialisation is development cooperation and community development. This means integrated development projects based on the participation of all segments of the civil society, micro-credit, micro-finance and equal opportunity”. What have you gained from these experiences? An incomparable baggage of experience from the professional standpoint: cultural flexibility; the ability to handle complex situations in particularly difficult and, at times, potentially dangerous contexts; the chance to work on programmes and projects covering vast areas and on which the betterment of the living standard of many people depends; the ability to negotiate at a high level with ministers, tribal leaders and sheikhs alike; and especially the opportunity to gain an inside understanding of the difficulties certain countries are experiencing, their reasons for distress and the roots of complex phenomena such as, for example, terrorism. Only by working in the field and in direct contact with the populations of those places can one really come to know what they are all about, going beyond official statements and institutional standpoints.

continued page 16

Opportunities

And from the human point of view?

Extraordinary enrichment, consisting of interaction with

amazing people from all over the world, persons dedicated to development cooperation, international experts, with whom I have worked as a team, and who have worked in the most various of countries and in the strangest of situations. I have learned so much from all of them but especially from the local people. I carry with me the memory of each and every one of them as well as the joy of having done my small part toward improving their lives. Which of these experiences has been the most significant?

Each of my experiences has been unique and

unforgettable, but perhaps where I was most impressed was in Yemen, where I worked on community development projects for women in an extremely difficult cultural and social context. We had to overcome the resistance and, at times, threats of powerful locals who wanted to prevent women from participating in the life of the civil society. In the end, though, we got results and they were excellent! Our work had a strong impact, both from the point of view of economic as well as social development, and all thanks to the strength of the Yemenite women who were able to confront a truly dangerous situation with great courage. It is a widespread opinion that it is not easy to take the initial steps toward undertaking this type of career. How would you advise young people intending to follow the same path?

I started out eleven years ago, and it was much easier

then. NGOs were willing to send fresh graduates off with no experience just as long as they had the requisite motivation to work on these types of projects. Today there are master’s degrees and other specialised credentials and there are many more young people interested in this sort of career. As a consequence the NGO selection process is more demanding and more skills are required. No longer is

the first volunteer to show up chosen; all the organisations are asking for at least a few years of experience. International organisations, then, are inaccessible without at least four to five years of experience. The advice I give to anyone who asks me how to get into an international organisation is to, first of all, do an internship in a NGO, an IGO, the local technical unit of an embassy or even just in the context of a volunteer mission. Anything, just as long as it is in a developing country and in the field, since fieldwork is essential in the initial career stage: six months spent in a developing country counts more than a master’s degree. My second suggestion is to contact the UN agency directly located on-site: when one is already in a country and working it is easier to get hired. Then, with a few months in the field it is possible, for example, to compete for a JPO position, which is a prestigious professional experience. The competitive exam is announced once a year and a certain number of posts are reserved for Italians. Naturally languages are a must. It is necessary to know English very well (spoken and written) as well as a second language pertinent to the area in which one is competent, and knowledge of a rare language can certainly be an additional advantage.

Interview

Opportunities Preferred credentials include: post-graduate degree, pertinent professional experience and knowledge of other UN working languages.

Applications are reviewed by a special UN-appointed

commission and selected candidates are interviewed by the competent recruiting bodies of the IGOs. Following an introductory course, those selected are then sent on to the central headquarters or to work on field projects. Contracts are for one year with the possibility of renewal for another year. In recent years approximately forty young officers per year have been selected and sent to various IGOs. The most important IGOs participating in the JPO programmes include: UN Secretariat, World Bank, UNHCR, AIEA; FAO, WFP, ILO, WHO, UNDP, UNEP, Unesco and Unicef.

