Some organisations offer short-term employment opportunities for young graduates. The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) programme, also known as Associate Expert (AE) Programme, is a donor funded programme that provides young professionals from donor countries with an opportunity to gain experience in an international organisation. These are paid positions lasting typically for 1-3 years.
Entry requirements vary, but typically include a masters degree or equivalent, and 1-2 years’ relevant employment experience. In some cases, high-performing individuals may then be able to seek permanent employment at the end of the programme, although this is never guaranteed. However, some programmes exclude candidates from applying for permanent positions.
Not all nationalities are eligible to apply to the JPO Programme. UK nationals are currently ineligible for this programme but reactivation of UK participation is under review.
The JPO Programme is administered by the JPO Service Centre (JPOSC) for the following organisations:
For these programmes this is a 2 year entry level (P1-P2 level) employment opportunity which can in some circumstances be extended up to four years. Applicants should usually be under 32 years of age and hold a master's degree (or equivalent) in a development-related discipline. They should have a minimum of one to two years of working experience in a developing country and have written and spoken proficiency in at least two of the three working languages used by UNDP: English, French and Spanish. Fluency in Arabic, Russian or Portuguese is an advantage.
For further information on Junior Professional Officer Programme Service Centre
SARCs are experienced young professionals (in many cases former JPOs) recruited at the P3-level to provide support to the UN Resident Coordinator. Candidates for the SARC Programme are between 30 and 38 years of age and hold a Master's degree in international relations, international development studies, development economics, social sciences, law or another relevant Master degree. Candidates should have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, including three to five years of working experience preferably from developing countries and prior knowledge of the UN System. Candidates should be fluent in English and possess working knowledge of another UN language.
SARC positions are advertised on the websites of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Spain and Sweden, as well as in relevant local media.
For further information please click on Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC)
Other UN organizations have also adopted and initiated similar JPO/Associate Experts Programmes:
This is a two-year entry-level work opportunity. Associate Experts are generally nationals of Donor countries, though some donors finance nationals of developing countries. Candidates are under 32 years of age with an advanced university degree and some professional experience. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Excellent oral and written English or French is essential and proficiency in another United Nations language may be required depending on the job description. Applicants should send their application to the sponsoring donor government. For more information on DESA JPO programme
This is a two-year entry-level work experience opportunity. Candidates should be under the age of 32 with a university degree at M.Sc. or MA level or B.Sc. or BA level with at least three years of relevant working experience. Candidates should have a working knowledge of two of FAO's official languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian and Chinese. A minimum of one to two years of working experience in a developing country is also desirable. Successful applicants will be contracted for an initial period of two years, subject to a one-year probationary period. This may be renewed for a period of up to two additional years. Participants selected for the JPP are treated as staff members who may apply and be selected to fill a regular staff position.
For more information on FAO JPO Programme
Applicants for the Associate Expert programme should usually be between 25 and 32 years of age, hold a Masters degree in combination with some years of working experience and are usually recruited at P1/P2 level. All applications should be made directly to the candidate's government (usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) with the exception of candidates from non-represented countries, who may apply to the Programme through the governments of Belgium, Italy or the Netherlands.For further information on ILO Associate Expert Programme
The criteria in the selection of candidates for the Associate Expert (AE) programme may vary depending on the requirements of the donor governments and of the position concerned.
Candidates should have a university degree in education, culture, science, social and human sciences or communication, or in a field of direct relevance to the management and administration of an international organization. They should also have an excellent knowledge of one of the two working languages (French and English). A good knowledge of the other language and a knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian are additional assets. Occasionally knowledge is required of a language that is not an official language of UNESCO or is the language of the duty station. On average, applicants should be under 32 years. The criteria in the selection of candidates for the AE programme may vary depending on the requirements of the donor governments and of the position concerned. For more information on UNESCO Associate Expert Scheme
This is a two-year entry-level work experience opportunity. Applicants must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a field relevant to the functions in the job description, and at least two to four years of relevant work experience. The exact criteria can vary from one donor to another. The areas of expertise are law, public administration and social sciences. JPOs are expected to have an excellent knowledge of English and/or French, with fluency in other UN languages an advantage. The JPO age range is from 25-32 years, although in some cases, and depending on the donor country, this limit may be waived. For further information on UNHCR JPO programme
This is a two-year entry-level work experience opportunity. Applicants should be between 28 and 32 years, hold a university degree equivalent to a Master's Degree or, as an absolute minimum, to a Bachelor's Degree and have two years of relevant professional work experience. Applicants should be fluent in written and spoken English and another UN working language, i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian.For further information on UNICEF JPO scheme.
