INTRODUCTION

The ILO Associate Expert Programme has been in operation for over 35 years. During that time the scheme has grown steadily and associate experts are now provided by donor countries namely : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, as well as the Organisation international de Francophonie.

Currently there are 120 associate experts who are assigned worldwide to ILO field offices, multi-disciplinary teams and technical cooperation projects. In addition, about 20% of the total are working at ILO headquarters in Geneva where they are assigned to inter-regional projects, research activities and programming work.

OBJECTIVES

The basic principles of the Associate Expert Programme have been set forth in Resolution 849 (XXXII) issued by ECOSOC in August 1961. The objectives of the Programme are:

• to contribute to ILO multi-bilateral technical cooperation programme;
• to render technical assistance to developing countries;
• to train young professional who have completed their academic or equivalent studies, but who have limited practical experience, by giving them the opportunity to participate in the technical cooperation programmes of the United Nations and its specialised agencies;
• to extend associate expert training to a limited number of young university graduates from developing countries (with funding from donor countries);
• to gain a source of potential future experts and officials for the UN system and for donors bilateral programmes.

An associate expert must have an academic degree equivalent to Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent technical qualification in combination with some years of working experience. Candidates may not be over 32 years of age.

DURATION

The duration of associate expert assignments varies from two to five years depending on the policy and financial possibilities of the donor.

PROCEDURES

The ILO submits a monthly vacancy list to donor countries. The governments then select the posts which are of interest to them in accordance with their policies and priorities. A preliminary selection of candidates is made by national recruitment services and a final decision is taken in close consultation with the ILO.