FAO Fellows Programme 2026: Fully Funded Research Opportunity for PhD Students and Researchers

The FAO Fellows Programme offers PhD students, researchers and professors an opportunity to gain specialized experience while contributing technical knowledge to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Applicants need a Master’s or PhD degree or must be enrolled in a PhD programme, with at least two years of relevant work or research experience. The programme is open to nationals of FAO member countries and has no age limit.

Background & Programme Description

The FAO Fellows Programme is one of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ young talent programmes designed to attract researchers, PhD students and professors with advanced technical knowledge and experience relevant to the organisation’s areas of work.

The programme is intended for individuals who want to pursue specialized learning objectives while contributing their technical expertise and knowledge to FAO through time-bound assignments.

Fellows are expected to undertake assignments that align with the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The programme can therefore be particularly relevant to researchers and academics whose work relates to food systems, agriculture, rural development, food security and other technical areas connected to FAO’s mandate.

Importantly, the FAO Fellows Programme does not provide remuneration. Candidates should take this into consideration when assessing whether they can participate.

The programme does not specify a maximum age, making it potentially suitable for experienced researchers and academics as well as eligible PhD candidates.

What Fellows May Do

The exact responsibilities of a fellow depend on the assignment and the candidate’s technical background.

The programme is designed around two complementary objectives: allowing fellows to pursue their specialized learning goals while enabling FAO to benefit from their technical expertise and knowledge.

Assignments are time-bound and should be connected to FAO’s Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed research or area of contribution clearly demonstrates its relevance to FAO’s work.

A strong research proposal is an important part of the application because candidates are required to submit one alongside their online application.

Qualifications and Eligibility

Education

Applicants must meet one of the following educational requirements:

Possess a graduate or postgraduate degree, specifically a Master’s or PhD; or
Be currently enrolled in a PhD programme.

The programme is therefore primarily intended for candidates with advanced academic or research backgrounds.

Relevant Experience

Candidates should have at least two years of relevant working or research experience in one of the fields of the Organization.

Applicants should demonstrate that their professional or research background is connected to the proposed fellowship assignment.

Nationality

Candidates must be nationals of FAO member countries.

Applicants should verify their nationality eligibility through the official FAO membership information before submitting an application.

Language Requirements

Candidates must have working knowledge of at least one FAO official language.

The official languages listed by FAO are:

English
French
Spanish
Arabic
Chinese
Russian

Knowledge of a second FAO official language is considered an advantage.

Age Requirement

There is no age limit for the FAO Fellows Programme.

This distinguishes the programme from many graduate and early-career opportunities that impose specific age restrictions.

Technical and Interpersonal Skills

Candidates should be able to work effectively in an international and multicultural environment.

FAO also expects candidates to have:

Good communication skills;
The ability to adapt to an international multicultural environment; and
Knowledge of basic computer programmes.

Applicants should demonstrate these capabilities through their application and relevant professional or research experience.

Family Relationship Restriction

Candidates are not eligible if they have certain close family members employed by FAO under any type of contractual arrangement.

The restriction applies to applicants whose brother, sister, mother, father, son or daughter is employed by FAO.

Financial Support

One important point prospective applicants should understand is that the FAO Fellows Programme does not provide remuneration.

This means applicants should not describe the programme as a paid fellowship or assume that FAO will provide a fellowship salary.

Candidates should carefully consider their financial arrangements and any costs associated with participating before applying.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the FAO career portal when a Call for Expression of Interest is published.

Interested candidates are required to apply online and submit:

An online application; and
A research proposal.

The research proposal should demonstrate the candidate’s intended learning objectives, technical interests and relevance to FAO’s work.

Because the programme is based on expressions of interest, applicants should monitor the FAO career portal for the relevant call.

FAO states that only selected candidates will be contacted.

Candidates who are not selected before a particular call closes but wish to remain under consideration for a future assignment are asked to re-apply when a new Call for Expression of Interest is published.

What Should Applicants Highlight?

Although the source information does not prescribe a specific research proposal format, applicants can use the programme requirements to ensure that their proposal clearly establishes the connection between their research and FAO’s work.

A competitive application should make the relationship between the proposed research and the organisation’s strategic priorities easy to understand.

Applicants should also clearly demonstrate:

Their relevant academic qualifications;
At least two years of relevant work or research experience;
Their technical expertise;
Their research interests;
Their proposed learning objectives;
Their ability to contribute specialist knowledge;
Their communication and computer skills; and
Their ability to work in a multicultural international environment.

The proposal should also demonstrate how the proposed assignment can contribute to broader development objectives, particularly where relevant to the FAO Strategic Framework and SDGs.

FAO Fellows Programme 2026: Quick Facts

Programme: FAO Fellows Programme

Organisation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Target applicants: PhD students, researchers and professors

Education: Master’s or PhD degree, or current PhD enrolment

Experience: At least two years of relevant work or research experience

Nationality: Nationals of FAO member countries

Age limit: None

Languages: At least one FAO official language

Official languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian

Remuneration: Not provided

Application method: Online application through the FAO career portal

Required application document: Research proposal

Application type: Call for Expression of Interest

Selection: Only selected candidates are contacted

Why Consider the FAO Fellows Programme?

The FAO Fellows Programme can provide an opportunity for researchers and academics with advanced technical knowledge to connect their expertise with the work of a major United Nations organisation.

For eligible PhD students and researchers, the programme can also provide an environment in which specialised learning objectives can be pursued while contributing knowledge to FAO assignments.

The international and multicultural nature of the programme may be particularly relevant to applicants interested in international development, food systems, agriculture, research, policy and the Sustainable Development Goals.

However, applicants should carefully assess the financial implications because FAO explicitly states that fellows are not remunerated.

Important Application Advice

Prospective applicants should avoid waiting until the final stages of a Call for Expression of Interest before preparing their materials.

A research proposal can require substantial preparation, particularly if it needs to demonstrate a clear connection between the applicant’s expertise, learning objectives and FAO’s strategic priorities.

Applicants should also carefully check the specific Call for Expression of Interest because individual assignments may have additional requirements.

Candidates should use the information in the current call as the final authority for eligibility, documents and submission requirements.

Final Thoughts

The FAO Fellows Programme 2026 is an opportunity for qualified PhD students, researchers and professors to contribute specialist knowledge while pursuing learning objectives through time-bound assignments with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Applicants generally need a Master’s or PhD degree or current PhD enrolment, at least two years of relevant work or research experience, and working knowledge of at least one FAO official language. There is no age limit, but nationality, family relationship and other eligibility conditions apply.

A research proposal is required as part of the online application, and candidates should ensure that their proposed work aligns with FAO’s strategic priorities and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

The programme does not provide remuneration, so prospective fellows should carefully consider their financial arrangements before applying.

Since applications are made through specific Calls for Expression of Interest, interested candidates should regularly check the FAO career portal for new opportunities and follow the requirements stated in the relevant call.

Disclaimer: This article is an independent informational publication based on information provided by FAO. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FAO. Programme details, available assignments and application requirements may vary between calls. Applicants should always verify the latest information through FAO’s official recruitment channels before submitting an application.

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