Call for Expression of Interest – FAO Internship Programme for Europe and Central Asia

Job Description – Call for Expression of Interest – Internship Programme for Europe and Central Asia (REU) (2500051)

This is the title of the job posting. It clearly indicates the type of opportunity (Internship Programme), the target region (Europe and Central Asia – REU), and a unique job identification number (2500051).

Job Description

This is a general heading for the main body of the document.

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2500051

This is a formal announcement to the public that FAO is seeking applications for this specific opportunity. “Expression of Interest” means that this is not a guaranteed job offer, but rather a process for identifying potential candidates for future internship assignments within the REU region. The vacancy announcement number (2500051) helps to specifically identify this posting.

Call for Expression of Interest – Internship Programme for Europe and Central Asia (REU)

This is a repetition of the title for clarity and emphasis.

Job Posting: 25/Jan/2025
Closure Date: 25/Aug/2025, 11:59:00 PM

These dates indicate the period during which applications will be accepted. The job was posted on January 25, 2025, and the deadline for applications is August 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM (likely in the time zone where the system is hosted, which is often CET/CEST for UN organizations). This long application window suggests that the “Expression of Interest” is for a pool of potential interns who will be selected at different times within this period.

Organizational Unit: REU

This specifies the regional office or department within FAO that is responsible for this internship program. REU stands for Europe and Central Asia.

Job Type: Internship

This clearly states the nature of the position.

Type of Requisition: Internship Programme

This reiterates that this is part of a larger internship program, not a standalone job vacancy.

Grade Level: N/A

Internship positions within the UN system generally do not have a specific grade level like regular staff positions. This is because they are learning opportunities rather than fixed professional roles.

Primary Location: Various Locations

This is important information. It means that the internship assignments will not necessarily be in one specific city or country within the REU region. The location will depend on the specific needs of the hiring office and the intern’s profile.

Duration: From 3 months to 11 months

This provides the possible range for the length of an internship assignment. Individual internships could be as short as 3 months or as long as 11 months.

Post Number: N/A

Similar to Grade Level, internship positions typically don’t have a unique “Post Number” which is usually assigned to established staff positions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• 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 that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

This section outlines FAO’s core values, commitments to diversity and inclusion, and important policies regarding conduct and selection processes. It emphasizes equal opportunity and a safe working environment. The mention of rigorous checks highlights the seriousness of the selection process.

Organizational Setting

This section provides context about FAO and the purpose of its work.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger and to achieve food security for all and make sure 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. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

This paragraph describes FAO’s mission and scope of work. It highlights its role in global efforts to end hunger and improve food security.

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. The Programme provides a learning opportunity to the participants to supplement their academic knowledge with a practical work assignment in a field related to the work of FAO. Through the FAO internship experience, interns will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s Strategic Framework to support 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.

This paragraph specifically explains the purpose and goals of the Internship Programme. It emphasizes attracting young talent, providing practical learning, and contributing to global development goals, particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s strategic framework. The “MORE” framework highlights key areas of focus for transforming agri-food systems.

Reporting Lines

This section describes the hierarchical structure for the intern.

The intern will report to an assigned supervisor.

This is a straightforward statement indicating that each intern will have a designated supervisor who will oversee their work and provide guidance.

Technical Focus

This section describes the nature of the work the intern will be involved in.

The intern will be assigned to different fields of work according to his/her profile and to the needs of the Organization.

This clarifies that the specific technical area of work will vary depending on the intern’s academic background and skills, as well as the operational needs of FAO within the REU region. This reinforces the “Expression of Interest” nature of the call.

Tasks and responsibilities

This section outlines how the intern’s specific duties will be determined.

The intern will perform the functions specified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office before the beginning of the assignment.

This explains that the detailed tasks and responsibilities will be defined in a separate document called the Terms of Reference (TOR). The TOR will be developed by the specific office within FAO that selects the intern and will outline the specific projects or activities the intern will work on.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS

This is a heading introducing the criteria used to evaluate applicants.

Minimum Requirements

This section lists the essential qualifications and criteria that all applicants must meet to be considered.

