FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 | 9 UN Positions | Apply by 7 September 2026

The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 is now open for applications offering talented, qualified young professionals from around the world the opportunity to begin a career as an international civil servant with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), one of the world’s largest and most impactful UN agencies. The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 has opened 9 positions across five countries — Italy (Rome), Switzerland (Geneva), Austria (Vienna), Thailand (Bangkok), and Nepal (Kathmandu) — covering disciplines including food security, economics, climate change, aquaculture, nutrition, finance, communications, and sustainable development. All positions are offered as two-year fixed-term contracts at the P-1 professional level with full UN benefits including competitive salary, international health insurance, 30 days annual leave, pension fund, and more. The application deadline is 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. Apply now at jobs.fao.org.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized UN agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, and improve rural livelihoods across 194 member nations. Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO works across five strategic areas: eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; eliminating poverty and driving economic development; making agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable; enabling inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems; and increasing the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.

The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a competitive recruitment initiative designed to bring talented, early-career professionals into the UN system through FAO. The programme targets primarily nationals of non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations — particularly from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) — providing them with a structured two-year entry point into a UN international civil service career. Under the supervision of a senior FAO staff member, Young Professional Officers work with international and national colleagues on FAO’s core activities — food security, agriculture, nutrition, climate resilience, fisheries, forestry, and sustainable agrifood systems — with assignments that may have a country, regional, sector, or thematic focus.

9 Available Positions

The following 9 positions are currently open under the FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026. Each position has specific qualification and experience requirements — read each vacancy description carefully before applying:

To view the full job description, required qualifications, and duties for each position, visit the FAO careers portal at jobs.fao.org and search for the relevant requisition number or click the YPP filter in the left navigation panel.

Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December 2026. There is no minimum age requirement beyond having the required educational qualifications.
• Education: Must hold an advanced university degree — a Master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent — in a field relevant to the work of FAO and to the specific position applied for. FAO considers higher education qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
• Professional Experience: A minimum of one year of relevant professional experience in a field related to FAO’s work and the specific vacancy applied for.
• Language Skills: Working knowledge (proficiency) of English. Additionally, limited knowledge of at least one other FAO official language: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.
• Nationality Priority: The YPP primarily targets nationals of non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations. Priority consideration is given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and developing countries in general. The list of non- and under-represented countries is available at fao.org/employment/list-of-non-and-under-represented-countries/en.
• Family Restriction: Candidates must not bear any of the following relationships to current FAO staff members: son, daughter, brother, or sister.
• Scam Alert: FAO does NOT request payment of any kind at any stage of the recruitment process. All FAO recruitment emails originate only from @fao.org domain addresses. Do not respond to any other email addresses claiming to represent FAO.

Priority Nationalities for FAO YPP 2026:

FAO particularly welcomes applications from nationals of the following non- and under-represented member countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Central African Republic, China, Cook Islands, Estonia, Fiji, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. This list is regularly updated — check the official non- and under-represented countries list at fao.org for the most current version.

What Young Professional Officers Do at FAO

Under the supervision of a senior FAO staff member, Young Professional Officers are fully integrated into FAO’s operational and technical teams. Their work spans the full project cycle and includes:

• Identification and design: Contributing to the identification and design of FAO programmes, projects, and activities in their area of specialisation
• Implementation: Supporting the implementation of FAO activities at country, regional, or global level
• Monitoring and evaluation: Participating in the monitoring and evaluation of FAO programmes and projects
• Research and analysis: Conducting research, data analysis, and technical assessments relevant to FAO’s mandate
• Stakeholder engagement: Working with government counterparts, civil society, academic institutions, and international organizations
• Reporting: Drafting technical reports, briefs, and communications materials
• Collaboration: Working alongside experienced international and national FAO staff in a multicultural environment

Application Process

Step 1: Review All 9 Vacancies Carefully

Go to jobs.fao.org and search for FAO Young Professionals Programme vacancies. Use the YPP filter on the left panel or search the requisition numbers listed above. Read each vacancy’s full job description, required qualifications, and duties carefully before applying. You may apply for more than one position, but each application must be submitted separately. Choose the position(s) that best match your academic background and professional experience.

Step 2: Create or Update Your FAO Candidate Profile

If you do not already have an FAO candidate profile, create one on the FAO recruitment portal at jobs.fao.org. Complete your employment profile thoroughly — including all education, work experience, language skills, and other relevant information. Attach all required documents: academic transcripts, degree certificates, and any other requested materials. Ensure your profile is complete and up to date before submitting your application.

