Deadline: May 5, 2026
Applications are open for the UN/DESA Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme 2026. The Italian JPO Programme is a multilateral development cooperation initiative sponsored by the Government of Italy through the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA). It enables qualified Italian nationals and nationals of eligible developing countries to gain work experience with international organizations for a period of two years, with the possibility of a further one-year extension.
The purpose of the Programme is two-fold:
- to assist international organizations in carrying out their activities by providing them with young talents.
- to allow qualified young professionals seeking an international career to gain valid experience that could broaden their chances of recruitment in international organizations or in the international field.
14 positions are assigned to different entities of the United Nations Secretariat and 33 positions to 25 International Organizations, for a total of 24 different duty stations. 45 positions are reserved for Italian nationals while 2 positions are reserved for candidates from developing countries.
Eligibility
The general admission requirements for Italian nationals are as follows:
- Born on or after 1 January 1995 (1 January 1994 for graduates in Medicine; 1 January 1992 for graduates in Medicine who have already been awarded a post-graduate medical specialization degree)
- Italian nationality (Italian passport)
- Fluency in English and Italian (in all four areas: Read, Speak, Write, Understand)
- Advanced university degree awarded before the application deadline, such as:
- Laurea Magistrale/Specialistica
- Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico
- University master’s degree awarded after a Laurea/Laurea Triennale
- University master’s degree awarded after a bachelor’s degree.
For admission to the Italy-funded JPO Programme by candidates from developing countries, the following general requirements must be met:
- Hold the nationality of one of the developing countries eligible for the position
- Born on or after 1 January 1995 (1 January 1994 for graduates in Medicine; 1 January 1992 for graduates in Medicine who have already been awarded a post-graduate medical specialization degree)
- Fluency in English (in all four areas: Read, Speak, Write, Understand)
- Advanced university degree awarded before the application deadline, such as:
- Laurea Magistrale/Specialistica
- Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico
- University master’s degree awarded after a Laurea/Laurea Triennale
- University master’s degree awarded after a bachelor’s degree.
Application
Applications to the Programme can only be submitted online through the Online Web Application tool (OWA) of the UN/DESA Office in Rome. Applications submitted through other channels will not be deemed valid.
For more information, visit United Nations JPO Programme.
