The UN YPP Program (YPP) is a unique opportunity for talented, highly qualified professionals to start an international career as an international civil servant with the UN. The YPP is open to applicants who hold at least a master’s degree in any discipline and have completed at least one year of postgraduate study (up to five years).
What is the UN YPP Program?
The United Nations Young Professionals Program (YPP) is a competitive program that offers talented young professionals the opportunity to start an international career with the UN.
The UN YPP program is open to eligible candidates who have completed their undergraduate or postgraduate studies and are between 25 and 35 years old at the time of application. Candidates must also have excellent academic records, including outstanding results in exams; relevant work experience; and good relationships with other institutions. The selection process will be conducted by a team of experts from across disciplines including governance, economics, law and human rights as well as programming & budgeting staff members within each geographic region where there are vacancies for YPP positions
How does the UN YPP Work?
The UN YPP program is a multi-stage selection process. First, applicants will take an online test which will determine their eligibility for the second stage. The second stage involves interviews with representatives from UNDP, who will conduct this interview remotely or in person at your location of choice (e.g., home). Thirdly and finally, you will be assessed by panels of experts on various aspects such as your academic background and professional experience; these assessments are conducted over multiple days leading up to the final assessment day where you present yourself in front of a panel consisting mainly of senior officials from UNDP offices around the world who review your background materials along with other relevant information such as transcripts from previous schools/universities attended as well as samples of work produced during internships/volunteer opportunities gained through previous experiences outside school/work place activities.
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Who can apply for the UN YPP program?
To be eligible to apply, you must be a citizen of one of the 193 Member States and meet all of the following requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have held a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university.
- You must have two years’ professional work experience in your field in the last five years, including at least one year with an organization recognized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) or its successor body).
Interview date, Process and Venue for United Nations Young Professionals Program
Selection Criteria:
- Your application will be screened to determine if you are eligible for the examination in the exam subject you applied for.
- Suppose more than 40 applicants from the same country apply for the same exam area. In that case, those applicants will be further screened and ranked by a Human Resources Officer according to points given for the following additional qualifications: highest level of education completed, knowledge of official UN languages, and relevant work experience.
- Please be aware that many potential applicants do not pass the screening stage due to incomplete or inaccurate applications.
- If your application was successful, you will be informed that you are convoked to the examination.
- If determined that you are not eligible to apply or if your application was unsuccessful, you will be informed that you have not been convoked to the examination.
How do I participate in the YPP recruitment?
If you’re interested in the YPP, here’s what you need to know:
- The YPP is a competitive recruitment process. To be eligible for this program, applicants must have been born after January 1st, 1985 and are between 18-35 years old. They must also be citizens or permanent residents of one of the UN member states that participate in the program (see below).
- Your application will include two parts: a resume as well as video footage that demonstrates your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely using English language skills only (no other languages). Please make sure these videos adhere strictly with our guidelines outlined below so we can evaluate them properly without having any problems later down line where we might need help from someone else who speaks both English AND another language like Spanish because their mother tongue happens
How long is the test?
The test is two hours long and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. You’ll need to answer all 100 questions in order for your score to be valid, but you can take breaks during the test if you need them.
The exam will be given in English, so if English isn’t your first language (or if it’s not one that you’re particularly comfortable with), we recommend taking this opportunity as an opportunity for language practice!
Aim and Benefits of What is the UN YPP Program
- Salary and Post adjustments
- Rental subsidy if newly arrived at the duty station your rent represents too high proportion of the total remuneration.
- Dependency allowances if you have an eligible dependent spouse and/or child(ren).
- Under certain conditions an education grant if you have eligible children in school.
- Travel and shipping expenses when moving from one duty station to another.
- Assignment grant to assist you in meeting initial extraordinary costs when arriving at or relocating to a new duty station.
- At some duty stations, a hardship allowance linked to living and working conditions is paid and where there are restrictions on bringing family members, a non-family hardship allowance is also paid.
- Hazard pay and rest and recuperation break when you serve in locations where the conditions are particularly hazardous, stressful and difficult.
- Many more benefits.
Where can I take my exam?
You can take your exam in a number of countries. The exams are held in New York, Geneva, London and Nairobi. There is no fee to take the exam but you must schedule it at least two weeks before taking it. If you have any questions about where the exams are being held or how to register for them please contact the UNDP office in your country.
Can I take more than one examination paper?
Yes, you can take as many paper exams as you like! If you pass one paper, then that is your maximum number of papers that you can take. If a second or third exam is offered to you and it doesn’t cover the same topic as the first exam, then it won’t count towards your 2023 YPP eligibility.
However, if there are no more exams available in this category (for example, if all of their topics have been covered by other YPP participants), then those who wish to continue with this program may apply again next year when they’re eligible again until 2023 when all requirements have been met
What type of questions will be on the examination papers?
In the UNYPP, you will be given a number of questions to answer. These may be multiple choice or essay questions, and they can be both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The examination papers are designed to test your knowledge on international relations and global issues that are relevant to young professionals.
The YPP exam consists of three sections: short answer (20 minutes), free-write (60 minutes), and group discussion (30 minutes).
When will I receive my final results and if successful, how am I informed?
If you are successful in the Application, you will receive a letter of offer from the United Nations. You will be informed by email, telephone or post.
The United Nations Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a starting point for an exciting career at the UN. It is a unique opportunity for talented, highly qualified professionals to start an international career as an international civil servant with the UN.
The YPP will provide participants with:
- A comprehensive training programme that will prepare you for your first assignment in New York City;
- An intensive work placement during your term of service; and
- A meaningful contribution towards one of our priority areas or projects.
How to Apply
| The job openings can be found on the UN Careers Portal and in Inspira. The exam areas and their corresponding job openings are:
Library and Information Management: job opening #189043 Legal Affairs: job opening #189050 Remember to watch the application guidance video to learn more about the process. And a quick reminder that candidates are allowed to submit an application for only one YPP job opening. Submissions to multiple YPP examswill result in an automatic disqualification. For UN staff members: please note that the job openings for internal YPP applicants are only accessible through inspira, via “G to P” or “G to N” job openings, and are not available on the Careers Portal. For more details, click here |
Conclusion
The Young Professionals Programme has been developed to promote a more diverse and inclusive recruitment process. The YPP is open to anyone aged between 18 and 35 years old and all our candidates need to be eligible for permanent residency in their own country. Candidates from any nationality or ethnicity can apply, but preference will be given to candidates who are underrepresented in the field of international relations. We are committed to ensuring that our applicants come from a broad range of backgrounds so that they may contribute towards the advancement of global peace through service at the UN.
