The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is offering talented young professionals an opportunity to begin an international civil service career through its Young Professionals Programme (YPP). The programme is designed to attract highly qualified candidates, particularly nationals of non-represented and underrepresented FAO member countries.
Priority consideration is given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and developing countries more broadly. The programme provides participants with professional experience in areas connected to FAO’s mandate, including food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and sustainable development.
About the FAO Young Professionals Programme
The YPP is a competitive recruitment initiative that places young professionals within FAO offices and programmes around the world. Successful candidates work under the supervision of senior staff members and collaborate with international and national colleagues.
Young Professional Officers contribute to the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FAO activities. Depending on the assignment, their responsibilities may have a country-specific, regional, sectoral or thematic focus.
The programme provides an opportunity for qualified professionals to gain practical experience within the United Nations system while contributing to FAO’s efforts to address global challenges related to agriculture, food systems, nutrition, rural livelihoods and sustainable development.
Contract and Professional Development
Successful Young Professional Officers are generally offered a two-year fixed-term contract, subject to a one-year probationary period. Initial appointments are generally made at the P-1, Step 1 level, with progression to P-1, Step 2 during the second year of the assignment.
The programme is therefore particularly relevant to early-career professionals seeking international experience and exposure to multilateral development work. Participants have the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals and contribute to projects with national, regional and international significance.
Eligibility and Requirements
Selection for the YPP is highly competitive, and applicants must meet FAO’s specified requirements.
Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. They must also possess an advanced university degree, such as a Master’s degree, Ph.D. or equivalent qualification, in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
Applicants are additionally required to have at least one year of professional experience in an area relevant to the Organization’s mandate.
Language proficiency is another important requirement. Candidates must have a working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of at least one additional FAO official language. The other official languages are French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.
Applicants must also meet FAO’s restrictions concerning family relationships with staff members. Candidates must not be the son, daughter, brother or sister of a staff member of the Organization.
Current Opportunities and Application Process
Interested candidates should consult FAO’s vacancies platform and select the opportunities listed under the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) category. Specific vacancies may have additional requirements concerning academic background, professional experience, location or technical expertise.
The application and selection process is conducted in English. Applicants should therefore carefully review individual vacancy announcements and ensure that their applications demonstrate how their qualifications and professional experience correspond to the requirements of the position.
FAO YPP Outreach Webinars
FAO is also organizing outreach webinars to help prospective applicants understand the Young Professionals Programme, application procedures and selection process. The sessions will provide an overview of the programme, guidance for applicants and opportunities to ask questions directly to FAO representatives.
The webinars are available in several languages. English sessions are scheduled for 20 August 2026, at 09:00–10:00 CET and 16:00–17:00 CET. A French-language session will take place on 25 August 2026, followed by an Arabic session on 26 August 2026 and a Chinese session on 27 August 2026.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to register for the session conducted in their preferred language and use the webinars to gain a clearer understanding of current YPP vacancies and the recruitment process.
A Pathway to an International Career
The FAO Young Professionals Programme provides qualified young professionals with an opportunity to enter international public service while contributing to FAO’s global development mandate. With competitive eligibility requirements, professional development opportunities and exposure to international programmes, the initiative can be particularly valuable for candidates seeking to establish careers in multilateral development.
Applicants should carefully review the current YPP vacancies, assess their eligibility and prepare applications that clearly demonstrate their academic qualifications, relevant professional experience and language capabilities.
