Deadline:
June 16, 2025
Location(s)
Algeria Austria Belgium Cameroon Denmark Egypt Ethiopia France Italy Jamaica Kenya Moldova Mozambique Senegal Switzerland Tanzania Tunisia United Kingdom United States of America
UN/DESA Office in Rome; various duty stations
Overview
The Italian Junior Professional Officers Programme – also known as the JPO Programme – is a multilateral development cooperation initiative sponsored by the Government of Italy and implemented by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA).
Details
The call for applicaƟons for 56 positions in the Italian Junior Professional Officers Programme is open. 11 positions are assigned to different entities of the United Nations Secretariat and 45 to 23 international organizations, for a total of 23 duty stations. 54 positions are reserved for candidates of Italian nationality. 2 positions are reserved for candidates from developing countries.
The purpose of the Programme is two-fold:
- to assist international organizations in carrying out their activities by providing them with gratis skilled personnel;
- to allow qualified young professionals seeking an international career to make a relevant experience that could broaden their chances of recruitment in international organizations or in the international field.
The Programme stems from a United Nations Economic and Social Council resolution adopted in 1961, which approved and encouraged the collaboration of volunteers (funded by their respective countries of origin) in development cooperation initiatives and programmes.
Italy joined this scheme in the mid-1970’s and over the years developed it into a full Programme, extending its sponsorship from the UN Secretariat and relevant Bodies to entities and specialized agencies of the UN system, as well as other international organizations with which the Italian Government entered into specific agreements. To date, Italy has sponsored more than 1,960 Junior Professional Officers.
In agreement with the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA) disseminates information on the Italian JPO Programme, manages the application process and performs the assessment and short-listing of candidates. Responsibility for the final selection of candidates lies with the respective UN agencies and international organizations to which the Junior Professional Officers will be assigned.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
The general admission requirements for Italian nationals are the following:
-
Born on or after 1 January 1994 (1 January 1993 for graduates in Medicine; 1 January 1991 for graduates in Medicine who have already been awarded a post-graduate medical specialization degree)
-
Italian nationality
-
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 afterr a Laurea/Laurea Triennale
-
University Master’s degree awarded afterr a Bachelor’s degree.
-
For admission to the Italy-funded JPO Programme candidates from developing countries must meet the following general requirements:
-
Hold the nationality of one of the developing countries eligible for the position
-
Born on or after 1 January 1994 (1 January 1993 for graduates in Medicine; 1 January 1991 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.
-
Both for candidates of Italian nationality and candidates of foreign nationalityy admited to the Programme, the specific requirements for each position
- such as years of professional experience, additional languages, specific academic qualifica????ons or training, required competencies, etc.
- are indicated in job descriptions posted online.
Dates
Deadline: June 16, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Conditions of Service
Junior Professional Officers sponsored by Italy are recruited as fixed-term staff by the recipient UN entities. Entry grade is at the P2 step 1 level of the professional category for organizations belonging to the United Nations System and at the equivalent grade (entry professional level) for other international organizations (OECD, IDLO, etc.), with the exception of the Inter-American Development Bank, which offers its Associate Professional Officers (APOs) an international consultancy contract.
A one-year contract is issued initially and is automatically renewed for a second year subject to a satisfactory performance appraisal. A third-year extension on a cost-sharing basis may be agreed upon by the donor and the requesting organization.
Contracts for Junior Professional Officers normally comprise the following: salary, medical insurance, life insurance, pension contributions, as well as allowances for travel, shipment, installment at the duty station and repatriation. These entitlements may vary between UN System entities and other international organizations.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
