The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is accepting applications for its Internship Programme in Europe and Central Asia, advertised under job number 2601982. The call is for students and recent graduates aged 21 to 30 who are nationals of FAO Member Nations, and it closes on 31 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full vacancy and set out what the programme offers, who can apply and how to submit your profile.
About FAO and Its 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 over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide, and it believes that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.
The Internship Programme of Human Resources aims to attract talented young women and men who are strongly motivated to share their new perspectives, innovative ideas and latest research 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 FAO's work.
🌾 Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
📍 Location: Various locations in Europe and Central Asia
⏱️ Duration: 3 to 11 months
🎂 Age: 21 to 30
🔢 Job number: 2601982
What Interns Contribute To
Through the 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.
Reporting Line, Focus and Tasks
🧑🏫 Reporting line: the intern reports to an assigned supervisor
🎯 Technical focus: interns are assigned to different fields of work according to their profile and the needs of the Organization
📋 Tasks: the intern performs the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office before the assignment begins
Minimum Requirements
🎓 Education: enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme at a bona fide educational institution at the time of application, or a recent graduate
🏛️ Recognised institution: FAO only considers higher education qualifications from institutions accredited or recognised in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO
🔬 Field of study: a specialisation relevant to the mission and work of FAO
🗣️ Language: working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish); a second FAO language is an asset
🛂 Nationality: nationals of FAO Member Nations
🎂 Age: between 21 and 30
🌐 Skills: ability to adapt to an international multicultural environment and good communication skills
Competencies FAO Assesses
🎯 Results focus
🤝 Teamwork
💬 Communication
🔗 Building effective relationships
♻️ Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
📚 Technical and functional skills: relevant academic study in one of the fields of the Organization
FAO also expects all candidates to adhere to its values: commitment to FAO, respect for all, and integrity and transparency.
Stipend and Other Important Conditions
💶 Stipend: FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns who are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities; the vacancy does not state an amount
🚫 No fees: FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
🔁 One internship only: candidates who have already completed an internship assignment at FAO are not eligible for another
🏠 Residence status: selected candidates should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment before joining
👪 Family members: candidates whose mother, father, sister or brother is employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement are not eligible
🔒 Checks: all selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and all applications are treated with strict confidentiality
Who FAO Encourages to Apply
FAO is committed to workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture. Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-represented and under-represented Members, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Candidates from Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are also encouraged to apply to this call for expression of interest.
How to Apply
Visit the recruitment website "Jobs at FAO" and complete your online profile. FAO strongly recommends that your profile is accurate and complete, with your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills. Attach a letter of motivation and evidence of attendance at a recognised university or a copy of your academic qualifications to the profile, then submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal.
📥 Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal are considered
🔍 Your application is screened on the information in your online profile
🎓 FAO only considers academic credentials from institutions on the IAU/UNESCO list
📝 Incomplete applications are not considered
🔁 Candidates who are not selected before the closing date and want to stay in consideration should re-apply to new calls
⏰ FAO encourages applying well before the deadline
📞 If you need help, FAO points to its support page for queries
All applications are reviewed, and only qualified applicants are contacted directly for interviews by the hiring office. If you are comparing placements, our guide on how we check opportunities explains the no-fee and application link checks we look for, and you can browse more openings in the Internship & Traineeship section on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the FAO Europe and Central Asia internship based?
The vacancy lists various locations in Europe and Central Asia. The tasks are set in the Terms of Reference prepared by the hiring office before the assignment starts.
Who can apply for this FAO internship?
Nationals of FAO Member Nations aged 21 to 30 who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme or are recent graduates, with a field of study relevant to FAO's work.
How long does the internship last?
Between 3 and 11 months.
Is the FAO internship paid?
FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns who are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities. The vacancy does not state an amount.
Which languages do I need?
Working knowledge of at least one FAO language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish. A second FAO language is an asset.
Can I do a second FAO internship?
No. Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO are not eligible for another.
Does FAO charge an application fee?
No. FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Links
🔗 Apply on Jobs at FAO: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2601982
🌐 FAO Members list: https://www.fao.org/legal/home/fao-members/en/
❓ FAO support page: https://fao.service-now.com/csp
