While small in size, the landlocked country of Switzerland, officially known as the Swiss Confederation, has long been a center of diplomacy and global relations. It’s home to the headquarters of several international organizations, including United Nations agencies. The majority of these are based in Geneva — Switzerland’s second largest city — which remains a hub for global development but has felt the impacts of last year’s foreign aid cuts. The United States is the largest public donor to organizations based in the city, accounting for 26.3% of all donations. There’s already been significant layoffs, and more are anticipated in the year ahead.
However, the good news for global development job seekers is that there are still several opportunities available in the small European nation. Data from Devex’s job board shows that U.N. agencies are continuously recruiting at their headquarters in Geneva, as well as regional offices in Zurich, with opportunities ranging from internships and entry-level roles to senior positions requiring years of experience.
Major humanitarian aid organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières, also have their headquarters in Geneva and are regularly hiring for positions based there, as is The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.