Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026

The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) offers early-career professionals a two-year fixed-term contract to launch an international civil service career at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

What it offers

• Two-year fixed-term contract with a one-year probationary period.
• Initial appointment at P-1 step 1, moving to P-1 step 2 in the second year.

Who can apply

• Age: 32 years or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.
• Academic qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s, Ph.D. or equivalent) in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Minimum of one year of professional experience in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Language skills: Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian).
• Candidates must not be a son, daughter, brother or sister of an FAO staff member.
• Priority consideration for nationals of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and developing countries in general.

What you'll do

• Work under the supervision of a senior staff member.
• Engage in the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FAO activities.
• Assignments may have a country-specific, regional, sector-based or thematic focus.

How to apply

• Visit the list of YPP opportunities currently available on the FAO website.
• The application and selection process will be conducted in English.

Good to know

• FAO will host outreach webinars in English, French, Arabic and Chinese to provide guidance on the application and selection process.
  • English Sessions: 20 August 2026 at 09:00-10:00 CET and 16:00-17:00 CET.
  • French Session: 25 August 2026 at 14:00-15:00 CET.
  • Arabic Session: 26 August 2026 at 14:00-15:00 CET.
  • Chinese Session: 27 August 2026 at 10:00-11:00 CET.