Apply for FAO Fellows Programme 2026 – Global Research Assignments at FAO Offices Worldwide

Application Deadline: August 25, 2026

About the Programme

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched the 2026 Fellows Programme, inviting expressions of interest from individuals with advanced technical knowledge, professional experience, and research expertise. The programme covers FAO headquarters, regional and subregional offices, country offices, and liaison offices worldwide. Assignments can last up to 11 months, with specific tasks determined by the candidate’s expertise and the operational needs of the hosting FAO office. All assignments support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, FAO’s Strategic Framework, and the transformation of agrifood systems. FAO does not provide a salary, stipend, or other remuneration to fellows. Applicants must be fully funded by an external institution and must name the sponsoring institution in their application.

About FAO

FAO is a UN specialised agency leading international efforts to end hunger, improve food security and nutrition, and ensure regular access to sufficient and quality food. With 195 members and operations in over 130 countries, FAO brings together governments, researchers, technical experts, development agencies, communities, and other partners to address complex global and national challenges affecting agriculture and food systems.

What the Programme Offers

The programme provides fellows with:

• Exposure to FAO’s international technical and policy environment
• Access to contemporary academic methods and evidence
• Connection of academic or professional expertise with real institutional and development challenges
• A structured, time-bound research assignment based on the needs of an FAO office and the expertise of the selected fellow

Potential Technical Areas:

• Hunger reduction and food security
• Nutrition and healthy diets
• Sustainable agricultural production
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Agricultural value chains and markets
• Rural development and livelihoods
• Food-loss and food-waste reduction
• Natural-resource and ecosystem management
• Water and soil management
• Forestry, fisheries and aquaculture
• Livestock development and animal health
• Agricultural trade and economics
• Food safety and quality standards
• Social protection and inclusive rural development
• Women’s economic participation in agrifood systems
• Youth engagement and employment
• Agricultural statistics and data systems
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Policy research and impact assessment
• Digital agriculture and technological innovation
• Disaster-risk reduction and emergency response
• Institutional governance and capacity development
• Knowledge management and partnerships

Eligibility Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• Advanced technical knowledge, professional experience, and research expertise in a field relevant to FAO’s work
• A research proposal connecting the proposed work to FAO’s mandate, Strategic Framework, and relevant SDGs
• Full external sponsorship confirmed before application
• Willingness to complete an assignment of up to 11 months at an FAO office

Assessment Criteria:

Candidates will be assessed against FAO’s core competencies:

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

FAO’s Professional Values:

• Commitment to FAO
• Respect for All
• Integrity and Transparency

Financial and Sponsorship Conditions

• FAO does not provide a salary, stipend, or standard employee compensation
• Candidates must be fully sponsored by an external entity
• Applicants must name their sponsoring institution in the application
• Fellows must arrange and pay for their own accommodation
• Fellows must arrange and pay for medical insurance covering non-service-incurred matters

FAO provides:

• Medical coverage for service-incurred matters
• Payment of the related premium

Application Requirements

Applicants must complete an online profile through the FAO recruitment portal and attach:

1. A research proposal tailored to FAO’s mandate and relevant SDGs
2. Evidence of attendance at a recognised university or copies of relevant academic qualifications

Preparing a Strong Research Proposal:

A strong proposal should cover:

• Research title – Focused and technically relevant
• Background and problem statement – The policy, technical, institutional, or development problem to be addressed
• Relevance to FAO – Connection to FAO’s mandate, Strategic Framework, and areas of technical responsibility
• SDG alignment – Identification of relevant SDGs and targets
• Research objectives – Clear, measurable, and realistic objectives
• Methodology – Methods, data sources, analytical framework, research tools, or consultation processes
• Expected outputs – Research papers, policy recommendations, technical reports, frameworks, or knowledge products
• Practical contribution – How the work could support FAO, a hosting office, Member Nations, or stakeholders
• Work plan – Realistic sequence of activities, milestones, and expected completion dates
• Applicant’s contribution – Knowledge, professional experience, and technical capabilities
• Ethical and data considerations – Research ethics, confidentiality, data protection, and stakeholder consent

How to Apply

Step 1: Open the official vacancy (announcement number 2600010)

Step 2: Create or access your candidate account on the FAO recruitment portal

Step 3: Complete the entire profile with accurate information about employment, research, education, languages, technical expertise, and relevant experience

Step 4: Confirm external sponsorship with a credible sponsoring institution

Step 5: Prepare a research proposal tailored to FAO’s mandate and relevant SDGs

Step 6: Upload supporting documents (research proposal, evidence of academic qualifications)

Step 7: Apply specifically to announcement 2600010

Step 8: Confirm submission in the portal

Step 9: Apply before the deadline

Click here to apply