IOM International Organisation for Migration - Junior professional officer (JPO) programme

The purpose of the Programme is two-fold: on the one hand, it equips international organizations with skilled personnel for a period of two years; on the other, it allows young qualified professionals the opportunity of gaining valuable work experience that will broaden their chances of finding a suitable job in the international development field. The majority of JPO staff that serve with IOM, continue to work with the Organization at the end of their JPO assignment.

JPOs are typically between 28 and 35 years of age and are recruited as professional staff members, at the P-2 level, by their respective governments who serve as the sponsors of their positions within the Organization.

History of the JPO programme

The JPO programme evolved from the United Nations’ Associate Experts (AE) programme, which was initiated in 1954 by the Government of the Netherlands as a way to provide additional staff to the Food and Agriculture Organization as well as on-the-job training for young graduates interested in international development.

IOM initiated its JPO programme in 1975 with over JPO placements to date. IOM has signed JPO agreements with the following sponsor governments and other bodies - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and “Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie”.

How do I apply?

IOM does not directly recruit JPO positions to the Organization. Interested candidates must apply through the respective country’s JPO procedures. The application process for the JPO programme is highly competitive with selection criteria based on the requirements of the sponsoring government. As each donor country has its own rules and procedures for recruitment, we advise you to consult the websites listed below and apply accordingly.

About IOM

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.

With 173 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

The IOM Constitution recognizes the link between migration and economic, social and cultural development, as well as to the right of freedom of movement.

IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management:

• Migration and development
• Facilitating migration
• Regulating migration
• Forced migration.

IOM activities that cut across these areas include the promotion of international migration law, policy debate and guidance, protection of migrants' rights, migration health and the gender dimension of migration.