The FAO Young Professionals Programme (YPP) 2026 is a competitive recruitment programme for talented young professionals who want to begin careers as international civil servants with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The programme mainly targets nationals of non-represented or underrepresented FAO members, with priority consideration for candidates from Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and developing countries generally.
FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026
Under the programme, Young Professional Officers work under the supervision of senior FAO staff and collaborate with international and national colleagues. Their assignments can involve the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FAO activities.
Assignments may have a:
- Country-specific focus
- Regional focus
- Sector-based focus
- Thematic focus
Successful Young Professional Officers receive two-year fixed-term contracts, subject to a one-year probationary period. They are generally appointed at P-1 step 1 during the first year and move to P-1 step 2 in the second year.
Who Can Apply?
According to FAO, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Age
Candidates must be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.
2. Education
Applicants need an advanced university degree, such as a:
- Master’s degree
- Ph.D.
- Equivalent advanced degree
The degree must be in a field relevant to the work of FAO.
3. Professional Experience
Candidates need at least one year of professional experience in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
4. Language Requirements
Applicants must have:
- Working knowledge of English
- Limited knowledge of at least one additional FAO official language
The additional FAO official languages listed by FAO are:
- French
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Russian
5. Relationship Restrictions
Candidates must not be the son, daughter, brother, or sister of an FAO staff member.
Who Is FAO Looking For?
The YPP is primarily designed for talented young professionals from non-represented or underrepresented FAO member countries.
FAO gives priority consideration to candidates from:
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
- Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
- Developing countries generally
This makes checking the relevant eligibility and vacancy information particularly important before submitting an application.
What Does a Young Professional Officer Do?
YPP officers can contribute to different stages of FAO’s work, including:
Identification → Design → Implementation → Monitoring → Evaluation
The exact responsibilities depend on the individual vacancy and may involve work at country, regional, sectoral, or thematic levels.
FAO YPP 2026 Vacancies
FAO directs interested candidates to its current vacancies page to identify available YPP opportunities. Applicants need to select the YPP (Young Professionals Programme) category from the vacancy page.
The application and selection process is conducted in English.
FAO Young Professionals Programme
FAO YPP Outreach Webinars 2026
FAO is also holding outreach webinars to help prospective applicants understand the programme, application process, and selection procedure.
English Sessions
20 August 2026
- 09:00–10:00 CET — Rome time
- 16:00–17:00 CET — Rome time
French Session
25 August 2026
- 14:00–15:00 CET
Arabic Session
26 August 2026
- 14:00–15:00 CET
Chinese Session
27 August 2026
- 10:00–11:00 CET
The sessions cover the same programme information and are intended for people interested in the YPP and current YPP vacancies.
FAO YPP Webinar Registration and Programme Information
Why Consider the FAO YPP?
The programme offers young professionals an opportunity to begin an international civil service career while contributing to FAO’s work.
Successful participants can gain experience working with:
- International staff
- National staff
- Senior professionals
- Country-level programmes
- Regional initiatives
- Sector-focused activities
- Thematic programmes
The programme is particularly relevant for candidates whose academic and professional backgrounds align with FAO’s mandate.
Important Application Tips
Before applying, candidates should:
- Check the specific YPP vacancy carefully because requirements can vary by position.
- Confirm that their degree is relevant to the advertised assignment.
- Make sure they meet the age requirement.
- Demonstrate at least one year of relevant professional experience.
- Highlight their international, regional, or country-level experience where relevant.
- Clearly demonstrate language capabilities.
- Review FAO’s competency framework before preparing application materials.
- Apply in English, as the source states that the application and selection process is conducted in English.
FAO YPP vs Associate Professional Officers Programme
FAO also points prospective applicants toward the Associate Professional Officers Programme (APO). Unlike the YPP, this programme is intended for young people selected and sponsored by their own governments under Trust Fund arrangements with FAO and resource partners.
Therefore, applicants should not automatically treat APO and YPP vacancies as the same programme.
Final Thoughts
The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026 provides a route for qualified young professionals to start an international civil service career with FAO. The programme is highly competitive and is particularly focused on candidates from non-represented and underrepresented member countries.
The core eligibility requirements are an age of 32 or younger, an advanced relevant university degree, at least one year of relevant professional experience, working English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language, together with the programme’s nationality and relationship requirements.
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