The call for applications for the Fellowships Programme for Technical Cooperation Capacity Building and Human Resources Development – 2025 edition is now open.
The deadline for application submission is 18 December 2025 at 3:00 pm (Italian local time).
This Programme is an initiative funded by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) of Italy. It is implemented by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA).
Through this Programme, young skilled professionals are selected for a one-year on-the-job training in developing countries in offices of Organizations belonging to the United Nations System. Before taking up their assignment in the host country, Fellows attend a two-week mandatory orientation workshop, which is an integral part of the Programme.
The tentative timeframe for the 2025- 2026 round of the Programme is as follows:
- May 2026: orientation workshop
- May 2026 – May 2027: work experience / on-the-job training period in UN offices in developing countries.
A new application procedure has been introduced for this round of the Fellowships Programme. Instead of applying to the Programme as in the past, candidates can now apply directly for the specific positions posted on the UN/DESA Rome Office webpage www.undesa.it
It is possible to apply for a maximum of two Fellowship positions.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- born on or after 1 January 1997
- Italian nationality
- fluency in English and Italian
- advanced university degree awarded beforethe application deadline:
- Laurea Magistrale / Specialistica or
- Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico or
- University Master’s degree awarded after a Laurea/Laurea Triennale or
- University Master’s degree awarded after a Bachelor’s degree.
The specific requirements for each position, e.g. professional experience, specific languages and academic qualifications, etc. are indicated in each Terms of Reference/Fellowship Description document posted online.
Applications can only be submitted via the ‘Online Web Application’ system (OWA) provided on the UN/DESA Rome Office website www.undesa.it
Before commencing the application process, candidates must read carefully the call for applications and all additional information regarding the Fellowship Programme.
For further information, please visit the UN/DESA Rome Office website www.undesa.it or email fellowshipinfo@undesa.it
List of Fellowship positions
| Organization | Sector of assignment | Duty station |
| FAO | Resilience Programming | Accra (Ghana) |
| Environment and Natural Resources Management | Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) | |
| Water Resources Management and Sustainable Agriculture | Astana (Kazakhstan) | |
| Programme and Partnerships Management | Lusaka (Zambia) | |
| Better Nutrition | Panama City (Panama) | |
| IOM | Migration Management | Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) |
| Programmes and Resource Mobilization | Amman (Jordan) | |
| Labor Mobility and Social Inclusion | Cairo (Egypt) | |
| Project Development and Policy Support | Dakar (Senegal) | |
| UN/OCHA | Communications | Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) |
| Information Management and Analysis | Amman (Jordan) | |
| Humanitarian Affairs, Coordination, Reporting | Maputo (Mozambique) | |
| UNDP | Programme and Project Risk Management | Amman (Jordan) |
| Communication and Partnerships | Brazzaville (Congo) | |
| Local Development | Brazzaville (Congo) | |
| Governance | Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) | |
| Inclusive Growth | Hanoi (Vietnam) | |
| Nature, Climate, Environment and Resilience | Kampala (Uganda) | |
| Knowledge Management and Communication | Lusaka (Zambia) | |
| Inclusive Growth | Panama City (Panama) | |
| UNDRR | Disaster Risk Reduction | Bangkok (Thailand) |
| Disaster Risk Reduction | Cairo (Egypt) | |
| UNEP | Environment and Sustainable Development | Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) |
| Environment and Sustainable Development | Nairobi (Kenya) | |
| Environment | Nairobi (Kenya) | |
| UNESCO | Natural Sciences | Nairobi (Kenya) |
| Education | Nairobi (Kenya) | |
| UNICEF | Youth and Adolescent Development | Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) |
| Education | Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) | |
| Child Protection – Information Management | Amman (Jordan) | |
| Education | Cairo (Egypt) | |
| Innovation and Technology for Development | Lilonwe (Malawi) | |
| Social Policy, Public Finance for Children | Tblisi (Georgia) | |
| UNOCT | Programme Management | Dakar (Senegal) |
| UNODC | Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | Dakar (Senegal) |
| UNOPS | Project Management | Bangkok (Thailand) |
| WFP | Procurement | Dakar (Senegal) |
| Partnership and Reporting | Havana (Cuba) | |
| Partnerships Development | Kampala (Uganda) | |
| Social Protection | Nairobi (Kenya) |