United Nations Secretariat (UN Secretariat) Entry Programmes
The UN Young Professionals Programme is an annual entry examination for starting a career with the UN Secretariat. UN Secretariat also lists 2 other entry routes on this page.
Last reviewed: 15 July 2026
Entry programmes
Junior Professional Officer Programme
The UN JPO Programme recruits donor-sponsored junior officers for the Secretariat and associated entities. Most participating governments sponsor their own nationals. UN DESA lists an advanced degree route and relevant professional experience as normal requirements. Source
- Track: Junior Professional Officer (JPO)
- Eligibility: JPO eligibility depends on the sponsoring government. Some donors finance candidates from developing countries.
- Minimum degree: Master's
- Typical max age: 32
- Typical window: Varies by sponsor country
- Cycle: Rolling recruitment
- Deadlines vary by vacancy and sponsoring government.
- 44 donor sponsor countries. Confirm on the official source.
- Programme page
UN Secretariat Internship Programme
UN Secretariat internships give students and recent graduates short placements through the UN careers portal. The UN states Secretariat internships are unpaid. Applicants must be enrolled or recently graduated and have strong English or French. Source
- Track: Traineeship
- Minimum degree: Bachelor's
- Typical window: Posted throughout the year
- Cycle: Rolling recruitment
- Programme page
Young Professionals Programme
The UN Young Professionals Programme is an annual entry examination for starting a career with the UN Secretariat. Eligibility depends on the annual participating-country list, exam area and application cycle. The 2025 page lists a bachelor's degree and age 32 or younger, with fluency in English or French. Source
- Track: Young professional programme
- Eligibility: Nationality eligibility is set by the annual participating-country list.
- Minimum degree: Bachelor's
- Typical max age: 32
- Typical window: Varies by annual exam cycle
- UN Careers says the YPP examination is held once a year, with subject areas and participating countries varying by cycle.
- Programme page
How to read timing
Dates here describe typical or recent patterns from official sources, not live application deadlines. Confirm the current call on the programme or careers page before you apply.
Where to look next
Browse related open roles below, then read eligibility and deadlines on the official UN Secretariat careers site. For staff pay by grade, see the UN Secretariat salary guide.
Relevant open roles
Search all jobsLast checked 17 July 2026 · 5 roles
- Deputy Chief of Mission
IOM
Khartoum, SDCloses 19 JulThe Deputy Chief of Mission provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for IOM activities in Sudan. The role ensures coherence between country office programmes and support services while representing the organization to national authorities and international partners.
- Administrative OfficerUN Secretariat
Geneva, CHCloses 24 AugThis position heads the Administration Section of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) in Geneva. The officer oversees budget, finance, human resources, and general support services to ensure the effective implementation of the mandate to investigate serious international crimes.
- Programme Management OfficerUNDRRGeneva, CHCloses 9 Aug
This role supports the International Recovery Platform (IRP) and UNDRR in strengthening global disaster recovery readiness and the Build Back Better principle. The officer coordinates secretariat services for the IRP, manages partnerships with national governments and international organizations, and provides technical assistance for resilient recovery governance.
- Economic Affairs OfficerUN Secretariat
Addis Ababa, ETCloses 9 AugThis position is located in the Macroeconomic Analysis, Institutions and Economic Governance Section of the Economic Commission for Africa. The officer supports African member states in strengthening macroeconomic management, economic governance, and development finance to promote structural transformation and inclusive growth.
- Food Security Cluster Coordinator
WFP
Bangui, CFCloses 28 JulThe Food Security Cluster Coordinator leads humanitarian coordination in the Central African Republic by mobilizing stakeholders to deliver a strategic response to food crises. The role involves managing the Humanitarian Needs Overview process, ensuring inclusive governance with national authorities, and representing the cluster within the broader humanitarian country team.