FAO Volunteer Programme 2026 – Rome, Italy

FAO Volunteer Programme 2026 – Rome, Italy | Apply by January 2027

The FAO Volunteer Programme 2026 offers volunteer opportunities at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, for eligible FAO Member nationals. Apply by January 1, 2027.

The FAO Volunteer Programme 2026 – Rome, Italy provides an opportunity for individuals to contribute to the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome.

The programme can last for up to six months and allows volunteers to support activities connected to FAO’s mission and areas of work.

The FAO Regular Volunteer Programme mobilizes volunteers to contribute to efforts addressing hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity while supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO’s Strategic Framework.

Volunteers are assigned to areas relevant to FAO’s mission and work under an assigned supervisor.

The specific duties depend on the Terms of Reference (TOR) prepared by the hiring office.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Have completed secondary school education.
Be at least 18 years old.
Be a national of an FAO Member.
Have working knowledge of at least one FAO language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish.
Be able to work in an international and multicultural environment.
Have good communication skills.
Have relevant working or research experience in an area of FAO’s work.

Knowledge of a second FAO language is considered an advantage.

FAO Core Competencies

Applicants are expected to demonstrate competencies including:

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

Candidates are also expected to uphold FAO’s values of commitment, respect, integrity and transparency.

Location and Duration

Location: FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy

Programme: FAO Regular Volunteer Programme

Duration: Up to 6 months

Job type: Non-staff opportunity

Start location: Italy – Rome

Selected candidates must have the appropriate residence or immigration status in the proposed country of assignment before joining FAO.

Is the FAO Volunteer Programme Paid?

No. The vacancy announcement states that FAO does not provide remuneration to volunteers.

Applicants should therefore consider their own financial arrangements before applying.

The announcement also encourages applicants to mention possible support from their circumstances where applicable, but it does not state a separate volunteer salary or stipend.

Application Deadline

The FAO Volunteer Programme 2026 has a closing date of January 1, 2027, at 12:59 AM.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the deadline.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official Jobs at FAO recruitment portal.

Applicants should:

Create or complete their online FAO profile.
Provide employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
Attach a motivation letter.
Attach copies of academic qualifications.
Submit the completed application through the FAO recruitment portal.

Only applications submitted through the FAO recruitment system will be considered.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

FAO states that it does not charge any fee at any stage of its recruitment process.

Important Information for Applicants

Applicants should note that candidates with certain family members employed by FAO under any contractual arrangement are not eligible for the Regular Volunteer Programme.

FAO also encourages applications from qualified women, nationals of non- and under-represented Members, persons with disabilities and candidates from specified developing-country groups.

Only qualified applicants will be contacted for interviews by the hiring office.