undesa-italian-junior-professional-officers-programme

Application Deadline: December 15, 2022

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). It enables qualified Italian nationals holding an advanced university degree (Master’s level) who have an excellent knowledge of English and Italian and who are not more than 30 years of age (31 or 33 for graduates in medicine and surgery) to gain work experience with international organizations for a period of two years, with the possibility of a further one-year extension. A limited number of positions are assigned to candidates from eligible developing countries (Least Developed Countries and priority Countries for the Italian Development Cooperation).

The purpose of the Programme is two-fold: on the one hand, it assists international organizations in carrying out their activities by providing them with skilled personnel; on the other, it allows 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.

Requirements

Candidates from developing countries must meet all the following requirements to be considered eligible:
• born on or after 1 January 1992 (1 January 1991 for graduates in Medicine; 1 January 1989 for graduates in Medicine who have already been awarded a post-graduate medical specialization degree)
• fluency in English
• advanced university degree awarded before the application deadline, such as:

• Laurea Magistrale/Specialistica
• Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico
• Laurea/LaureaTriennale plus university Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree plus university Master’s degree.
Given the highly competitive nature of the Italian JPO Programme, as well as the increasingly demanding skillsets and level of experience sought by International Organizations, the following qualifications are considered important elements during the evaluation phase:

• Knowledge of other UN official languages/languages spoken in developing countries
• Additional academic qualifications and/or training courses
• Solid professional work experience
• Key competencies such as client orientation, teamwork, communication, accountability, planning and organizing.

Additional skills and qualifications

Given the highly competitive nature of the Italian JPO Programme, as well as the increasingly demanding skillsets and level of experience sought by International Organizations, the following qualifications are considered important elements during the evaluation phase:

• knowledge of other UN official languages / languages spoken in developing countries
• additional academic qualifications and/or training courses
• solid professional work experience
• key competencies such as client orientation, teamwork, communication, accountability, planning and organizing.

Selection process calendar (tentative)

December/January: Validation of applications and first assessment of all candidates.
February/April: Pre-selection and short-listing of candidates.
May/June: Notifications sent to pre-selected candidates.
July/August: Interview period and notifications sent to selected / reserve candidates and to unsuccessful interviewees
September/October: Training course for selected candidates
October to December: departure/posting.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNDESA Italian Junior Professional Officers Programme 2023