How to become a JPO?
| Who can apply? | Qualifications | Where to send an application? | Online application |
Who can apply?
Not all nationalities are eligible to apply to the JPO Programme. Please read below and/or use the following table to check whether and how you can apply. Potential candidates with double nationality should check both nationalities and choose the most favorable one.
The JPO Programme is sponsored by 23 participating donor governments:
In very limited circumstances, a JPO-participating donor may sponsor a small number of Developing Countries nationals.
Nationals of Developing Countries (in general)
Some donors fund very few JPO assignments of nationals of Developing Countries. Only citizens of the 118 countries currently listed by the OECD as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), other Low Income Countries and Lower Middle Income Countries and Territories can apply.
As of 1 August 2007, 12 nationals of Developing Countries were taking part in the JPO Programme (5% of all JPOs).
Please refer to the complete list of eligible countries of the OECD (first three columns).
For JPO positions funded by the Netherlands please refer to the list of recognised eligible Developing country and trust territory nationalities.
Nationals from the eligible Developing Countries can only submit an online application when a JPO vacancy is advertised.
Qualifications
Candidates for the JPO Programme are selected on a highly competitive basis. The qualifications below are required for consideration:
- Usually be under 32 years of age;
- Academic qualifications: Master's degree (or equivalent) in a development-related discipline;
- Minimum of one to two years of working experience in a developing country is highly desirable;
- Language skills: written and spoken proficiency in at least two of the three working languages used by UNDP: English, French and Spanish. Fluency in Arabic, Russian or Portuguese is an asset;
- Excellent information technology skills, including word-processing, database applications, presentation software and Internet;
- Evidence of ability to think strategically; to express ideas clearly; to work independently and in teams; to demonstrate a sense of self-assuredness combined with cultural and gender sensitivity;
- A strong commitment to development; an interest in adapting to varied physical and professional environments; and a desire to work with people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds;
- Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the participating UN agencies Mission Statements.
Where to send an application?
Nationals from Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and from the eligible Developing Countries are requested to submit an online application when applying to a specific vacancy.
Nationals from other sponsoring countries are requested to contact directly their respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please select a country for contact details.
Online application
Nationals from Canada, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and from the eligible Developing Countries are requested to submit an online application or edit/reuse a previously submitted application when applying to an advertised JPO vacancy.
- New applicants
(There is no JPO vacancy at the moment. It is therefore not possible to apply online) - Returning applicants
Notice
UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing or training fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions as to vacancy announcements you may have received, please refer to this website.
UNDP is currently aware of fictitious vacancy announcements that are being circulated through the internet, the purpose of which is to get people to register for a training and send in a fee. If you believe that you have received such a notice, please forward it, and any other related information you have received, to scamalert@undp.org. Since logos, emblems, names and addresses can be easily copied or reproduced, you are advised to take particular care in applying for vacancies, including undertaking all appropriate measures to protect against the unauthorised use of any personal information you may have provided as a result of the scam.