About the opportunity
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking a Young Professional Officer (Nutrition and Food Systems) for its Subregional Office for West Africa (SFW) in Dakar, Senegal. The position contributes to collaborative efforts to design, implement, and monitor nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-focused programmes, projects, and policy initiatives across West Africa. The appointee will assist in integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture into regional frameworks, provide technical support to country offices, strengthen multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms involving regional economic communities like ECOWAS and CILSS, and contribute to knowledge generation. This is a fixed-term staff appointment at the P-1 grade level for an initial duration of two years, with the possibility of extension.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive UN compensation and benefits package based on professional salary scales
- Dependency allowances
- Rental subsidy
- Education grant for children
- Home leave travel
- 30 working days of annual leave per year
- Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
- International health insurance and optional life insurance
- Disability protection
Who can apply?
- Must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Nutrition or a related field, such as Food Science, Food Security, Agriculture, Food Technology, or Public Health integrating nutrition into agriculture
- One year of relevant experience in nutrition-sensitive programming, food security, agricultural development, or related fields, preferably in developing countries
- Working knowledge (proficiency level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (proficiency level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish)
- Targeted primarily at talented professionals who are nationals of non- and under-represented FAO member countries, with priority consideration given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
Required documents
- Completed online profile on the FAO recruitment portal including employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Letter of motivation attached to the online profile
When to apply
- Job Posting Date: 15 September 2026
- Closure Date: 07 October 2026 at 9:59 PM UTC
How to apply
- Visit the Jobs at FAO recruitment portal and complete your online profile with accurate employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Attach a letter of motivation to your online profile
- Submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal before the stated deadline
Additional information
- Educational qualifications must be obtained from an institution recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED) and align with ISCED mappings.
- Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
- FAO applies a zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its status, objectives, and mandate.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Early-career professionals holding a Master's degree in nutrition, food science, or agriculture with around one year of relevant development experience.
- Candidates passionate about international development, agrifood systems transformation, and sub-Saharan African food security policies.
- Applicants meeting the under-32 age threshold who originate from non- or under-represented UN member states seeking an entry point into international civil service.
What should you think carefully about?
- Strict age limit requires applicants to be 32 years old or younger by the end of the application year.
- Relocation to Dakar, Senegal, is required for the duration of the appointment, alongside potential travel within the West Africa region.
- Dual language proficiency is mandatory, requiring working English plus intermediate knowledge of another official UN language.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This opportunity provides a structured, prestigious entry into the United Nations system via a two-year professional staff assignment. It is ideal for young professionals aiming to build deep technical and policy expertise in international agrifood systems, multilateral coordination, and field-based nutrition programming within West Africa.
Our take
Early-career nutrition and agrifood specialists under 33 who match the geographic and linguistic criteria should seriously apply. Those lacking the required professional experience or meeting the age cutoff will find this role unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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