The Food and Agriculture Organization pays its interns. FAO interns receive a monthly stipend of up to 700 US dollars, paid in local currency, for internships lasting 3 to 11 months.
The current headquarters call for 2027 closes on 31 December. Internships run at FAO headquarters in Rome and at offices around the world. Before you apply, understand exactly what the programme gives — and what it does not.
The key details at a glance
| Detail | What the official site says |
| Organisation | FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization, UN) |
| Duration | 3–11 months |
| Locations | Rome HQ + decentralised offices worldwide |
| Stipend | Up to USD 700/month, in local currency |
| Deadline (HQ 2027 call) | 31 December |
| Age | 21–30 at the start of the internship |
What the money covers — and what it does not
The stipend is up to 700 dollars a month, paid in local currency. That is the official figure from FAO’s FAQ page. It is modest — especially for Rome — but it is real money, and many UN internships pay nothing at all.
Here is what the programme does not cover. Accommodation is your own responsibility and your own cost. FAO provides medical coverage only for service-incurred issues, paying the full premium itself — but you must arrange and pay for your own general medical insurance. Budget carefully before you accept.
One more practical detail with big consequences: you must already have appropriate residence or immigration status in the country of assignment before the internship starts. FAO will not sort out your visa. And FAO preferably assigns interns to offices in their own country or country of residence.
Who can apply
You must be a national of an FAO Member country. You must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme, or be a recent graduate. You need working knowledge of at least one FAO official language — English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian — and a second one counts as an asset.
You should be between 21 and 30 when the internship starts; it must begin before you turn 31. You need to adapt to multicultural environments, communicate well, and handle basic computer programmes. And you cannot have a close family member — brother, sister, mother, or father — employed by FAO under any contract.
Who should not apply
Do not apply if:
- You are not a national of an FAO Member country.
- You have a family member working at FAO.
- You cannot arrange and pay for your own accommodation and medical insurance.
- You do not already have the right to live in the country of assignment.
- You are over 30 when the internship would start.
How to apply
FAO advertises “Calls for Expression of Interest” on its career portal. You apply online through the portal, attaching a motivation letter and proof that you attend a recognised university. Your motivation letter should explain why you want the programme and which unit or area of work interests you.
Only shortlisted candidates are contacted. And an important detail: FAO keeps no roster of applicants. If you are not selected before a call closes and want to stay in the running, you must reapply to the next call.
More paid international internships: the WTO Internship Programme in Geneva and IOM Labour Mobility & Social Inclusion Internship in the Netherlands.
Questions applicants ask
Is the FAO internship paid?
Yes. Interns receive a monthly stipend in local currency, not exceeding 700 US dollars, according to FAO’s official FAQ.
How long do internships last?
Between 3 and 11 months.
Where are internships based?
At FAO headquarters in Rome and at decentralised offices worldwide. FAO preferably assigns interns to offices in their own country or country of residence.
Does FAO cover housing?
No. Interns are responsible for their own accommodation and its cost. FAO covers medical insurance only for service-incurred issues; interns must arrange their own general medical insurance at their own expense.
What is the age limit?
You should be between 21 and 30 — the internship must start before you turn 31.
When is the deadline?
The current headquarters call for 2027 closes on 31 December. New calls are published on a rolling basis; if you miss one, you must reapply to the next.
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