HOW TO GO ABOUT IT

Applications are to be presented no later than 31 October each year to: UN Office for Human Resources for International Cooperation Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 251 00186 Rome - ITALY Tel +39.06.68136320 Fax +30.06.68210256 E-mail: unhric@iol.it For further information please consult the website: http://222.undesa.it/

Opportunities

b) UNDP LEAD Programme

Every year the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) selects approximately twenty young professionals to be hired temporarily for a period ranging from two to three years during which they may be offered long-term contracts. This system allows the organisation to verify the suitability of the persons in the field chosen and their ability to face the responsibilities that characterise its activities. The candidates selected have generally had some experience in the field in which they are chosen to work.

c) UN national competitive recruitment examination

Recruitment for entrance-level UN Secretariat professionals

(P2) takes place exclusively through what are called “national competitive recruitment examinations” which, in keeping with the principle of the geographical distribution of posts, the organisation reserves for citizens of those countries whose quota of professionals in the Secretariat appears lower their governments’ monetary contribution to the UN. The national examinations are announced for a certain number of professional sectors (administration, economics, IT, statistics, demographics, finance, science and technology) and are open to university graduates of 32 years of age or less.

The competition announcement lists the mode of selection for each competition (usually 2 written and one oral). Candidates resulting suitable are not hired immediately but are enrolled on a roster from which the organisation can then draw in accordance with its personnel needs.

For more details: http://www.undp.org/ohr/lead/

Addresses for more detailed information on national competitive examinations: Examinations and tests section — Specialist services division — Office of Human Resources Management Room S–2590A United Nations Organisation 1 United Nations Plaza New York, N.Y. – 10017 USA Fax +1.212.9633683 http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/eamin/exam.htm United Nations Information Centre Palazzetto Venezia Piazza S. Marco, 50 00186 Rome ITALY Permanent Mission of Italy at the United Nations 2 United Nations Plaza, 24th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 USA Tel +1.212.4869191 Fax +1.212.4861036 http://www.italyun.org

Or: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office for Relations with the Public Piazzale Farnesina, 1 00194 Roma www.esteri.it/servizi/urp

Un Examinations

Opportunities Professionals

a) Fixed term contracts

Contracts with international organisations are fixed term for

the most part (from one to three years). In some cases they are renewable, but some institutions place a limit on the number of renewals. This concerns the individual position and not an officer’s overall number of years of service.

b) Mission Experts

There are UN missions scattered all across the world and

many of them have been operating for years. In addition to the Blue Helmets, civilian personnel are engaged for a wide range of functions and in a wide variety of sectors, which include transport, logistics, legal and political affairs, administration, humanitarian assistance, information and communication, data processing and human rights. Generally four to five years experience is required and the missions usually do not last more than one year.

A veritable gold mine of posts in the humanitarian sector – offered by IGOs and NGOs – is the Relief Web website (http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf); this is a UN project for the coordination of humanitarian affairs: check under “vacancies”.

Guardians of the peace First of all a definition of peacekeeping: the presence in the field, with the consent of the parties at war, of forces (generally military but they can also be civilian) to implement or monitor conflict management or resolution agreements or to ensure the supply of humanitarian aid.

How to go about it An interesting master’s programme has been activated at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna [School for Advanced University Studies] in Pisa entitled: “The Civilian Personnel of Peace-keeping and Peace-building Operations”. For information on the course visit the “Upcoming Training & Events” section of this website (www.itpcm.sssup.it). An on-line application form can also be accessed at http://www.sssup.it/pkcourse2005/domande/. For further information: Via Cardinale Maffi 27, 56127-Pisa ITALY Tel +39.050.882685 (Monday to Friday, 9-17) Fax + 39.050.882665

Keep in mind also the University of Padua’s European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation and the Master’s Degree in Peacekeeping and Security Studies at the University of Rome “RomaTre”.

Becoming a peace-keeper

Opportunities

Training: The Italian armed forces run training courses for

both military and civilian personnel participating in peacekeeping missions. Training in international humanitarian law is offered by the Scuola superiore di studi e di perfezionamento Sant’Anna in Pisa and by the Red Cross (see box). Special positions Translators and interpreters

Interpreters and translators are generally recruited by means

of competitive examination and go on to become part of a pool from which to draw as posts become vacant. The frequency of the examinations depends on the needs of individual organisations. Within the UN context candidate translators are required to be able to translate from at least one of the six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, English, Russian and Spanish); aspiring interpreters must be able to translate simultaneously in at least one language and have a perfect understanding of at least two others.

