Junior Professional Officer (JPO) & Associate Expert (AE) Programs

The United States, through the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), sponsors qualified U.S. citizens for employment in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program and in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Associate Expert (AE) program. PRM sponsors and funds these programs as just one tangible means of demonstrating the U.S. Government's commitment to helping refugees, victims of conflict, and vulnerable migrants around the world. This fully funded staffing program strengthens the capacity of UNHCR and IOM to meet this goal. The JPO and AE programs also encourage U.S. citizens to become active members of the international community. Many JPOs and AEs successfully compete for positions at UNHCR, IOM and in other International and Non-Governmental Organizations following completion of their assignments.

JPO and AE program selection is highly competitive. Although the qualifications for JPO and AE positions vary by assignment, a graduate or law degree in a relevant discipline and proficiency in at least one U.N. working language in addition to English are preferred. Competitive applicants generally possess three or more years of work experience in a developing country and an academic background in fields related to human rights, forced migration, humanitarian assistance, development or immigration law, for example. Prior work experience in or familiarity with the UN system or IOM is also helpful. The JPO and AE selection processes are carried out jointly by PRM and UNHCR or IOM.

--01/18/08  UN Personal History Form [ 80 Kb]