FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for talented and qualified young professionals who want to start a career as international civil servants with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The programme mainly targets nationals of FAO members that are non- or under-represented, with priority consideration given to candidates from Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and developing countries in general.
Quick Overview
Programme: Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
Opportunity Type: Young Professionals Recruitment Programme
Host Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Contract: Two-year fixed-term contract
Initial Grade: P-1, Step 1
Age Requirement: 32 years or younger as of 31 December of the application year
Academic Requirement: Advanced university degree
Experience Requirement: Minimum one year of relevant professional experience
About the FAO Young Professionals Programme
The Young Professionals Programme provides qualified young professionals with an opportunity to begin a career as an international civil servant at FAO.
Young Professional Officers work under the supervision of senior staff members and collaborate with international and national colleagues. Their work involves different stages of FAO activities, including:
• Identification
• Design
• Implementation
• Monitoring
• Evaluation
Assignments may have a country-specific, regional, sector-based, or thematic focus.
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Contract and Appointment
Young Professional Officers receive two-year fixed-term contracts, subject to a one-year probationary period.
Participants are generally appointed at:
• First year: P-1, Step 1
• Second year: P-1, Step 2
The programme therefore combines professional employment at FAO with experience across activities relevant to the Organization’s work.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates are selected through a competitive process and must meet the programme requirements.
• Be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.
• Hold an advanced university degree, such as a Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent, in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Have at least one year of professional experience in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Have a working knowledge of English.
• Have limited knowledge of another FAO official language: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.
• Not be the son, daughter, brother, or sister of an FAO staff member.
The programme is mainly targeted at qualified young professionals who are nationals of non- or under-represented FAO members.
Priority consideration is given to candidates from:
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
• Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
• Developing countries in general
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Language Requirements
Applicants must have a working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another official FAO language.
The other FAO official languages listed for the programme are:
• French
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Russian
The official programme page also states that the application and selection process is conducted in English.
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Application Process
FAO publishes available Young Professionals Programme opportunities through its official career system.
Interested candidates should review the available YPP vacancies and follow the requirements stated in the relevant vacancy announcement.
The FAO employment system requires candidates to apply through the official career portal. The application and selection process for the Young Professionals Programme is conducted in English.
Official Link
Review the official programme information and follow the application instructions for available Young Professionals Programme opportunities.
