Call for Expression of Interest – Internship Programme for FAO headquarters (HQ)

Locations: Italy-Rome/ (FAO Member Nations)

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Duration: From 3 to 11 months

Deadline: 01 January 2026, 12:59:00 AM

Job Description

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
•    Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
•    Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
•    FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
•    All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
•    All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger and to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

The Internship Programme aims to attract talented young women and men who are strongly motivated to share their new perspectives, innovative ideas, and latest academic experience in FAO’s domains. The Programme provides a learning opportunity to the participants to supplement their academic knowledge with a practical work assignment in a field related to the work of FAO.

Through the FAO internship experience, interns will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s Strategic Framework to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Reporting Lines

The intern will report to an assigned supervisor.

Technical Focus 

The intern will be assigned to different fields of work according to his/her profile and to the needs of the Organization.

Tasks and responsibilities

The intern will perform the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•  Enrolled in an under-graduate, graduate degree programme in a “bona fide” educational institution at the time of application or recent graduate. Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
  •    Candidates must specialize in a field relevant to the mission and work of FAO.
  •    Working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish). Knowledge of a second FAO language will be considered an asset.
  •    Be nationals of FAO Members.
  •    Candidates should be aged between 21 and 30.
  •    Candidates should be able to adapt to an international multicultural environment and have good communication skills.

FAO Core Competencies

•  Results Focus
  •    Teamwork
  •    Communication
  •    Building Effective Relationships
  •    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Relevant academic studies in one of the fields of the Organization.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).
  •    Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non- and under-represented Members, as well as candidates from Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are encouraged to apply to this Call for Expression of Interest.
  •    All applications will be reviewed, and only qualified applicants will be directly contacted for interviews by the hiring office and contacted again, if selected.
  •    Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO will not be eligible for another internship.
  •    Selected candidates should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment prior to joining the Organization.
  •    Candidates with family members (defined as mother, father, sister, or brother) employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement are not eligible for the Internship Programme.
  •    FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns if they are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities.

 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at: >>Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
  •    You are requested to attach a letter of motivation, the evidence of attendance in a recognized university or copy of your academic qualifications to the online profile.
  •    Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal. Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.
  •    Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile.
  •    Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.
  •    Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  •    Candidates who are not selected before the closing date and wish to be continuously considered for an assignment are requested to re-apply to the new Calls.
  •    We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries: https://fao.service-now.com/csp.