• Enrolled in an under-graduate, graduate degree programme in a “bona fide” educational institution at the time of application or recent graduate. Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http:// www.whed.net/.

This specifies the required academic status. Applicants must either be currently studying at a recognized institution or have recently graduated. The emphasis on accredited/recognized institutions and the provided link to the WHED database are crucial for verifying the validity of academic qualifications.

• Candidates must specialize in a field relevant to the mission and work of FAO.

This ensures that the intern’s academic background aligns with FAO’s areas of work, such as agriculture, food security, natural resources, economics, social sciences related to rural development, etc.

• Working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish). Knowledge of a second FAO language will be considered an asset.

This requires proficiency in at least one of the official languages of FAO. Having knowledge of a second official language is considered beneficial but not mandatory.

• Be nationals of FAO Member Nations.

This is a standard requirement for UN internships; candidates must hold citizenship of a country that is a member of FAO.

• Candidates should be aged between 21 and 30.

This sets an age limit for applicants to target young professionals and students.

• Candidates should be able to adapt to an international multicultural environment and have good communication skills.

This highlights the importance of interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a diverse setting.

FAO Core Competencies

This section lists the fundamental skills and attributes that are important for all individuals working at FAO, including interns.

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

These are key behavioral competencies that FAO values. Applicants should demonstrate these qualities in their application and potentially during interviews.

Technical/Functional Skills

This section focuses on the specific skills related to the work itself.

Relevant academic study in one of the fields of the Organization.

This reiterates the need for the applicant’s academic specialization to be relevant to FAO’s technical areas.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

This reinforces the importance of aligning with FAO’s organizational values throughout the selection process and during the internship.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This section provides important supplementary details about the internship program and the application process.

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).

This is a crucial statement to protect applicants from fraudulent schemes that might solicit fees.

• Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non- and under-represented Members, as well as candidates from Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are encouraged to apply to this Call for Expression of Interest.

This emphasizes FAO’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by actively encouraging applications from specific groups, including women, nationals of under-represented countries, and those from particularly vulnerable countries.

• All applications will be reviewed, and only qualified applicants will be directly contacted for interviews by the hiring office and contacted again, if selected.

This explains the screening process. Only those deemed qualified after the initial review will be contacted for interviews. Being contacted for an interview does not guarantee selection.

• Candidates who have already undertaken an internship assignment at FAO will not be eligible for another internship.

This clarifies that the internship program is typically a one-time opportunity for individuals.

• Selected candidates should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment prior to joining the Organization.

This is a practical requirement. Interns are responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to live and work in the country where their internship will take place before starting.

• Candidates with family members (defined as mother, father, sister, or brother) employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement are not eligible for the Internship Programme.

This is a conflict of interest policy to ensure fairness and prevent nepotism.

• FAO provides a monthly stipend to interns if they are not sponsored by sending universities or other entities.

This indicates that while some interns may be financially supported by external organizations, FAO will provide a stipend to those who are not. This helps to make the internship more accessible.

HOW TO APPLY

This section provides clear instructions on the application process.

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.

This directs applicants to the official FAO careers website and emphasizes the importance of providing accurate and comprehensive information in their online profile.

• You are requested to attach a letter of motivation, the evidence of attendance in a recognized university or copy of your academic qualifications to the online profile.

This lists the required documents to be uploaded as part of the application. A letter of motivation allows applicants to explain their interest and suitability, while evidence of academic status is essential for verification.

• Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal. Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered.

This clearly states that applications must be submitted through the official online portal; applications sent through other means will not be accepted.

• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile.

This reiterates the importance of a complete and accurate online profile as the primary basis for the initial screening.

• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list.

This reinforces the requirement for qualifications from recognized institutions, as mentioned in the “Minimum Requirements” section.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This is a direct warning that applications missing required information or documents will be disqualified.

• Candidates who are not selected before the closing date and wish to be continuously considered for an assignment are requested to re-apply to the new Calls.

This is relevant because this is an “Expression of Interest” over a long period. If an applicant isn’t selected for an internship within the initial timeframe, they need to reapply if a new call for expressions of interest is issued after the current one closes.

• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date

This is a standard piece of advice to avoid potential technical issues or last-minute rushes.

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