Those interested should contact: United Nations Language Examinations Division for Planning Recruitment and Operational Services Management – Room S-2555 New York. NY 10017, USA Bureau S 2535-United Nations New York – NY 10017 – USA For other IGOs, contact their respective personnel departments

Faculty of Political Science Via Corrado Segre, 2 00146 Rome ITALY Fax +39.06.55176241 http://www.uniroma3.it/ Regarding Padua, in particular, a recent three-part agreement between the UE, Council of Europe and OSCE has set the goal of creating a training centre in human rights within the framework of a master’s degree that can be used by experts on their way to the various organisation-based missions. There are also training courses aimed at preparing experts for on-the-ground missions, as is the case of those organised by Movimondo. http://www.movimondo.org For information on courses organised by the Italian armed forces contact: Permanent Mission of Italy at the United Nations United Nations Plaza, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017 USA Tel +1.212.4869191 Fax +1.212.4861036 Other useful information is available at: www.un.org/Depts/dpko

Becoming a peace -keeper

Opportunities

… in International Financial Institutions Young Professionals Programmes(YPP)

The programme is aimed at highly motivated young professionals well versed

in the sectors in which the Bank operates: economics, finance, education, etc. These are the prestigious programmes adopted primarily by International Financial Institutions (in particular, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund). Requirements are generally quite demanding, but are often the first step toward being hired by the organisation hosting the programme. The Young Professionals Programmes are to be considered as distinct from the JPOs, since the remuneration involved is at the expense of the international organisation where services are rendered, as well as because they are not reserved for Italian citizens only.

… in the European Union

Graduate and post-graduate students Internships

Just like the United Nations all the main community institutions offer the

possibility of doing a traineeship in order to give officer competition candidates a taste of working inside the EU. For example, the Commission organises 5-month traineeships twice a year, beginning on the first of March and first of October. The trainee may receive some minimal compensation during that period, but there are also unpaid traineeships.

For more information: http://lnweb28.worldbank.org/hrs/careers.nsf/key/ypp

For information on traineeships at the European Commission contact: Traineeships Office B100 1/7 European Commission B-1049 Brussels, Belgium http://europa.eu.int/comm/stages/ Or else the offices of the Eu Commission in Italy:

Corso Magenta, 59 I-20123 Milano Tel +39.02.4675141 Fax + 39.02.4818543 http://www.comeur.it For information on traineeships at the European Parliament conctat: European Parliament Bureau des stages Kad 02C007 L-2929 Luxembourg Fax +35.2.4300.24882 E-mail : Stages@europarliament.eu.int http://www.europarl.eu.int/stages Or else the offices European Parliament in Italy: Corso Magenta, 59 I-20123 Milano Tel +39.02.4344171 Fax +39.02.434417500 http://www.europarl.it For on-line informatioin on traineeships in other European istitutions see: • Council: http://ue.eu.int/trainee/default.asp?lang=it • Court of Justice: http://curia.eu.int/it/indexaz/index.htm • Court of Auditors: http://www.eca.eu.int/services/job/services_job_index_it.htm • European Economic and Social Committee: http://www.ces.eu.int/tgj/trainees/index_en.asp • European Ombudsman: http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/trainee/fr/default.htm

Via Poli, 29 I-00187 Roma Tel +39.06.699991 Fax +39.06.6791658

Via IV Novembre, 149 I-00187 Roma Tel +39.06.699501 Fax +39.06.69950200

Eu Internships

Opportunities Graduates with limited experience

The European Competitive Exam

Recruitment of officers by the European Union generally takes place

through competitive examinations, which are held periodically (although deadlines vary) and are posted on a special calendar in the community’s official journal twice a year. Exams are generally posted separately by individual institutions, even though the practice of posting inter-institutional competitive exams common to some or all community institutions is becoming more widespread.

