Internship Programs

FAO Internships

Paid Internships

The goal of the FAO internship program is to provide those interested in international development with a practical understanding of the work carried out at FAO, promoting interns’ experience in relevant issues related to global food production and sustainable agricultural development.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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UN Internships – PDF eBook

FAO Overview

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a UN agency dedicated to ensuring food security and access to high-quality food for everyone on the planet. To this end, FAO seeks to: promote the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry; promote improved quality of life among rural populations, still highly affected by poverty; stimulate inclusive and efficient agricultural systems; and increase the resilience of rural producers to crises and disasters. In addition to its headquarters in Rome (Italy), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO’s main focus: Food security.

Themes addressed by the FAO:

Agriculture
Fishery
Forestry
Climate Change
Sustainable Food
Sustainable Development Goals
Migration
Social Development

Description of the FAO Internship

What are the fields of study required for the FAO Internship?

Agriculture
Fishery
Forestry and Animal Science
Economics
Business
Management and Finance
International Affairs
Society Studies

What are the tasks performed by the interns?
The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Carry out research relevant to the agency’s activities;
Write and review reports, documents and publications;
Provide administrative and operational support;
Help organize events and conferences;
Take part in training programs with other staff members.

What is the duration of the FAO Internship?
The internship period ranges from at least 3 months to 6 months at most.

What is the weekly workload?
The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Where are the locations of the FAO Internship?
There are openings for FAO Headquarters in Rome (Italy), but opportunities may also be available for its various Regional and Liaison Offices around the world.

Regional and Europe Offices: Ghana (Africa), Thailand (Asia and the Pacific), Hungary (Europe and Central Asia), Chile (Latin America and the Caribbean), Egypt (Near East), Brussels, Portugal, Madrid and Geneva.

Liaison Office: New York (North America and Japan.

When does the FAO internship start?
The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the FAO Internship?
At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:
Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

FAO Internship Salary

FAO offers up to $ 700 per month to interns with no outside financial support, but the amount may vary according to the contract.

FAO Internship Requirements

What is the education requirement of the FAO Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Be enrolled in the last school year of an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months.

What is the language requirement of the FAO Internship Program?
Fluency is required in one of FAO’s official working languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish). Knowledge of another official language may be an asset in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the FAO Internship Program?
Applicants must be between 21 and 30 years old to be eligible.

What is the nationality requirement of the FAO Internship Program?
Applicants must be citizens of a FAO member state.

What are the competencies required for the FAO Internship Program?
The main competencies required are:

Results focus;
Teamwork;
Communication;
Building effective relationships;
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement;
Be able to adapt to an international multicultural environment;
Be knowledgeable in the use of basic computer programmes.

Other requirements of the FAO Internship Program:
Most internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the restrictions of the FAO Internship Program?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any organization staff member.
Interns are not accepted to replace regular FAO staff.

FAO Internship - Application process

When to apply for the FAO Internship Program?
Internship applications are open all year round and the selection process is decentralized among the various FAO offices. No specific openings are announced. Interested applicants must submit their application to the Internship Roster and they will be contacted if there is any interest from one of the offices.

How to apply for the FAO Internship Program?
The application process is done through the FAO E-recruitment system, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Register with the system;
Fill in profile data (academic and professional background);
Search for opening by area of interest;
Fill in FAO Internship application form;
Submit application

What are the phases of the selection process for the FAO Internship?
The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the FAO Internship interview?
Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview questions vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the FAO Internship questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the FAO Internship Program?

CV/résumé;
Cover/Motivation Letter;
Undergraduate or graduate degree (if concluded).

What is the evaluation criteria of the FAO Internship Program?
You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information about the FAO Internship Program:
FAO seeks to foster diversity and reduce gender inequality in its workforce. Therefore, internship applications from skilled women, indigenous people and individuals with special needs are recommended.

FAO Internship - Costs

The organization offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan. However, medical coverage related to service-incurred is provided, with FAO paying the full premium.

Accommodation:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:
You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of the trip to the workplace to which you have been assigned.

Links

Internship Programme:
http://www.fao.org/employment/collaborate-with-us/internship-programme/en/

Contact for inquiries:
E-mail: iRecruitment@fao.org

FAO’s E-recruitment system:
https://goo.gl/Xvwie7