Junior Professional Officer Program
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Objectives
The Government of Canada funds the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program. Various United Nations (UN) agencies implement it. They act as a key gateway for young professionals entering the field of international development. Its primary goal is to provide Canadians under the age of 32 with hands-on experience in multilateral cooperation. They do this through two-year assignments within the UN system.
Under the guidance of experienced specialists, JPOs gain practical field experience while contributing to global development priorities.
The JPO Program gives the Government of Canada the opportunity to:
- contribute to the development of young professionals
- promote Canada’s interests and values on key global issues
- strengthen the global governance landscape
This program enables UN agencies have a bigger professional staffing capacity. They can create a pool of talented people for future staffing needs.
Program parameters
The JPO program places young professionals in UN agencies. It provides them with vast opportunities for on-the-job training in multilateral capacity building. It offers:
- possibilities to participate in capacity development activities of the UN system
- exposure to development processes
- engagement in policy development.
Assignments can include:
- Delivering UN work in areas like partnership development, monitoring and evaluation, operations, data/analytics, policy, communications, finance, human resources (HR), and innovation.
- Supervision, training, and mentorship by the host UN agency.
- Placements in UN headquarters although field placements may also be approved based on programmatic or operational considerations.
Assignments can include:
- Delivering UN work in areas like partnership development, monitoring and evaluation, operations, data/analytics, policy, communications, finance, HR, and innovation.
- Supervision, training, and mentorship by the host UN agency.
- Placements in UN headquarters although field placements may also be approved based on programmatic or operational considerations.
With some variations, depending on the donor agreement, JPOs receive:
- compensation
- allowances
- benefits
Eligibility
The general requirements for all JPO positions are:
- Canadian nationality
- under 32 years of age
- minimum of a master's degree in a field relevant to the position and/or UN agency’s area of focus
- between two and three years of relevant work experience in a private sector academic, research or development institution
How to apply
Opportunities are posted on participating UN agency sites. Candidates apply directly to the agency.
Reach out to these UN agencies to apply:
Success stories
Related links
- United Nations - Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme
- Junior Professional Officer Programme - Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
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