As for Commission competitive exams there are four levels — A, B,

C, D — differentiated by the educational credentials required: “A” level requires a university degree, “B” an upper secondary school diploma, “C” a lower secondary school diploma and “D” an elementary school diploma. As regards young university graduates, the initial level is A8, for which no experience is required; A7/6 requires three years of experience, two of which in the sector; A5/4 requires twelve years experience, six of which in the sector. Exams may be geared to generic professional profiles (administrator) or specialised ones (veterinary, customs, etc.), are open to all EU citizens, and are held in the Union official language chosen by the candidate. Exams limited to a single nationality may be posted in exceptional cases (when there is a lack of personnel in that Member State). Indeed, also at European Union level an effort is made to balance the presence of the various nationalities even though there are no proper criteria for subdivision.

The selection process is set up on a case-by-case basis: preliminary

tests (general practice, aptitudes, linguistic) are almost always given first, followed by written exams and orals that tend to evaluate, in addition to sector and language skills, the candidates ability to work in a multicultural environment. The winners of the competition are listed

among the persons suitable to be chosen by the Directorates General interested in hiring personnel in accordance with their service requirements and budget parameters.

For useful exam information and how to apply: The exam calendar for European institutions can be viewed at: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg09/concours/index_en.htm Information on the selection process: http://europe.eu.int/epso/index_en.htm Fixed term contracts: http://europe.eu.int/epso/working/detlw_en.htm Official Journal of the European Union (free on-line): http://europe-eu.int/eur-lex/en/index.htm

21

Opportunities Professionals

a) Detached National Experts

Any officer serving at an international, national or local

public administrative body can become a Detached National Expert (DNE Programme) with the European Commission. At times the opportunity is also extended to private sector officers and volunteers (when interest is expressed by the Member State). The scope of the DNE programme is to allow Member State administrative officers with professional experience and knowledge in European policy matters to gain work experience in one of the Commission departments. Detached posts can be no briefer than six months and no longer than two years and may be extended for up to a maximum of four years. The Commission is not the employer of the END personnel who, throughout the detached period, remain employees of their administrative body or institution of origin, which must guarantee financial remuneration, social security coverage and professional career advancement. In order to be detached to European Commission departments, an DNE professional must have had at least three years professional experience in his/her administrative body or institution.

b) Research agents

The Commission also offers opportunities to those interested

in research and technological development. Indeed, approximately 2,000 specialised research agents are working in the various complexes of the commission’s Joint Research Centre (www.jrc.cec.eu.int) located in Italy (Isapra), Germany (Karlsruhe), Spain (Seville), the Netherlands (Petten) and Belgium (Geel). Some of the main specialisations are new high-tech materials, environment, communications techniques, remote sensing applications and security equipment technologies. In addition to the JRC employees, there are approximately 1,500 people employed in Brussels in preparing the various field projects of EU framework programmes. The researchers undergo separate selection procedures aimed at testing their technical knowledge in specific areas of research and development. A-level researcher agents are usually employed on temporary agent contracts.

c) Temporary agents

These are staff members with temporary contracts who are

hired for a three-year period generally by means of a specific selection process. In recent years the Commission has announced temporary agent posts almost exclusively at A5/A4 and B3/B2 levels, i.e. for candidates with at least 12 years of experience.

For further information: http://www.esteri.it/ita/4_28_64_267_257.asp

For information on research agent selection: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/recruitment_en.html For information on available temporary agent post: http://www.esteri.it/ita/3_25_51.asp#1 22

Opportunities Special positions Translators and interpreters

Translators work for the Directorate General for

Translation of the European Commission (DGT) in Brussels and in Luxembourg, and are specialised in the translation of documents relating to one or more specific sectors. Despite being the largest translation service in the world, it also uses external translators who are selected through a public bidding processes. Interpreters belong to the Commission’s Joint Interpreting and Conference Service (JICS). Recruitment takes place through general competitions and successful candidates are then registered on special lists from which the linguistic and administrative personnel working in the service is selected. Recruitment generally takes place at the base level, i.e. LA8 or LA7/6 for interpreters. The JICS also offers special contracts to freelance interpreters, for whom there are no limitations in terms of nationality or linguistic combination.

