FAO Young Professionals Programme 2026: Apply for Nine P-1 Positions in Rome, Geneva, Vienna, Bangkok and Kathmandu

Overview

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has opened applications for nine positions under its Young Professionals Programme 2026, giving early-career professionals a start in the international civil service while supporting work on food security, agriculture, nutrition, climate resilience and sustainable agrifood systems. Each post is a Young Professional Officer at the P-1 level on a two-year fixed-term appointment with possible extension, subject to a one-year probationary period. Officers are generally appointed at P-1 Step 1 in the first year and Step 2 in the second.

The positions are in Geneva (Small Island Developing States), Bangkok (Food Loss and Waste), Rome (Aquatic Value Chain; Communication and Outreach; School Food and Nutrition; Economist; Finance), Vienna (Programme Support, at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture) and Kathmandu (Climate Change and Natural Resources Management). Duties range from policy dialogue, project design and monitoring to data analysis, technical reports, communications, financial analysis and capacity building.

Who can apply

All positions require applicants to be 32 or younger as of 31 December 2026, hold the degree or professional qualification for the chosen post and have at least one year of relevant experience. Most need an advanced degree in a field matching the role, such as agriculture, economics, communications, nutrition or finance, while the Finance post also accepts a first degree plus a recognised qualification such as CPA, CA, FRM or CFA. Applicants need proficient English and intermediate knowledge of another FAO language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish. They cannot be the child or sibling of an FAO staff member and must work well in multicultural settings. FAO assesses results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships and knowledge sharing.

How to apply

Applications go directly through the FAO recruitment portal, separate from the UN Secretariat Young Professionals examination. Vacancies are removed at 23:59 CET on the closing date, and the deadline shown can change with the applicant's device time settings, so applicants should check the displayed deadline and apply well ahead.