Internship on Economic and Quantitative Methods Applied to Social Protection

 

Grade: Internship 

Publication date: 30 September 2024
Application deadline (midnight Geneva time): 14 October 2024

Vacancy no.: INTERNROSTER/2024/2/SOCPRO/SOC/PFACTS 

 

Job ID: 12439 

Department: SOCPRO 
Organization Unit: SOC/PFACTS 
Location: Geneva, Switzerland  
Duration of contract: 3 to 6 months (starting on the 1st or the 15th of a given month)

 

You are applying to the ILO generic internship roster, which is published several times per year. The roster will be made available to all departments and field offices, which will then select and directly contact suitable candidates. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, the ILO does not inform candidates about the status of their application. 

 

ILO Internship Programme provides an opportunity for talented individuals to:

(a) increase understanding of relevant issues at the international level by involving them directly in the work of the Office and the application of ILO principles, programmes and strategies;

(b) gain practical experience with the ILO directly related to their field of study.

The internship programme is not intended to lead to a career in the ILO. There should be no expectation of further employment at the end of the internship.

 

**Please note that you can apply to a maximum of three internship profiles during the current application period. If you apply to more than three internship profiles, your application will not be considered for any profile.** Note that you may withdraw your candidature at any time via the Jobs Applied section of your profile.

 

It is highly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid last minute technical issues or delays. Late applications will not be considered.

 

The ILO values diversity. We welcome applications from candidates from non- or under- represented member States. 

 

The ILO also encourages applications from persons with disabilities. If needed, reasonable accommodation will be provided to candidates with disabilities in the recruitment phase as well as during the internship to promote equality of opportunities. For assistance, please send an email to ilojobs@ilo.org.

 

IMPORTANT:
Please only apply for an internship if you fulfil the following two criteria:

(1) You have no close relative serving in the ILO.

(2) This is your first internship with the ILO (only one internship is permitted).

 

 

Department

The Universal Social Protection Department (SOCPRO) is responsible for promoting enhanced coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all through efficient, sustainable and comprehensive social security systems, including national social protection floors, in line with the ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), and other ILO social security standards. The Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit (SOC/PFACTS) is responsible for providing advice to constituents on financing, actuarial and statistical issues applying the principles and values of ILO social security standards; articulating ILO positions on social security reforms, costing and financing of social protection systems, options for fiscal space and financial governance of social protection; as well as for collecting, statistically processing and producing global social protection data through the Social Security Inquiry and several quantitative tools. The unit also contributes to the development, resource mobilization and execution of development cooperation projects of the Department including within the context of the ILO’s Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection Floors for All.

Learning areas

As an intern in SOC/PFACTS, you will apply the knowledge from your studies in economics, statistics, mathematics, or actuarial science. Depending on your expertise, you will be involved in one or more of the following areas:

1. **Public Finance**: You will work on the non-contributory side of social protection systems. This includes gaining experience in strategies to expand fiscal space for social protection, as well as using quantitative tools to estimate costs and impacts of these investments.
   
2. **Actuarial Services**: You will focus on the contributory side of social protection. You will support actuaries by simulating parametric changes in social security schemes globally, gaining insights into ILO’s actuarial models applied to areas like pensions, health, and employment injury.

3. **Statistical Services**: You will contribute to the collection and dissemination of social protection statistics, including coverage, benefit levels, and expenditure. You will work on the ILO’s extensive social protection database, which covers more than 180 countries.

Throughout your internship, you will engage with specialists who provide public finance, actuarial, and statistical advice to ILO constituents, helping to ensure the financial sustainability of social protection systems. You will assist in developing tools and models for prioritizing and costing social security schemes, identifying fiscal space options, and enhancing statistical capacity for monitoring social protection systems' performance.

Your tasks will include updating the Social Security Inquiry (SSI) database, developing new statistical methodologies, preparing reports and tutorials, and supporting SDG monitoring, particularly targets 1.3 and 10.4. You will also contribute to public debates on emerging social security issues, collaborate on technical advisory services, and help design social protection and fiscal policies to maximize their impact on poverty reduction, redistribution, and employment.

Additionally, you will assist in producing country analysis reports, advocating for priority programs, and supporting the ILO Global Flagship Programme on Building Social Protection for All. You will contribute to capacity-building activities by collaborating with universities and the ILO International Training Centre in Turin, and by developing manuals and tools related to financial governance, actuarial science, and statistics.

Interns should expect to spend 10-20% of their time on administrative tasks.

Required profile

Education

 Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, or actuarial studies.

The candidate should be enrolled in their final year of graduate degree programme or should have completed such a programme no longer than 1 years ago

Experience

Any relevant work experience and knowledge of  IT would be an advantage

Languages

Working (both oral and written) knowledge of at least one of the ILO’s official languages (English, French, Spanish)

Competencies

Adaptable to an international, multicultural and multilingual environment, good communication skills and be able to work in a team.

Additional requirements

Good knowledge of social protection concepts and policies and proven ability to use Excel/PowerBI and a statistical software (particularly STATA, Python, Pandas, VBA) to perform data analysis would be considered an advantage. Capacity to use Artificial Intelligence to carry out research and automate tasks would also be viewed as an asset. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

 

How to apply:

 

1. Search for an internship profile via the page on ILO Jobs 

2. Select the internship profile you would like to apply for, and create a profile on ILO Jobs 

3. Complete your candidate profile and apply to the internship profile

4. Be sure to attach a cover letter in the last section of the application, as applications without a cover letter will not be considered and you cannot attach a cover letter after the deadline. 

 

Selection process:

 

Following a first screening by the Human Resources Development Department (HRD), hiring departments will short-list applicants. You will be directly contacted should an internship opportunity match your profile. If you have not been contacted by any department within six months after your application, you can consider that you have not been selected by any department for this roster. If still eligible, you may apply to the next roster. 

 

If shortlisted, you may be contacted by the hiring department for a written test and/or interview. The ILO may use communication technologies such as Skype, Video or teleconference, e-mail, etc for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

 

Stipend/Financial compensations:

 

As an intern in Geneva, you will receive a stipend of 2450 CHF per month from the ILO, unless you receive funding through another institution (for example your university or a foundation). If you receive partial funding, ILO will cover the difference to ensure you receive 2450 CHF per month. Your travel to Geneva will be at your own expense. In addition to the amounts referred above, each intern shall receive the amount of CHF45 per month, or the equivalent amount in the currency in which the monthly stipend is paid, which is a contribution from the Office towards the cost of medical insurance to cover the period of the internship.

 

Qualified candidates from non- and under- represented countries may be eligible for a special fund that provides financial assistance for round-trip airfare (economy class) in addition to the stipend.

 

Insurance:

 

Please note that the ILO does not take responsibility for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship. You will be responsible for your own insurance coverage for illness and accidents for the duration of the internship at the duty station (whether Geneva or the field).

 

Fraud warning:

 

The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.