Step 3: Complete the Application Form for Your Chosen Position(s)

Select the specific vacancy you wish to apply for, complete the online application form, and upload all required documents. The application and selection process is conducted entirely in English. Ensure all information is accurate — selected candidates are subject to reference, educational, employment, and background verification checks.

Step 4: Formally Submit Before 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM

After completing your application, formally submit it. Saving a draft does NOT count as a submission. You must click the official Submit button to register your application. Because the displayed deadline time may vary by device settings, confirm the exact deadline in your portal and do not wait until the final hours. The application process is conducted in English only.

Step 5: Await Notification

Only shortlisted candidates will normally be contacted. Competition for the FAO Young Professionals Programme is strong — be patient and continue monitoring your email and the FAO portal. Selected candidates will be subject to reference, educational, employment, and background checks before final appointment.

FAO YPP Outreach Webinar Recordings — August 2026

FAO hosted a series of outreach webinars in August 2026 to support prospective YPP applicants. Recordings are available in English, French, Arabic, and Chinese:

How to Apply

Also Check

• 📌 UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 | Entry-Level UN Career Opportunity
• 📌 Commonwealth Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s and PhD in the UK
• 📌 Fulbright Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded US Government Scholarship for International Students
• 📌 SINGA Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded PhD in Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026?

The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 is a competitive UN recruitment initiative offering talented young professionals from non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations the opportunity to begin an international civil service career with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The 2026 cycle has opened 9 positions at P-1 level across Rome, Geneva, Vienna, Bangkok, and Kathmandu. Positions are offered as 2-year fixed-term contracts with full UN benefits. The application deadline is 7 September 2026. Apply at jobs.fao.org.

2. What is the deadline for the FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026?

The application deadline is 7 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. Because the displayed time may depend on personal device settings, confirm the exact deadline time in your FAO portal. Do not wait until the final day — technical issues or last-minute problems can prevent submission. Saving a draft does NOT count as a formal application — you must formally submit.

3. Who is eligible for the FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026?

You must be 32 years or younger as of 31 December 2026, hold an advanced university degree (Master’s, PhD or equivalent) in a relevant field, have a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience, and have working knowledge of English plus limited knowledge of at least one other FAO official language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian). Priority consideration is given to nationals of non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations, particularly from SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs. You must not be a son, daughter, brother, or sister of any current FAO staff member.

4. What positions are available in the FAO YPP 2026?

Nine positions are available: Food Loss and Waste (Bangkok), Aquatic Value Chain (Rome), Economist (Rome), Communication and Outreach (Rome), Programme Support (Vienna), Small Island Developing States — SIDS (Geneva), School Food and Nutrition (Rome), Finance (Rome), and Climate Change and Natural Resources Management (Kathmandu). Each position has specific qualification requirements — read the full vacancy description at jobs.fao.org before applying.

5. What benefits does the FAO Young Professionals Programme provide?

Young Professional Officers receive: a competitive P-1 level UN salary (tax-exempt for international staff), a 2-year fixed-term contract, 30 working days of annual leave, international health insurance through the UN Medical Coverage Plan, UN Joint Staff Pension Fund entitlement, education grant for eligible dependent children, home leave travel, rental subsidy, and relocation support. The P-1 grade starts at Step 1 in the first year and moves to Step 2 in the second year.

6. Can I apply for more than one FAO YPP 2026 position?

Yes — you may apply to more than one of the 9 available positions, but each application must be submitted separately through the FAO careers portal. Read each position’s full vacancy description carefully to ensure your profile matches the specific requirements. Apply only to positions where you genuinely meet the qualifications — submitting to all positions indiscriminately is not recommended.

7. Is the FAO YPP only for nationals of certain countries?

No — the YPP is open to qualified candidates of all nationalities. However, the programme specifically prioritizes nationals of non- and under-represented FAO Member Nations, with particular priority for SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs. FAO especially welcomes applications from qualified women and from nationals of countries on the official non- and under-represented list. Check the current list at fao.org/employment/list-of-non-and-under-represented-countries/en.

Final Thoughts

The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 is one of the most prestigious and competitive entry points into a United Nations international civil service career available to young professionals today. With 9 positions across 5 countries, a 2-year fixed-term contract at the P-1 professional level, full UN benefits including international health insurance, 30 days leave, pension fund, and education grants — and the extraordinary opportunity to work on the world’s most pressing challenges of food security, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and zero hunger — the FAO YPP is a life-changing career opportunity. The deadline is 7 September 2026 — days away. Go to jobs.fao.org right now, create or update your profile, select your position, and submit your application. Do not save a draft and assume you have applied — formally submit before the deadline. For all official information, visit fao.org/employment/young-talent-programme/young-professionals-programme/en.