The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is accepting applications for an internship in its Office of Youth and Women (OYW) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, including work on the World Food Forum (WFF). The call is open to students and recent graduates aged 21 to 30 who are nationals of FAO Members, and applications close on 17 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full vacancy (job number 2602160) and gathered what the role covers, who can apply and how to submit your profile.
About the FAO Internship Programme
FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger and to achieve food security for all, so 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.
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. It gives participants a learning opportunity to supplement their academic knowledge with a practical work assignment in a field related to the work of FAO.
What Interns Contribute To
Through the FAO internship experience, interns contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to FAO's Strategic Framework supporting 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.
The Office of Youth and Women (OYW)
This call seeks candidates for internships in the Office of Youth and Women at FAO headquarters in Rome. The Office promotes youth and women's empowerment within FAO and across agrifood systems through leadership, career enrichment, advocacy and partnerships.
It advances the work of three bodies:
🧑🌾 The FAO Youth Committee
👩💼 The FAO Women's Committee
🌍 The World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action, a youth-led network that connects young people and partners to shape agrifood systems through policy engagement, innovation and local action
The Office also works closely with technical units to support the implementation of the FAO Policy on Gender Equality and the Rural Youth Action Plan.
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in Italy →
────────────────────────────────────────
Reporting Line and Technical Focus
🧭 Reporting line: the intern reports to an assigned supervisor
🎯 Technical focus: a field relevant to the activities of the Office of Youth and Women, including those of the World Food Forum
📄 Tasks: the intern performs the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office
Who Can Apply
Candidates are assessed against the following requirements:
🎓 Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme at a "bona fide" educational institution at the time of application, or a recent graduate
🏛️ Higher education qualifications must come from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO
🔬 A specialization 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 is considered an asset
🛂 Nationality of an FAO Member country
🎂 Age between 21 and 30
🤝 Ability to adapt to an international multicultural environment, with good communication skills
Skills That Count as a Strong Asset
Relevant working experience in one of the following fields is a strong asset:
📚 Thematic and academic support to policy dialogues
♀️ Gender equality and young women's empowerment
💡 Innovation
🤝 Partnership and fundraising
📣 Marketing, communications and outreach
🎬 Cultural activities (film, music, culinary, art)
🤖 AI, data and knowledge management
🎪 Event management
➕ Other
FAO Core Competencies
⚡ Results focus
👥 Teamwork
💬 Communication
🔗 Building effective relationships
🔄 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
All candidates should also adhere to FAO's values: Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
Terms and Important Notes
💼 Remuneration: FAO does not provide remuneration to fellows
🚫 No fees: FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
📞 Contact: only qualified applicants are contacted directly for interviews by the hiring office
🛡️ Checks: all selected candidates undergo reference and background checks, and all applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality
🌐 Diversity: FAO is committed to workforce diversity; qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-represented and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Why This Internship Is Worth a Look
The placement sits inside a UN Specialized Agency's headquarters and connects to a youth-led global network. If you are weighing different placements, our guide on how we check opportunities explains the application link and no-fee checks we look for, and you can browse similar openings in the Internship & Traineeship section on Youth Works Hub.
How to Apply
Complete your online profile on the FAO recruitment website, "Jobs at FAO", and make sure it is accurate and complete, with your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills. Attach a letter of motivation to the profile, then submit your application. Fellows assignments additionally require a research proposal.
📝 Incomplete applications are not considered
📥 Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal are considered
🔍 Your application is screened on the information in your online profile
🔐 You are asked for consent before submitting, because personal information may be shared within FAO and with companies acting on FAO's behalf for services such as pre-screening and background checks
🧾 Candidates may be asked to provide performance assessments and authorization to verify past and present work, character, education, military and police records
⏰ FAO encourages applying well before the deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the FAO World Food Forum internship based?
The internship is in the Office of Youth and Women at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Who can apply for this FAO internship?
Candidates must be nationals of FAO Members, aged 21 to 30, enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme or a recent graduate, with a field of study relevant to FAO's work.
Which languages are required?
You need working knowledge of at least one FAO language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish. A second FAO language is an asset.
Is the internship paid?
No. FAO states that it does not provide remuneration to fellows.
Does FAO charge an application fee?
No. FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
What do I need to attach to my application?
Attach a letter of motivation to your online profile on the FAO recruitment portal.
Deadline
⏳ 17 November 2026
Link
🔗 Apply on the FAO recruitment portal: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2602160
📧 Questions: Careers@fao.org