For information on internships at the Commission’s Translation Service or on translation careers contact: European Commission Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) Tel. 0080067891011 E-mail: dgt-recruitment-and-traineeships@cec.eu.int http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/translation Or the European Commission’s representative office in Milan: Sylvia-Monique Mardjan Del Giudice Corso Magenta 59 20123 Milan Tel. +39 02 4675141 Fax. +39 02 4818543 http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/translation/aboutsdt/antennes/milan/milan_en.htm Information on interpreting careers can be found on the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Interpretation’s website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/scic/index_en.htm For online information on internships at other European institutions: Court of Justice: http://curia.eu.int/en/indexaz/index.htm Court of Auditors: http://www.eca.eu.int/services/job/services_job_index_en.htm European Economic and Social Committee: translation@esc.eu.int

Eu internship for traslators and interpreters

Opportunities

… other ways to gain experience in international organisations

a) Election monitoring missions

Another way into the world of international organisations —

and in particular the important field of “democratisation and human rights” — is by participating in the election monitoring operations being arranged with increasing frequency by organisations such as OSCE, UNHCR and UNHCHR in geographical areas emerging from serious political crisis. There are two possibilities: election observer or election supervisor. The former acts as a witness to the voting operations and writes a final report for the organisation. The latter carries out the more “intrusive” activities of preparing, if necessary, the polling stations, arranging for the ballot boxes to be brought in, vote counting and so on. Generally these missions last no more than one month.

How to go about it

How to apply for the role of election observer and/or supervisor: Send an academic and professional CV and cover letter stating your reasons for wanting to take part. The letter must include a postal address and telephone contact, personal data and passport number. For information on election missions organised by OSCE: http://www.osce.org/employment UN and EU mission applications should be sent to: Ministero Affari Esteri Direzione Generale Affari Politici Multilaterali ed i Diritti Umani – Ufficio I Piazzale della Farnesina 1, 00194 Rome, ITALY E-mail: dgap1@esteri.it. The candidates will be inserted into a data bank, which is consulted by the various UN and EU offices on the ground in need of observers both for election monitoring missions as well as for peacekeeping missions.

Opportunities

b) Expert missions

In addition to simple monitoring missions, there are also missions with the

delicate task of contributing to the democratic development of institutions, peaceful coexistence between different ethnic groups, and rebuilding of the civil society. Such missions require the presence of experts in democratisation and human rights and have a minimum duration of from six months to one year. The requirements for taking part in these short-term missions include a degree in law or human rights, excellent knowledge of the English language and, preferably, prior experience as an election observer, and employment experience abroad. For long-term missions, in addition to the requisites stated above, the candidate must have proven international experience in the field and the ability to draft legal texts and laws. Payment varies from mission to mission, ranging from reimbursement of travel expenses plus a daily stipend, to an actual salary paid by the organisation and supplemented by Italy.

How to go about

In order to apply and be placet on a roster of available observers, a CV in Italian must be submitted along with a letter in which a university professor or international civil servant or employer stating the candidate’s motivation and suitability to work in an international environment. These documents should be sent to: Ministero degli Affari Esteri Direzione Generale degli Affari Politici, Ufficio VI Piazzale della Farnesina, 1 00194 Rome ITALY

Opportunities

c) United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

The UNV programme offers the opportunity to gain professional

experience in various sectors on the ground, such as development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, human rights, social reintegration, peace-building, election monitoring and so on. The programme currently includes approximately 2,000 volunteers from 130 nationalities working, in close conjunction with the UNDP, in 140 countries on technical, economic, social, alimentary and sanitation projects.

There are six types of UN volunteers:

International specialists. Take part in humanitarian and development programmes and must satisfy the following requirements: a university degree, professional experience of at least five years, knowledge of either Arabic, French, English, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish; National Specialists. Operate in their own countries in conjunction with the government, institutions and non-governmental organisations; they can offer a useful interface between the local community and international organisations. International field-workers. Are from a different country; they have several years experience behind them in the sector and work on two-year contracts. National field-workers. Have a similar role to that of other specialised operators, but are of the same nationality as the country in which they are working. Tokten consultants. The acronym stands for a project involving the transfer of knowledge to developing countries through expatriate professors and qualified professionals residing abroad but who wish to make a contribution to their country of origin. Unistar Advisers. The acronym indicates an association of professionals willing to make brief consulting missions in the service of government and private enterprise in developing countries.

