FAO Young Professionals Training Programme 2027 offers qualified young professionals an opportunity to build an international career with FAO through a two-year professional development and employment pathway.
FAO Young Professionals Training Programme 2027 is designed for talented young professionals seeking to begin an international career with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The programme provides professional experience in FAO activities, including the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offers the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) as a recruitment and career development opportunity for talented and qualified young professionals who want to build a career as international civil servants.
The programme is particularly targeted at nationals of non- or underrepresented FAO member countries. According to FAO, priority consideration is given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and developing countries generally.
For young professionals interested in food security, agriculture, rural development and international development, the programme provides an opportunity to gain practical experience while contributing to FAO activities.
Background & Programme Description
The FAO Young Professionals Programme places successful candidates in professional roles where they work under the supervision of senior staff members.
Young Professional Officers work alongside international and national personnel and can become involved in different stages of FAO activities.
Their responsibilities may include the:
- Identification of FAO activities
- Design of programmes and projects
- Implementation of activities
- Monitoring of programmes
- Evaluation of FAO activities
Assignments can have different areas of focus depending on the position. FAO indicates that assignments may have a country-specific, regional, sector-based or thematic focus.
This makes the programme relevant to young professionals who want exposure to international development work and the global food and agriculture sector.
Programme Duration and Employment Conditions
Successful Young Professional Officers are offered two-year fixed-term contracts, subject to a one-year probationary period.
According to the information provided by FAO, participants will generally be appointed at P-1 step 1 initially and move to P-1 step 2 during the second year of their assignment.
The programme therefore combines professional development with practical employment experience within FAO.
Who Can Apply?
The FAO Young Professionals Programme is highly competitive, and applicants must meet the stated qualification requirements.
Candidates should meet the following requirements:
Age
Applicants should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.
Academic Qualifications
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree, such as a Master’s degree, Ph.D. or equivalent qualification, in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
This requirement means applicants should have an academic background that aligns with the position and the broader mandate of FAO.
Professional Experience
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of professional experience in a field relevant to the work of FAO.
Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate relevant professional exposure in addition to their academic qualifications.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have a working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of at least one other FAO official language.
The additional official languages listed by FAO are:
- French
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Russian
Applicants should carefully consider the language requirements before submitting an application.
Relationship Restrictions
Candidates must not have certain family relationships with FAO staff members. Specifically, FAO states that candidates must not be the son, daughter, brother or sister of a staff member of the Organization.
Career Development Opportunities
The FAO Young Professionals Programme can provide an important entry point into international public service.
Successful candidates work with experienced international and national staff and gain practical exposure to FAO operations.
Depending on the assignment, Young Professional Officers may develop experience in areas connected to agriculture, food systems, development programmes, policy, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The experience can help young professionals understand how international organisations design and deliver programmes addressing global development challenges.
FAO Young Professionals Programme Outreach Webinars
FAO is also providing outreach webinars for people interested in the Young Professionals Programme.
The webinars are intended to give prospective applicants an overview of the programme, explain the application and selection process and provide an opportunity to ask questions of FAO representatives.
FAO has indicated that sessions are available in English, French, Arabic and Chinese.
The English sessions were scheduled for 20 August 2026, while French, Arabic and Chinese sessions were listed for 25, 26 and 27 August 2026 respectively.
Applicants who missed earlier sessions should check the official FAO YPP page for current webinar information and available recordings.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through FAO’s available YPP vacancies.
Applicants should:
- Review the current FAO Young Professionals Programme vacancies.
- Identify a position matching their academic and professional background.
- Carefully review the vacancy-specific requirements.
- Prepare the required application information.
- Submit the application through FAO’s official recruitment system.
FAO states that the application and selection process will be conducted in English.
Candidates should also review the FAO competency framework and language-level information before applying.
Additional Information
The FAO Young Professionals Programme 2027 represents an opportunity for qualified young professionals to gain international experience while contributing to the work of an organisation focused on food and agriculture.
Unlike a conventional short-term training course, the YPP is a recruitment initiative that provides successful candidates with fixed-term employment as Young Professional Officers.
The programme may be particularly relevant to candidates from developing and underrepresented countries who have an advanced university degree, relevant professional experience and an interest in international development.
Interested candidates should review the current vacancies carefully because individual positions may have additional requirements beyond the general YPP criteria.
Official application information: FAO Young Professionals Programme
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