FAO Young Professionals Programme for Early-Career Professionals
The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative for talented and qualified young professionals who are mainly nationals of non- or underrepresented FAO members. Selected Young Professional Officers receive two-year fixed-term contracts and work with FAO teams on the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Organization’s activities.
Quick Overview
Programme: Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
Opportunity Type: Recruitment Programme
Host Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Contract Duration: Two Years
Initial Appointment Level: P-1 Step 1
Age Requirement: 32 years or younger as of 31 December of the application year
Academic Requirement: Advanced university degree
Professional Experience: Minimum one year of relevant experience
About the FAO Young Professionals Programme
The FAO Young Professionals Programme aims to recruit young professionals who can begin a career as international civil servants with FAO.
The programme mainly targets nationals of FAO members that are non- or underrepresented. Priority consideration is given to candidates from Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and developing countries in general.
Young Professional Officers work under the supervision of senior staff members. They collaborate with international and national colleagues across FAO activities.
Assignments may have:
• Country-specific focus
• Regional focus
• Sector-based focus
• Thematic focus
Young Professional Officers may contribute to identifying, designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating FAO activities.
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Contract and Appointment
Selected Young Professional Officers are offered a two-year fixed-term contract, subject to a one-year probationary period.
FAO states that Young Professional Officers are generally appointed at:
✓ P-1 Step 1 during the first year
✓ P-1 Step 2 during the second year
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates are selected on a highly competitive basis and must meet the qualifications listed by FAO.
• Be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.
• Hold an advanced university degree, such as a Master’s, PhD, or equivalent qualification, in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Have at least one year of professional experience in a field relevant to FAO.
• 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.
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Target Candidates
The FAO Young Professionals Programme mainly focuses on qualified young professionals from countries that are non- or underrepresented among FAO members.
Priority consideration is given to candidates from:
• Small Island Developing States
• Least Developed Countries
• Landlocked Developing Countries
• Developing countries in general
Candidates should also have academic qualifications and professional experience relevant to FAO’s work.
Language Requirements
Applicants need a working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language.
The other FAO official languages listed for this requirement are:
• French
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Chinese
• Russian
FAO also states that the application and selection process is conducted in English.
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Application Process
Applicants should review the available YPP vacancies published through FAO’s official employment system.
The FAO programme page directs candidates to the list of current opportunities and instructs them to select the YPP (Young Professionals Programme) option when reviewing available vacancies.
Candidates should review the specific vacancy carefully before applying because individual openings may contain additional position-related requirements.
Official Link
Review the official programme details and follow the application instructions provided on the official page.