For more information consult the UN Volunteers website: http://www.unvolunteers.org/

How to apply for a post

How to apply for a post

Opportunities to work in international organisations are numerous, although not always easy to identify or obtain. This dossier explains where to find a “vacancy notice” — the publication by a body of a search for candidates for a specific post that has become available — and how to apply for it, including some little known, but nonetheless useful, aspects for those interested in this type of career, such as levels and salary structures.

Postings, vacancies and more . . .

How to apply for a post

a) What are vacancy notices?

The selection of personnel by international organisations

generally takes place through the publishing of vacancy “notices” or “announcements”. These concern the hiring of personnel by means of a fixed term contract that the organisation itself stipulates with the candidate it eventually deems to be the most suitable for the post published.

Vacancy notices are normally similar in their structure:

- issuance date - reference number - application deadline - organisational unit in which the candidate is to be placed - post title (e.g. economist, project head etc.) - job location - level This type of announcement also includes a brief job description and main responsibilities as well as the candidate’s necessary requisites and qualities, which are often divided into two categories: obligatory and “desirable”. It must be kept in mind, however, that, given the tough competition and the excellence of the qualities required, many candidates are also in possession of the desirable qualities, which, consequently, become obligatory. In the end, therefore, the distinction loses much of its meaning. More in detail, the requisites listed in vacancy notices include languages, education, experience, skills/aptitudes and computer literacy. Particular attention is also given to equal opportunity. - Languages

Knowledge of at least two foreign languages is

indispensable since only rarely does an international organisation

require the knowledge of a single foreign language. Normally the languages required are English and French, while Spanish can take the place of French. Often, in addition to English, the second language must be one of the official languages of the organisation. Levels of language proficiency are as follows:

- “Excellent/Fluent”, indicating perfect written and spoken command of the language;

- “Working knowledge”, meaning able to work independently, prepare any type of document, participate actively in meetings and/or professional discussions;

- “Limited knowledge”, including the ability to make a phone call, read work-related texts, follow meetings or discussions in which he/she is able to intervene in another language.

- Education

Notices list the specific educational qualification required,

which could be one or more specific university degrees or, if non-specific, pertinent to the vacant post. It should be noted that, although the Italian university degree is generally considered equivalent to an American Master’s Degree or French Maitrise, many international organisations equate it with an undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree.

- Experience

Surely this is the most rigorous aspect in the selection process,

and one should be sure of having all the elements required. If, for example, five years of experience in the field of human rights in Africa is a requirement, the organisation is not likely to consider a candidate with fewer years of experience or in some other geographic context. Moreover, only post-graduate experience is generally taken into consideration.

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How to apply for a post

Skills/Aptitudes

A series of general qualities are often required, the most

recurrent of which include flexibility, ability to work under pressure, ability to establish and maintain working relations with persons of various nationalities and backgrounds, synthetic writing skills, willingness to travel (specifically in developing countries).

- Computer literacy

The use of personal computers is part of daily life in all

international organisations, and it is increasingly being required of candidates that they have a deep enough knowledge of the most widely used programmes. This means working with word processing and spreadsheet programmes and an up-to-date knowledge of Internet (e-mail and surfing). In some cases knowing how to set up a web page can be a valuable plus.

- Equal opportunity and national quotas

The various international organisations, amongst which the

United Nations system, have a recruitment policy aimed at privileging the candidacy of women (under equal conditions), so as to achieve a balanced representation of both genders (positive discrimination). This need is felt particularly deeply at the higher career levels where disparities are more evident. This is almost always indicated in the vacancy notice.

