FAO Internship Programme for Africa: Paid Internship Opportunity with the UN Food Agency

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is collecting expressions of interest for paid internships at its Regional Office for Africa. These internships run from three months up to eleven months and are open to students and recent graduates who want practical experience in food security, agriculture, and rural development work.

One important detail: this is a different call from the well-known FAO internship listing for its headquarters in Rome. The Rome call is a separate vacancy, so use this Africa call’s own application page if you want a placement connected to the Regional Office for Africa.

Key details at a glance

Detail	What the official page says
Programme	Call for Expression of Interest – Internship Programme for Africa (RAF)
Organisation	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Organizational unit	RAF – Regional Office for Africa
Location	Various Locations
Job type	Internship
Duration	From 3 months to 11 months
Closing date	31 December
Stipend	Monthly stipend paid in local currency, up to US$700 per month, for interns who are not sponsored by a university or organisation
Application fee	None – FAO never charges a fee at any stage of recruitment

Who this internship is for

This call is meant for young people who are studying, or who have recently finished studying, in a field connected to FAO’s work. FAO works on agriculture, food security, fisheries, forestry, nutrition, natural resources, and rural development, so your subject does not need to be only agriculture. If your studies connect to any of these areas, you may fit.

You are a strong fit if you:

• Are enrolled in a university programme or recently graduated from an institution recognized in the WHED (World Higher Education Database), in a field relevant to FAO’s work.
• Are between 21 and 30 years old at the start of the internship.
• Are a national of one of FAO’s Member countries.
• Have working knowledge of at least one of FAO’s official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish.
• Can arrange your residence or immigration status for the duty station before the internship starts.

Who should not apply

FAO lists clear exclusions, and knowing them now saves you wasted effort. You are not eligible if a parent or sibling currently works at FAO, or if you have previously worked as an FAO intern. You must also be able to arrange the required residence or immigration status for the duty station before the internship begins, and you must be between 21 and 30 at the start.

How expressions of interest actually work

This call is a “Call for Expression of Interest,” which means FAO collects applications now and reads them when internship placements open at its Regional Office for Africa. Think of it as joining a talent pool for this specific call rather than applying for one fixed desk. Importantly, FAO says there is no roster retention after this call closes — your application will not be kept, so you must apply again to future calls if you miss this one.

Documents you need to prepare

• A motivation letter. This is where you explain why you want to intern with FAO’s Africa office specifically. Mention which areas of FAO’s work connect to your studies, and be honest about what you hope to learn. A short, specific letter beats a long, generic one.
• Proof of enrolment or qualification. If you are still studying, this is proof of enrolment. If you have graduated, this is proof of your degree. Make sure the document is official and easy to read.

How to apply, step by step

Applications go through FAO’s official careers portal, and there is no application fee at any stage. Use only the official link, because fake recruitment messages are common in this sector.

1. Open the official vacancy page through the “Official Application Link” button below.
2. Read the full vacancy details on the official page.
3. Prepare your motivation letter and proof of enrolment or qualification.
4. Create or log in to your profile on the FAO careers portal and complete the online application before the closing date.
5. Check that your documents uploaded correctly, then submit.

What happens after you send your application

After you submit, FAO reviews applications when internship needs appear at its Africa offices, so there may be a waiting period before you hear back. Use that time well: improve your working language skills and keep your documents ready. If your situation changes — for example, you graduate or move — update your profile on the portal.

Questions applicants actually ask

Q: Is this the same as the FAO internship in Rome?
A: No. The Rome call is a separate vacancy for FAO headquarters, while this call is specifically for the Regional Office for Africa. Apply through this call’s own page if you want an Africa placement.

Q: Is the internship really paid?
A: Yes. FAO’s internship rules say interns who are not sponsored receive a monthly stipend paid in local currency, up to US$700 per month.

Q: Do I need to already live in Africa to apply?
A: The official page does not require you to live in Africa before applying, but you must have the residence or immigration status needed for the duty station before the internship starts. This is your responsibility, so plan for it early.

Q: Will my application stay in FAO’s system after this call closes?
A: No. FAO states that there is no roster retention after this call, so your application will not be kept once the call ends. If you want to be considered again, apply to future calls when they open.

Q: Does FAO charge a fee to apply?
A: Never. FAO clearly states that it does not charge any fee at any stage of its recruitment process. If anyone asks you for money to get an FAO internship, it is a scam.