WTO Youth Talent Incubator Programme 2026 For Young Professionals and Researchers (Capacity building, Mentorship + Networking)

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Applications are now open for the WTO Youth Talent Incubator Programme. The programme targets young researchers in academia and research institutions, including think tanks, research foundations, research centres and policy research organizations, as well as young professionals in government. It is built around three pillars: mentoring, capacity building and networking. Participants will engage with global experts, WTO Members and other international and regional stakeholders.

The WTO Youth Talent Incubator Programme builds on the legacy of the Youth Trade Summit on Gender, which brought together fifty young professionals from academia, research, and government in November 2023. Launched in July 2024, the programme’s first edition ran for over eleven months, strengthening participants’ knowledge and professional skills through mentorship, applied policy research, training, and networking, with the results presented at the WTO Informal Working Group in December 2025.

The Second Edition carries this mission forward, continuing to build the next generation of gender-responsive trade professionals through mentorship, applied research, and capacity-building at the intersection of trade and gender, and will run from 12 October 2026 to 30 June 2027. This edition will be conducted entirely in a virtual format.

WTO Youth Talent Incubator Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

advance the conversation on trade and gender by exploring new dimensions
bridge the gap between research and policy through actionable recommendations
cultivate future experts by offering mentorship, skill-building and networking opportunities.

Benefits

Participants gain access to mentorship, applied policy research, training, capacity building and networking opportunities focused on trade and gender. The programme is designed to strengthen collaboration between researchers and policymakers and provide exposure to WTO Members and global/regional stakeholders.

Programme structure

Pillar 1: Mentorship
- Personalized career mentorship sessions led by experienced professionals, with activities such as idea labs, role-playing scenarios, one-on-one mentoring, and career story sharing.
Pillar 2: Capacity building
- Practical training in economic research, policy drafting, and effective communication on trade and gender through targeted workshops.
Pillar 3: Networking
- Virtual networking, peer exchanges, and career sessions connecting participants with experts, fostering collaboration, and building professional networks in trade and gender.

Eligibility Criteria for WTO Youth Talent Incubator Programme

Applicants must:

Be 20–35 years old.
Demonstrate current work on trade and gender, or an interest in incorporating trade and gender issues into their existing work.
Submit a motivation letter and complete the online application form.
Receive formal endorsement from their academic or research institution.

Programme Timeline

12 October 2026 – 30 June 2027.
Number of Participants
- Up to 35 nominees will be selected by the Chair of the WTO Gender Research Hub.
- Successful applicants will be notified by email on 1 October 2026.
Programme Format & Cost
- The programme will be delivered entirely online and is free of charge.
Important: This is a nomination programme
- The WTO Gender Research Hub is requesting academic and research institutions to nominate candidates, and nominations from those institutions may be made by their legal representatives.