FOR MORE INFO

Internet is, by now, the most complete and efficient means for finding information and updates on the opportunities offered by international organisations. Some web pages make it easier to search the extensive information available. An electronic portal full of information is that of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.esteri.it). Just click on “Study and job opportunities” on the home page. The site of the Permanent Mission of Italy at the UN in New York: (http://www.italyun.org/jobs.htm) and the site of the Permanent Mission of Italy to International Organisations in Geneva (http://missions.itu.int/~italy/vacancies/vaclinks.htm). On the other hand, there are a few publications that deal with the subject of international careers, one being “Funzionario internationale” published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply for a post

In addition to the need for equal gender representation in these

organisations is that of equitable geographical distribution. Those working toward Italy’s adequate representation in international organisations include the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which monitors the presence of Italians and implements all possible measures by which to remedy gaps.

b) When and how to search out vacancies

The various international organisations publish vacancy

notices regularly, in accordance with their personnel needs. Internet is recommended as the best way to check the periodical listings of individual organisations, which includes the special section dedicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to international candidatures (http://www.esteri.it). It is very important to check the site regularly as individual vacancies are usually listed only for a short time (normally from two to six weeks). Moreover, the highly dynamic nature of organisation employment leads to a continuous turnover in personnel and, therefore, a continuous flow of new vacancy announcements.

It should be noted that application is made directly to the

international organisation by means of forms provided by them on their web sites. In cases in which it is also possible to send the forms directly through Internet (e.g. to the UN Secretariat), this is recommended as it makes it easier for the organisation to treat data. For timeframes and application forms there are no general rules. In some cases the selection process can take several months. Some organisations notify candidates of receipt of their applications and informing them that the selection process is underway and, in some cases, communicate the outcome, even if it is negative.

FOR MORE INFO

Look for “Carriere Internazionali” by Stefano Baldi and Antonio Enrico Bartoli published by “Il Sole 24 ore” in the bookshops.

Finally, every Monday on Radio 24 the “Lavori in corso” [work in progress] programme treats issues of interest for those intending to undertake a career in international organisations.

More than a book, this is a how-to manual full of practical advice for finding your way through the international organisation jungle (updates are available on the site http://baldi.diplomacy.edu)

How to apply for a post Sometimes they specify that if a candidate is not called upon to complete further selection phases, this should be considered as evidence of having been eliminated from the selection process.

c) Levels

Every organisation has its own system of career levels,

and levels within Levels. Roughly speaking there are three categories: - personnel normally recruited locally in the country where the institution is situated (known as “General Staff” in the UN system and designated by the letter G); - personnel whose responsibilities require a university degree (defined as “professionals” in the UN system and ranging from P1 to P5); - a P2 post (P1 has practically disappeared) can require up to 3 years experience, P3 3–6 years, P4 7–10 years and P5 10–5 years. Nevertheless, these are only approximate guidelines, since requirements vary from one international organisation to another. - top management (designated D1 and D2 in the UN system). As mentioned above, this is merely a rough indication, since the requirements and levels vary from one organisation to another. The following comparison may be useful: the salary earned by international officials is generally in line with those paid to professionals working at the same level in private enterprises. Remuneration is made up of two components: base salary and benefits. Basic salaries (in the UN System) range between USD 27,000 (net of taxes) for an initial P1 position to USD 79,000 (net) for a D2. In some cases officials are guaranteed a series of variable benefits: from the cost of the rental of a house to

school tuition for children. Then there are what are known as “post adjustments”, which are additional benefits associated with the cost of living (exchange rate variations included) at the work location. These corrections are effected monthly and are aimed at insuring the organisation’s salaries equal buying power in all of its locations. The adjustments depend on the official’s level and number of dependent family members. Information on remuneration is often contained in vacancy notices.

Contact with the international organizations Contact with the recruitment offices of international organisations is by now almost exclusively through e-mail. Therefore, for addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and any other type of contact with international organisations, it would be advisable to check the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the section devoted to international organisations: http://www.esteri.it/4_28_64_269.asp This section has its own search engine leading to the vacancy and opportunities page as well as containing the Internet and e-mail addresses of all the most important international organisations.