FAO Internship Programme for Africa: Paid UN Internship Across the Continent

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is accepting applications for its Internship Programme for Africa, run by FAO’s Regional Office for Africa. This is a paid internship: a monthly stipend may be provided to eligible interns who are not sponsored by a university or another organisation, and medical coverage is included. Applications close on 31 December at 11:59 p.m.

FAO is the UN agency working to end hunger and build fair, sustainable food systems. Its Regional Office for Africa supports countries in fighting hunger, improving nutrition, and strengthening farming and rural livelihoods. Interns join teams contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s Strategic Framework, gaining hands-on experience with programmes that affect millions of people.

The internship lasts between 3 and 11 months, with placements at various locations across Africa — from country offices to the Regional Office for Africa itself.

Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not

You are a strong fit for this programme if you are currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an undergraduate or graduate programme at a recognised institution, and your field of study connects to FAO’s mission — agriculture, food security, nutrition, economics, natural resources, veterinary science, social sciences, or related areas. You must be a national of an FAO Member country, be between 21 and 30 years old, and have working knowledge of at least one FAO language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish.

Know whether you are excluded: you cannot apply if you have already completed an FAO internship, or if an immediate family member is employed by FAO. These are strict rules with no exceptions.

The programme is aimed at candidates connected to Africa. Before you apply, read the vacancy page carefully and confirm you meet every requirement — eligibility is checked against the official vacancy, not this article, and any misunderstanding about nationality or academic status could cost you the opportunity.

Where You Would Work

This call covers placements in various African locations, and that variety is one of the programme’s biggest strengths. You could work on field-level projects with smallholder farmers, support policy teams at the regional level, or help with data and research that shapes national food strategies.

Every intern’s experience will look different — two people accepted in the same round may do completely different work in different countries. When you apply, think honestly about which FAO work area fits your studies and skills — crop production, livestock, fisheries, forestry, climate resilience, or food policy — and make that connection clear in your application.

Key Details at a Glance

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through FAO’s official careers portal under vacancy number 2601980. Read the full vacancy page before you start — it tells you exactly what information and documents FAO expects from you.

Give yourself time: applications submitted at the last minute are more likely to contain mistakes, and the portal closes at 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date. Prepare your CV and motivation statement early and double-check every detail before you submit.

Making Your Application Stand Out

A call for expressions of interest is not the same as a narrow job posting, and your application should reflect that. FAO is building a pool of candidates for placements across many teams and countries, so your materials need to show what you can do and where you would be most useful.

Your motivation statement matters more than your grades. Explain in plain language why food and agriculture matter to you personally — if you grew up in a farming community, say so; if your thesis touched on food security or rural development, explain what you learned and how it connects to FAO’s work. Reviewers read hundreds of applications, and specific personal details make one candidate memorable.

Match your skills to real FAO work areas. If you studied data science, mention how data supports food security analysis; if you studied communications, mention how clear communication helps farmers adopt better practices. Do not claim expertise you do not have, but connect the dots between your studies and the organisation’s daily work — that connection is what selection teams look for.

Finally, be honest about your languages. “Working knowledge” of an FAO language means you can read, write, and communicate in it at a professional level. If you speak French or Arabic in addition to English, that is a genuine advantage for placements across Africa — state it clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also want to look at other paid UN internships on this site: the WHO paid internship programme and the WTO internship programme in Geneva.