The United Nations Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme 2026 is inviting applications from qualified young professionals for three JPO positions within the United Nations system.

The current call features opportunities in Political Affairs in New York, Humanitarian Affairs in East Jerusalem, and UN System Coordination in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. All three positions are funded by Belgium and have an initial one-year contract that may be renewed annually for a maximum period of three years. (FPS Foreign Affairs)

The application deadline for all three positions is 18 September 2026 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (New York). (FPS Foreign Affairs)

About the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme

The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme is a United Nations training initiative that provides young professionals with an opportunity to gain practical experience within UN organisations, funds, programmes, and offices involved in development and international cooperation.

Through the programme, JPOs work within UN organisations connected to Belgium’s international development cooperation policy. Depending on the position, assignments can be based in partner countries, regional offices, or headquarters.

JPOs receive professional training and guidance from senior staff members and can become involved in areas including:

• Programme design
• Programme formulation
• Programme implementation
• Programme monitoring
• Programme evaluation
• Policy and coordination work
• Development and humanitarian activities

The Belgian government currently funds JPO positions across 18 UN organisations, funds, programmes and offices, including UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, UNHCR, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, UNEP, IOM, OHCHR and OCHA.

Current JPO Opportunities

Three positions are currently available under the 2026 Belgian JPO call.

1. JPO in Political Affairs – Support to UN Reform

Organisation: United Nations Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Policy, UN80 Secretariat

Location: New York, USA

Field: Political Affairs / UN Reform

The position focuses on supporting work related to UN reform and political affairs within the UN80 Secretariat.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Hold Belgian citizenship.
• Be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December 2026.
• Be born on or after 1 January 1994.
• Hold an advanced university degree, such as a master’s degree or equivalent, in:
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • International Humanitarian Law
  • Human Rights
  • Social Sciences or another related field.
• Have at least two years of relevant professional experience in political affairs, development and/or humanitarian work.
• Have relevant experience with governments, international organisations, NGOs or research institutes.

Experience with the UN or other international or non-governmental organisations is considered an advantage. Strong research, analytical and writing skills, as well as organisational abilities, are also preferred.

Language Requirements

Fluent English is required.

Knowledge of French is desirable, while knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Important Experience Requirement

Applicants’ work experience within the UN organisation to which they are applying must not exceed one year, including internships, UN Volunteers and consultancies. Relevant internships and volunteering may be counted at 50%.

2. JPO in Humanitarian Affairs

Organisation: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Operations and Advocacy Division, Country Office in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

Location: East Jerusalem

Field: Humanitarian Affairs

This position is focused on humanitarian affairs and supports work related to humanitarian operations and advocacy.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Hold Belgian citizenship.
• Be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December 2026.
• Be born on or after 1 January 1994.
• Hold an advanced university degree, such as a Master’s degree, in:
  • Political or Social Science
  • International Relations
  • Public Administration
  • Law
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • Earth Sciences
  • A related field.
• Have at least two years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis or emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or related areas.
• Have experience in information analysis.

Experience working with international humanitarian agencies, the UN system, or in the occupied Palestinian territory context is considered desirable.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

As with the other positions, work experience within the UN organisation to which the candidate is applying must not exceed one year, including internships, UNV and consultancies.

3. JPO in Coordination – UN System Coordination

Organisation: United Nations Resident Coordinator System (RCS), Resident Coordinator Office (RCO)

Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Field: UN System Coordination

This position focuses on coordination within the UN Resident Coordinator System and provides an opportunity to contribute to cooperation and coordination across the UN system.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Hold Belgian citizenship.
• Be 32 years old or younger as of 31 December 2026.
• Be born on or after 1 January 1994.
• Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent advanced degree in:
  • Development
  • International Relations
  • Political Science
  • Economics
  • Management
  • A related field.
• Have at least two years of professional experience in a relevant field.

Language Requirements

Fluency in French is required.

Knowledge of other official UN languages, particularly English, is an advantage.

General Eligibility Requirements

Although the three positions have different academic and professional requirements, the current Belgian-funded JPO call has several common eligibility conditions.

Belgian Citizenship

The current vacancies explicitly state that candidates must hold Belgian citizenship.

The Belgian Foreign Affairs website explains that most Belgian-funded JPO positions are reserved for Belgian nationals. A limited number of positions may be reserved for candidates from Belgium’s partner countries, but this must be specifically indicated in the relevant vacancy announcement. (FPS Foreign Affairs)

Therefore, applicants should not assume that every Belgian-funded JPO position is open to applicants from all countries.

