FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026
The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 is an entry-level professional appointment with the United Nations system, offering paid, fixed-term positions for qualified early-career individuals across the globe.
Programme Overview
Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Contract Type: Two-year Fixed-Term Appointment (Grade Level P-1)
Application Deadline: 7th – 13th September 2026 (varies by specific position; early submission is advised)
Target Demographics: Talented young professionals worldwide, with priority given to candidates from non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
Available Positions & Locations
Role Title Requisition ID Location
Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste) 2601699 Bangkok, Thailand
Young Professional Officer (Aquatic Value Chain) 2601689 Rome, Italy
Young Professional Officer (Economist) 2601700 Rome, Italy
Young Professional Officer (Communication and Outreach) 2601606 Rome, Italy
Young Professional Officer (School Food and Nutrition) 2601701 Rome, Italy
Young Professional Officer (Finance) 2601703 Rome, Italy
Young Professional Officer (Programme Support) 2601686 Vienna, Austria
Young Professional Officer (SIDS Focus) 2601691 Geneva, Switzerland
Young Professional Officer (Climate Change & Natural Resources) 2601710 Kathmandu, Nepal
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: Must be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December 2026.
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s, PhD, or equivalent) in a field relevant to FAO’s mission.
Experience: At least 1 year of relevant professional experience in a related field.
Languages: Working knowledge of one FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish) and limited knowledge of another.
Family Relation Rule: Applicants cannot be the child or sibling of an active FAO staff member.
Core Responsibilities
Under the supervision of senior FAO staff, Young Professional Officers undertake assignments with local, regional, or global scope:
Participate in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of FAO projects and policies.
Support technical initiatives in food security, natural resource management, value chain enhancement, and nutrition.
Engage in inter-departmental collaboration, policy research, and multilateral communications.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted strictly via the official FAO recruitment framework:
Visit the FAO Careers Portal (jobs.fao.org).
Create or log in to your candidate account.
Complete your user profile with updated academic and employment history.
Locate the specific requisition ID (listed above) and submit your completed application prior to the deadline.
