Internships
UN Young Professionals Programme 2025 Applications Open
UN Young Professionals Programme 2025 Applications Open
UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP)
The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative aimed at identifying and developing talented professionals for international careers within the UN Secretariat. This program provides a unique pathway for entry-level professionals to join the UN, undergo professional development, and contribute to global challenges.
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Key Features of the YPP
- Annual Examination Process
- Structure: Includes two stages of online exams (general and specialized questions) and a competency-based interview.
- Eligibility: Varies based on participating countries and exam areas.
- Roster System
- Successful candidates are added to a roster used to fill vacancies for up to three years.
- Placement on the roster does not guarantee immediate employment.
- Professional Development
- Rostered professionals begin with a two-year fixed-term contract at the P-1 or P-2 level.
- Opportunities for reassignment and career diversification are available through the Managed Reassignment Programme (MRP).
UN Young Professionals Programme 2025
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality
- Open only to nationals of participating countries, updated annually.
- Education
- A first-level university degree relevant to the exam area (Bachelor’s or equivalent, 3+ years).
- Age
- Applicants must be 32 years or younger in the year of the examination.
- Language Proficiency
- Fluency in English or French (reading, writing, speaking, understanding) is mandatory.
Exam Process
- Stage 1: Online Exam (General)
- Multiple-choice questions assessing general competencies and abilities.
- Stage 2: Online Exam (Specialized)
- Constructed-response questions in the applicant’s area of expertise.
- Stage 3: Interview
- Competency-based interviews to assess professional and personal fit for the UN.
Application Steps
- Confirm Eligibility
- Ensure compliance with criteria (nationality, age, education, and language).
- Submit Application
- Applications open June–July annually via Inspira (inspira.un.org).
- Attach required documents, including:
- Government-issued photo ID with nationality.
- Educational credentials and transcripts.
- Evaluation & Screening
- Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility.
- Applicants may be ranked based on education, work experience, and language proficiency if there are more than 40 candidates from the same country for an exam area.
Contract and Placement
- Contract Levels
- P-1: Bachelor’s degree with no experience.
- P-2: Bachelor’s degree with two years’ experience or a Master’s degree with no experience.
- Duty Stations
- Initial placement may occur at any UN Secretariat office (e.g., New York, Geneva, Nairobi).
- Managed Reassignment
- After two years, candidates can apply for reassignment to different departments or duty stations to expand their skills and experiences.
Important Notes
- Exam Preparation: Candidates invited to the exam are provided with access to preparatory materials, sample questions, and a testing platform overview.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English or French is essential, and less than “fluent” proficiency in any area (reading, writing, speaking, understanding) is disqualifying.
- Roster Validity: Roster placement is valid for three years, with opportunities for selection as relevant vacancies arise.
