The United Nations is now inviting applications for the 2025 Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination in Global Communications. This competitive opportunity offers highly qualified young graduates a pathway to start their professional career within the UN Secretariat at the P-1 or P-2 entry level.
Successful candidates will be placed on a roster for up to three years and may be recruited into communications roles within various UN duty stations, including Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago, and Vienna.
About the Programme
The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is the UN’s flagship talent recruitment initiative for highly capable young professionals from participating Member States. Those who pass the Global Communications examination may be placed in roles within the Department of Global Communications or other UN departments requiring strategic communications expertise.
Placement on the roster does not guarantee employment, but candidates selected from the roster receive an initial two-year fixed-term appointment, which may lead to a continuing contract based on performance.
Key Responsibilities
Associate Communications Officers recruited through the YPP may contribute to the following areas:
-
Monitoring traditional and digital media to identify trends, public sentiment, and reputational risks
-
Designing and implementing strategic communications plans and campaigns
-
Drafting public narratives, messaging, press releases, and web content
-
Producing multimedia materials for digital platforms and UN broadcast channels
-
Planning press briefings, media engagements, and advocacy events
-
Developing and managing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
-
Creating audio and radio content including interviews and podcasts
-
Supporting data collection and visualization for evidence-based communications
-
Developing outreach and advocacy strategies to promote UN priorities
Required Competencies
Candidates are expected to demonstrate:
-
Professionalism: Integrity, resilience, attention to detail, and commitment to results
-
Creativity: Ability to think strategically and generate innovative communication solutions
-
Client Orientation: Strong stakeholder engagement skills, responsiveness, and partnership-building
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold at least a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the following fields:
-
Arts
-
Humanities
-
Business and Administration
-
Journalism and Information
-
Social and Behavioral Science
-
Computing
Degrees must be correctly selected within the application system. Choosing “other” will result in automatic disqualification.
Work Experience
No work experience is required. However, when more than 90 applicants from the same country apply, relevant experience may be used as an additional screening criterion.
Language Requirements
Applicants must be fluent in English or French. Both reading and writing must be at a minimum of UN Language Framework Level II.
Assessment Process
The recruitment process includes:
-
Screening of applications
-
Online written examination
-
General Paper and first part of Specialized Paper (tentatively February 2026)
-
Second part of Specialized Paper (1–2 months later for shortlisted candidates)
-
-
Oral examination (Interview)
-
Conducted online (anticipated June 2026)
-
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, candidates must:
-
Be 32 years old or younger (born on or after 1 January 1993)
-
Hold the nationality of a participating Member State in the 2025 YPP
-
Hold a relevant first-level university degree
-
Be fluent in English or French
Eligible participating countries for 2025 include: Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, DPRK, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao PDR, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Viet Nam.
Required Documents
Applicants must upload:
-
A valid passport or state-issued ID with name, date of birth, nationality, and photo
-
University diploma or official transcript confirming field of study
Duty Stations
Successful candidates must be willing to serve in any UN duty station or field operation. Offices include but are not limited to:
-
New York
-
Geneva
-
Vienna
-
Nairobi
-
Bangkok
-
Addis Ababa
-
Beirut
-
Santiago
Application Deadline
Deadline to Apply: 14 December 2025
Applications must be submitted via the UN Careers Portal: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/265848?language=en
Important Notice
The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants should not share bank details or financial information at any stage.
For more detailed information, visit the UN Young Professionals Programme page and start your journey towards a rewarding career with the United Nations today!
Other resources to enhance your chances of getting into the UN
- UN Jobs? You got the skills, but not the application strategy? This is YOUR chance to land your dream job & make a difference! ✨ Our exclusive article by a UN insider spills the tea ☕️ on writing a winning application & interview tip! Don’t miss out! ➡️ https://bit.ly/3ztTaxe
- 5 useful tips for UN interviews: United Nations jobs. Link here
- OFY Webinar Series: How to Succeed in Your UN Job Application https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NebhSthkRU&t=195s
