FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) 2026 Internship Programme for Young Africans

Application Deadline: 31 December 2025

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Regional Office for Africa (RAF) Internship Programme.

FAO leads global efforts to end hunger and achieve food security for all, ensuring people have regular access to sufficient, high-quality food for healthy and active lives. With over 195 member states and operations in 130+ countries, FAO plays a key role in building a sustainable future for agriculture and food systems.

The Internship Programme aims to attract talented young people eager to bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and academic knowledge to FAO’s work. It offers participants the opportunity to gain practical experience in a professional, multicultural environment while contributing to the organization’s mission.

Reporting & Focus Areas

Interns will work under the supervision of an assigned FAO staff member.
Assignments will be tailored to the intern’s academic background and the organization’s needs.
Tasks and responsibilities will be detailed in the Terms of Reference (TOR) provided by the hiring office.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be enrolled in or have recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate programme at a recognized institution (listed in the World Higher Education Database).
Specialize in a field relevant to FAO’s mandate (e.g., agriculture, food security, nutrition, environmental studies, social sciences, or related fields).
Be nationals of FAO member countries.
Be between 21 and 30 years old at the time of application.
Have working knowledge of at least one FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish). Knowledge of a second language is an advantage.
Demonstrate adaptability to an international, multicultural environment, as well as strong communication skills.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Why Apply?

This internship provides a chance to:

Gain hands-on experience in FAO’s operations.
Apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges.
Build professional networks in an international environment.
Contribute to FAO’s mission of achieving zero hunger and advancing sustainable agriculture.