Age Requirement

Candidates must be 32 years old or younger on 31 December 2026.

For the current positions, this means candidates must have been born on or after 1 January 1994.

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree is required, although the acceptable field differs according to the position.

Professional Experience

The current positions generally require a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.

Applicants should make sure that their experience is directly related to the responsibilities and subject area of the position for which they are applying.

UN Experience Limitation

For the current positions, professional experience within the specific UN organisation to which the applicant is applying should not exceed one year, including internships, UN Volunteers and consultancies.

Relevant internships and volunteering may be counted at 50%.

How the JPO Programme Works

JPOs work within participating UN organisations and receive professional training from experienced senior staff.

They may contribute to different stages of programme and policy work, including:

1. Defining programmes.
2. Formulating programmes.
3. Implementing programmes.
4. Monitoring programmes.
5. Evaluating programmes.

This allows young professionals to gain experience within the UN system while developing practical knowledge in international development, humanitarian affairs, policy, coordination and related fields.

Contract Duration

The initial JPO appointment is for one year.

Subject to a positive performance evaluation, the appointment may be renewed annually, up to a maximum total period of three years.

Salary and Employment Conditions

JPOs receive the international status of the UN organisation that recruits them.

Their salary is paid in US dollars and is based on the United Nations salary scales.

Belgium also contributes toward the pension component through the Belgian National Social Security Office or the United Nations pension fund, as applicable.

At the end of the JPO contract, there are no special placement facilities provided by Belgium’s Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. However, the experience and knowledge gained through the programme can improve participants’ prospects for progressing within international organisations.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted directly to the relevant UN organisation through the application system indicated in the vacancy announcement.

Candidates should consult the full job description before applying because the current Belgian Foreign Affairs page only displays the vacancy information during the application period.

The current vacancies direct applicants to the UNDESA recruitment website and its eRecruitment system.

Application portal: UNDESA JPO Application Portal

Applicants should select the appropriate position and follow the instructions provided by the UN recruitment system.

Application Documents and Selection

The Belgian Foreign Affairs guidance explains that shortlisted candidates may be required to provide copies of their:

• University degree(s)
• Employment certificates
• Identity card or passport

The initial preselection is based on the candidate’s Personal History/CV and Cover Letter.

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed online.

Tips for Preparing Your Application

The Belgian Foreign Affairs department provides several recommendations for applicants.

Read the Vacancy Carefully

Study the required qualifications and responsibilities before completing the application.

Use Relevant Keywords

The department recommends using keywords appearing in the vacancy and making them clearly visible in the application.

Be Specific

Avoid vague descriptions of your experience.

Instead, provide concrete examples of relevant work and the results you achieved.

Provide Accurate Dates

When completing your application, provide accurate information, including the month and year where requested.

Avoid Unnecessary Acronyms

Write out abbreviations and acronyms rather than assuming that the selection panel will understand them.

Make Your Motivation Precise

Because the JPO selection process is described as highly competitive, applicants should ensure that their motivation clearly demonstrates why their background matches the specific position.

Application Deadline

The deadline for all three current Belgian-funded JPO positions is:

18 September 2026 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (New York).

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants will receive confirmation that their application has been received, and only shortlisted candidates will subsequently be contacted.

Current Positions at a Glance

The positions all have an initial one-year duration, renewable annually up to three years.

Who Can Apply?

Category of people who qualify: Young professionals who hold Belgian citizenship, are no older than 32 at the end of 2026, possess a relevant master’s degree or equivalent advanced degree, and have at least two years of relevant professional experience.

The precise academic background, work experience and language requirements depend on the JPO position selected.

Eligible nationality: The three current vacancies are specifically for Belgian citizens.

Conclusion

The  UN Junior Professional Officer Programme 2026 provides an opportunity for qualified young Belgian professionals to gain practical experience within the United Nations system.

The current call offers three positions spanning political affairs and UN reform, humanitarian affairs, and UN system coordination, with placements in New York, East Jerusalem, and Abidjan.

The programme provides structured professional experience, exposure to international organisations, senior-level mentorship, and the opportunity to contribute to UN programmes and policy work. Successful JPO appointments begin with one year and can potentially be extended to a maximum of three years following positive evaluations.

Eligible candidates should carefully match their academic qualifications and professional experience to the specific vacancy and submit their application before 18 September 2026 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time.