Junior Professional Officer Programme

Are you thinking about working for an international organisation working on peace and justice? The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme may be your way to launch your career at the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, OPCW, UNOCHA, UNDP and other organisations in The Hague. 

What is the JPO programme?

The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme is a recruitment programme to provide university graduates with an entry-level opportunity to gain work experience with United Nations and other multilateral organisations. The tasks that a JPO performs depends on the specific position and the duty station.

The Hague is home to a number of international organisations which have JPO vacancies, namely: 

• International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

The full list of participating international organisations within the UN system is available on the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) website. 

How are JPOs funded? 

JPO programmes are not funded by the UN itself, but rather by individual countries who opt to participate in the programme. JPOs are fully sponsored by their host country’s national government, which covers a base salary, allowances, health insurance, relocation expenses, training costs, and pension contributions, among other things. 

What is the salary of a JPO like?

The salaries of JPOs depend on the location of the position, the host, country, and the international organisation. In general, the base salaries fall under the P2, Step 1 (Professional Level 2) grade and are adjusted for cost-of-living based on the duty station. In The Hague, JPOs receive a net base salary (excluding allowances and other costs) of €54.000 annually or around €4.500 monthly.

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Where can I find JPO roles from my country?

The JPO programme is funded by the governments of around 30 countries from around the world. You can usually find the JPO programmes on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Examples of countries which participate in the JPO programme include:

• Austria 
• Belgium 
• Finland 
• France 
• Germany 
• Italy 
• Japan 
• Poland 
• Spain
• South Korea
• The Netherlands
• Türkiye
• USA

While some positions are advertised by the sponsoring nation's government, most JPO vacancies are published on external websites such as UN DESA, UNDP, ImpactPool, UNJobs and ReliefWeb. Further, many vacancies are advertised on the websites of the international organisations themselves.

Am I eligible for the JPO Programme?

JPO positions have eligibility requirements which vary depending on the donor country and the international organisation. The programme is open to candidates from donor countries and to candidates with a nationality from sponsored developing countries. International organisations in The Hague like the International Criminal Court and OPCW actively try to recruit employees of underrepresented nations.

JPO positions require applicants to meet other conditions:

• You are 32 years of age or younger at the time of application.
• You hold a Master’s degree (or a Bachelor’s degree with a few years of work experience).
• You have a minimum of 2-4 years of work experience.
• You are fluent in English or French (however, knowing other UN languages like Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish is an advantage).

Tip box:

Tips for applying to the JPO

JPO positions are highly competitive and each posting could receive hundred of applications. To increase your chances of your application getting seen by a recruiter, here are some tips from actual UN hiring managers:

• Use keywords and phrasing from the job description directly in your CV.
• Research the organisation thoroughly (its mandate, operational language and responsibilities).
• Demonstrate a genuine interest in the specific organisation, not just the sector. 
• Gain volunteer or work experience in working with vulnerable or marginalised communities.
• Be prepared to start in a more difficult location posting (higher chances of being selected). 
• Make sure to known the deadline of your country's JPO programme. 
• Set up job alerts to get updated on the latest vacancies. 
• Learn a relevant extra UN language (English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Chinese) 

What does the recruitment process look like?

Recruitment for the JPO programme is conducted by the host country’s government and the hosting UN organisation. Typically, the applicants are first screened by the donor government, after which successful applicants move onto the final rounds of interviews with the specific UN agency.

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