The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is accepting applications for its Internship Programme at headquarters in Rome, Italy (vacancy 2601979). Internships last 3 to 11 months and are open to students and recent graduates aged 21 to 30 who are nationals of FAO Members. The deadline is 31 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the official vacancy and set out every requirement and step below.
What the FAO Internship Programme Offers
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.
📍 Location: Rome, Italy (headquarters)
⏳ Duration: from 3 to 11 months
🎂 Age: 21 to 30
🏢 Organisation: FAO, a Specialized Agency of the United Nations
🔢 Vacancy number: 2601979
About FAO
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, and it believes that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.
How the Internship Connects to FAO's Mission
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.
Your Role and Supervision
🧑🏫 Reporting line: the intern reports to an assigned supervisor
🧭 Technical focus: interns are assigned to different fields of work according to their profile and to the needs of the Organization
📋 Tasks: the intern performs the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office
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Minimum Requirements
🎓 Studies: enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme in a bona fide educational institution at the time of application, or a recent graduate
🔬 Field: candidates must specialise in a field relevant to the mission and work of FAO
🗣️ Language: working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish), and knowledge of a second FAO language is considered an asset
🛂 Nationality: nationals of FAO Members
🎂 Age: between 21 and 30
🌐 Environment: able to adapt to an international multicultural environment, with good communication skills
Accredited Institutions Only
FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited or recognised in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO. The list can be accessed on the WHED website (see Links below). The same rule applies to the academic credentials or degrees in your application.
Competencies and Skills
⚙️ FAO Core Competencies: results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
📚 Technical and functional skills: relevant academic studies in one of the fields of the Organization
🤝 FAO values: all candidates should adhere to commitment to FAO, respect for all, and integrity and transparency
Stipend
💶 FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns if they are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities. The vacancy does not state the amount.
Who Is Encouraged to Apply
FAO is committed to workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture. The following groups are encouraged to apply:
👩 Qualified female applicants
🌍 Qualified nationals of non-represented and under-represented Members
♿ Persons with disabilities
🌾 Candidates from Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Eligibility Limits and Conditions
🚫 Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO are not eligible for another internship
👪 Candidates with a family member (mother, father, sister or brother) employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement are not eligible
🛂 Selected candidates should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment prior to joining the Organization
Standards of Conduct
🛡️ 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 incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
🔍 All selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks
🔐 All applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality
🚭 FAO is a non-smoking environment
💬 No fees: FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
How to Apply
🖥️ Visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile, and make sure it is accurate and complete, with your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills
📎 Attach a letter of motivation and evidence of attendance in a recognised university or a copy of your academic qualifications to the online profile. Our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter can help you structure the letter
📥 Apply and submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal, since only applications received through the portal are considered
🔍 Your application is screened on the information in your online profile
⚠️ Incomplete applications are not considered
🔁 Candidates not selected before the closing date who wish to be considered continuously for an assignment are requested to re-apply to the new calls
⏰ FAO encourages applying well before the deadline
🆘 For help or queries, use the FAO support page (see Links below)
After applying, all applications are reviewed, and only qualified applicants are contacted directly by the hiring office for interviews and contacted again if selected. Compare internships and other early-career routes in our guide on fellowship vs internship vs traineeship, and find more opportunities like this in the Internship category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the FAO internship based?
At FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, under vacancy number 2601979.
How long does the internship last?
From 3 to 11 months.
Who can apply?
Nationals of FAO Members aged 21 to 30 who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme or are recent graduates, in a field relevant to FAO's work, with working knowledge of at least one FAO language.
Which languages count?
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Knowledge of a second FAO language is considered an asset.
Is the internship paid?
FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns who are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities. The vacancy does not state the amount.
Can I apply if I already did an FAO internship?
No. Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO are not eligible for another one.
Is there an application fee?
No. FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Which degrees does FAO accept?
Only qualifications from an institution accredited or recognised in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the IAU and UNESCO.
How do I submit my application?
Only through the FAO recruitment portal, with a completed online profile, a letter of motivation and proof of enrolment or a copy of your academic qualifications.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Links
🔗 Application: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2601979
🆘 FAO support: https://fao.service-now.com/csp
🎓 WHED list: http://www.whed.net/
