21 November 2023 - “Being a JPO provided me with an invaluable experience and opportunity to learn from the inside,” said Eisuke Misawa, a former JPO at UN DESA. He is one of more than around 5,000 young professionals who have participated in the United Nations Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme since it was founded back in 1954.
Currently, there are around 800 young professionals participating in this programme. It provides an opportunity for individuals from around the world to experience working in the field of international cooperation. Recruited through bilateral agreements between donor countries and the United Nations, JPOs are deployed to 68 duty stations around the world.
“Looking back, I feel that I learned about the necessary foundations to become a qualified and competent UN Secretariat staff,” Eisuke explained. He further listed “knowledge, skills and networks as well as hands-on experience on how to plan, coordinate and execute Departmental efforts in supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs,” as some of the experiences gained.
Another young professional who can testify to the benefits of this programme is Francesco Bonanome who is a current JPO from Italy. “Being a JPO at OCHA has been transformative for my career in humanitarian affairs,” Francesco said. He also added that “the array of responsibilities I’ve undertaken, ranging from contributing to coordination efforts to serving as the Special Assistant to the Humanitarian Coordinator, has showcased my strategic role within the organization and provided a comprehensive learning experience.”
Another former Italian JPO, Radha Day, who worked at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, noted that “the JPO programme for me was the opportunity to get started, to get engaged, to learn the ropes, to learn from my peers, to show my worth. But I then drew my own trajectory. This still feels very empowering.”
Both Francesco and Radha are two of 1,900 young professionals from Italy who have benefitted from the programme since it started in the country in 1973. Last month, the Italian JPO Programme celebrated its 50th anniversary. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Italy, Maria Tripodi was joined by Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, UN DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, other high-level officials and JPO’s to mark this occasion at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.
When discussing possible advice for anyone interested in joining this programme, Eisuke suggested to “get in touch with colleagues working in the entity, Department or Office that you wish to apply for to become more familiar with their work and the expectations to get off to a good start as a JPO.” He also recommended to “be mindful of not only learning about the UN but also ask yourself how your previous professional experience can contribute to and complement the work of your affiliated entity.”
For more information on the JPO Programme managed by UN DESA’s Capacity Development Programme Management Office, visit: /development/desa/jpo/