(In countries where there is no UNIDO Representative, UNIDO JPOs are administered by the UNDP JPO Service Centre) Applicants must possess a university degree at MSc or MA level or at BSc or BA level with some relevant working experience and under 32 years of age. Applicants should also have command of one of the official UN languages, and a working knowledge of a second. The duration of appointment is one year, to be extended for a further year, up to a maximum period of three years depending on the donor. Eligible applicants should refer their application to the relevant authorities of your country. For further information on UNIDO JPO Scheme
Applicants must possess a university degree at MSc or MA level or at BSc or BA level with some relevant working experience and under 32 years of age. Applicants should also have command of one of the official UN languages, and a working knowledge of a second. The duration of appointment is one year, to be extended for a further year, up to a maximum period of three years depending on the donor. Eligible applicants should refer their application to the relevant authorities of your country. For further information on World Health Organisation
Candidates for the programme should be under the age of 32 with a university degree at M.Sc. or MA level or B.Sc. or BA level with at least three years of relevant working experience. JPOs work either in Headquarters in Rome, Italy, or in one of the WFP’s 80 Country Offices.
The World Bank runs a number of short term employment opportunities:Junior Professional Associates is two-year entry level employment opportunity with the World Bank Group. Applicants should be 28 years of age or younger and hold the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree (with some relevant experience), a Master's, or be a PhD candidate with a superior academic record. Applicants should also be fluent in English and fully proficient in one or more of the Bank’s working languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish is desirable.Recruitment and hiring for this employment category is ongoing throughout the year. Interested applicants can apply online. For further information on World Bank Junior Professional Associates.
This is a 2 year entry level employment opportunity for applicants of Afro-descendant. Applicants must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in economics, finance, public health, environment, engineering, public or private sector management, anthropology, sociology, education, human resources management or other disciplines relevant to international development. Proficiency in English and in at least one other working language of the World Bank Group (Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) is required.Additional Note: Through June 30, 2012, preference will be given to US Minorities.For further information please click on Junior Professionals Program for Afro-Descendants (JPPAD) & US Minorities
The Legal Associates Program is a one-year employment opportunity (with the possibility of extending for a second year) designed to introduce young legal professionals to the World Bank. The Legal Associates Program recruits through a highly selective and competitive process. Applicants have a Masters degree in law. They should be citizens of a member country of the World Bank to be eligible. Applicants should also be fluent in English with fluency in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish or Portuguese advantageous. A minimum of one year and no more than two years of work experience is required. Those who perform well may have the opportunity to remain as staff on a long-term basis. For further information on Legal Associates Programme
Young professionals (YPs) are offered a 2-year fixed-term appointment. Applicants should not be more than 32 years old and should possess a university degree in economics, finance, business administration, transport management, urban and regional planning, environment, public management, or engineering; preferably at postgraduate level or its equivalent with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience, with international experience working in relevant areas. Applicants should be a national of one of ADB's members and have excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Recruitment takes place throughout the year through online application. For more information on Asian Development Bank YPP Programme
The IFAD Associate Professional Officer (APO) Programme involves sponsorship of young University-trained nationals for employment in UN-system Organizations. Candidates must be less than 32 years of age and have either a Masters or Bachelors Degree in Agriculture, Economics, Civil engineering, Political or Social Sciences, Nutrition, Business Administration, Sociology, International Affairs or related disciplines. They should have a minimum of two years’ work experience and be proficient in one of the IFAD’s official languages: English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
APOs are appointed for an initial period of one year renewable for a second and final third year depending on satisfactory performance. Individuals who have completed their APO assignment are eligible to apply for longer-term employment in IFAD, subject to further interviews. For more information on IFAD APO programme
This is a new initiative introducing a 1 year entry level employment opportunity (one week orientation, followed by 2 month assignment in New York HQ then deployment globally to a duty station for the remaining 10 months). Participants are reviewed throughout the year and are considered for permanent positions on the basis of merit and performance. Applicants should be in their final year of a masters degree. The applicant should have proficiency in English and a working knowledge in at least one of the UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish. They should also be willing to be assigned to any UNICEF office around the world and to serve in emergency and hardship duty stations. They should also possess three to six years of relevant experience
For further information on UNICEF – NETI
Bookmark with:
What are Bookmarks?