🇮🇹 UN Internship in Italy 🌾 IFAD Internship Programme 2026 💰 Paid 🌍 Agriculture & Rural Development, Rome 🇮🇹
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) — a specialised agency of the United Nations headquartered in Rome, Italy — is offering its 2026 Internship Programme to students and recent graduates from around the world. This paid, six-month internship provides hands-on experience working on real-world projects alongside IFAD experts in areas including agriculture, economics, finance, climate change, IT, and more. Positions are available at IFAD headquarters in Rome and at country offices worldwide, with the possibility of extension for a further six months.
🌍 Did You Know? Rome is home to the largest concentration of UN food and agriculture agencies in the world — including IFAD, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP). Known as the "UN Food Hub," Rome's unique cluster of international organisations makes it one of the most important cities on the planet for global food security, rural development, and humanitarian policy.
What Will You Do?
🌾 Real-World Projects: Work directly on substantive projects under the guidance of experienced IFAD professionals — contributing meaningfully to the organisation's mission of eradicating hunger and poverty in rural areas worldwide.
🔬 Area-Specific Work: Depending on your field and assignment, you may work across agriculture and rural development, climate change, economics, finance, social issues, business and administration, legal and HR, or information technology.
🌍 Global Impact: Contribute to IFAD's work supporting smallholder farmers, rural communities, and developing economies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
🤝 UN System Exposure: Build networks and professional relationships with experts from across the UN system — a uniquely valuable foundation for a career in international development.
🌍 Did You Know? IFAD was established in 1977 following the 1974 World Food Conference, which was convened in response to the devastating Sahel famine in Africa. Since its founding, IFAD has invested over $23 billion in grants and low-interest loans to support more than 500 projects and programmes across 100+ countries — directly benefitting hundreds of millions of rural people living in poverty.
Eligibility & Requirements
🌍 Nationality: Open to citizens of IFAD member states — applications are accepted from around the world.
🎂 Age: Must be 30 years of age or younger at the time of application.
🎓 Education: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate degree programme (having completed at least two years) and attended courses in the last 24 months — OR have completed undergraduate or postgraduate studies within the last 24 months.
📚 Fields of Study: Economics, Agriculture, Political Science, Business Administration, Finance, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, Social Sciences, Human Resources, Law, or related fields relevant to IFAD's mission.
🗣️ Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another IFAD official language — Arabic, French, or Spanish — and/or any other language is an asset and may be required depending on the region of assignment.
Benefits & Compensation
💰 Paid Internship: Interns receive a competitive monthly stipend to cover living allowance for the full duration of the programme.
✈️ Additional Allowance for Developing Country Nationals: To promote geographic diversity, IFAD provides a higher monthly allowance — contributing to housing and travel expenses — for interns from developing countries who need to travel to their duty station.
📄 Official Certification: Interns receive an official certificate upon successful completion of the programme.
🤝 Mentorship: Guidance and mentorship from experienced IFAD professional staff throughout the placement.
🌐 UN Networking: Access to a global network of professionals from across the United Nations system — an invaluable career asset for anyone entering the international development sector.
🔄 Extension Possibility: The internship may be extended for an additional six months, providing access to a different learning experience and broader exposure to IFAD's areas of work.
Required Documents
📝 Resume / CV
✉️ Cover Letter
📋 Degree Transcript
🪪 National ID or Passport
💻 Completed Online Application via the IFAD career portal
Key Information
Application Link
📎 Apply here: https://www.ifad.org/en/work-with-us/internship-programmes
💻 Applications are submitted online via the official IFAD career portal. Register an account, create your profile, browse current internship openings, and apply for the position that best aligns with your academic background and interests.
⏳ Deadline varies by position — check the portal regularly for new openings.
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the opportunity organiser.
2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The organiser is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.
3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including eligibility criteria, conditions, or deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.
4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the organiser.
💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official organiser or programme website before applying.
