Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Büro Führungskräfte zu Internationalen Organisationen

JPO Program: General Information

Objectives and Framework Conditions

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the BFIO implements the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) program. Associate experts (AE) are internationally known as Junior Professional Officers (JPO), Associate Experts (AE), or Associate Professional Officers (APO). In addition to German JPOs, there are also a large number of young professionals from other countries working in international organizations.

The German Federal Government has concluded agreements with around 30 international organizations on the secondment of JPOs. With this program, it is contributing to multilateral cooperation and offering young German professionals the opportunity to gain international work experience and significantly increase their chances of finding employment with international organizations. On average, around 50 to 60 young German professionals are recruited as Junior Professional Officers each year. Currently, around 180 Germans are working as JPOs worldwide. The BMZ is responsible for coordinating the program.

Fields of employment

Junior Professional Officers are employed by the United Nations and its various sub-organizations and specialized agencies. The World Bank Group and other international financial institutions also offer interesting and challenging tasks for JPOs. These positions are either based at the headquarters of the respective organization (particularly in Geneva, New York, and Washington) or in regional and field offices in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Junior Professional Officers work in all key areas of development cooperation, such as poverty reduction, democracy promotion and human rights, refugee aid and crisis prevention, environmental protection, health care, occupational safety, employment and economic development, education, rural development, and food security. They are involved in various sectors in the design of development strategies, the preparation of country and sector studies, and the planning, implementation, and management of projects. They also perform administrative tasks and work in press and public relations.

Application requirements

The program is aimed at university graduates with German citizenship and two to four years of professional experience. Excellent university grades are an advantage, as are relevant professional experience gained abroad and completed internships. Some international organizations specify an age limit.

International organizations are looking for graduates in economics, business administration, law, social sciences, and political science, as well as natural sciences, engineering, and medicine. Experience in development policy or international politics is usually a prerequisite for an application. Work placements in developing countries are an advantage.

It is impossible to imagine entering international organizations without excellent language skills. Fluency in English and, in most cases, another UN language is necessary. Without the ability to write longer texts and actively participate in negotiations in the relevant foreign language, it is not possible to work successfully in international organizations. This also means mastering the specific foreign language terminology in the relevant subject areas.

Working with people from a wide variety of countries and disciplines places high demands on the social skills of employees in international organizations. A strong ability to empathize with the ways of thinking and working of other cultures is essential. Teamwork, planning and organizational skills, creativity, a willingness to learn, and flexibility are further requirements. This also includes a willingness to adapt to the local conditions of the place of employment. For assignments in developing countries, the ability to work in tropical climates is a prerequisite for employment.

Exclusion clause: It is not possible to send civil servants on leave of absence as part of the Junior Professional Officer program.

Job advertisements

Job advertisements for specific positions are usually published in two phases of each program year (beginning of the year/summer). The selection of positions is made by a program committee composed of representatives from the BMZ and all other participating ministries. Even after the application deadline, the job advertisements can be accessed to obtain an overview of possible areas of responsibility and requirement profiles within the Associate Expert program throughout the year.

Application and selection process

Interested parties can apply for two of the advertised vacancies. All applications must be sent to the BFIO, as the BFIO is responsible for the pre-selection and nomination of candidates for positions to be filled at international organizations.

Based on the written application, the BFIO, together with the BMZ and other ministries, decides which applicants will be invited to the selection process in Bonn. The selection committee is composed of representatives from the BMZ, the BFIO, the ministry responsible for the organization, and a German institution in the field of development policy. The selection process includes a written assignment in English and a personal interview.

The BFIO then submits several candidate proposals per position to the international organizations. After subsequent selection interviews by the respective organization via video conference/telephone or personal interviews at the BFIO, the organizations make their final decision. The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) is responsible for evaluating applications for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Contract terms and social security

The international organizations conclude a one-year employment contract with the Junior Professional Officer, which can be extended twice for a further year. The assignment period for a JPO is usually three years.

In principle, the Staff Rules and Staff Regulations of the respective organization, including any additions or special provisions, apply to Junior Professional Officers. Junior Professional Officers in the United Nations are classified in the entry-level remuneration group in the comparable higher service (P2). Remuneration consists of a basic salary and various allowances. The basic salary is approximately US$46,500 for a single person (as of January 2014). In addition, there are various additional and social benefits. For various duty stations, a post adjustment is also granted, which can amount to up to approximately 80% of the base salary. Different salary conditions apply at development banks and some international organizations. Remuneration is generally tax-free.

During their assignment, JPOs are covered by health and accident insurance under the private group insurance policies of the international organizations. Depending on the organization, different rules apply with regard to pension provision: participation in the organization's pension fund or, alternatively, compulsory insurance upon application to the German pension insurance fund. Voluntary continued insurance under the German unemployment insurance scheme is possible in certain cases. If special conditions apply upon return to Germany after completion of the assignment, a bridging allowance may be granted by the Federal Administrative Office in the event of unemployment.

Preparation and program support

JPOs are employees of the international organization. Nevertheless, they are prepared for their assignment by the German side and supported during their work. Regular working contacts with German ministries and specialist organizations are highly valued in the interests of constructive cooperation. Networking among German JPOs is just as important. Meetings at German missions abroad at the international organizations on site support this goal. Before departure, a general introduction and a one- to several-week internship in the ministries responsible for the respective organizations and the institutions relevant to the assignment are planned. Junior Professional Officers traveling to developing countries can attend preparatory seminars, e.g., in regional studies and the local language, at GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation).

Follow-up support

The Junior Professional Officer program generally lasts 24 to 36 months. It is the German government's personnel policy objective that JPOs receive a follow-up contract with an international organization, either directly or indirectly, after the end of their funded assignment. Even though the number of positions, recruitment policies, and personnel movements at international organizations impose strict limits in this regard, this goal has been achieved in the vast majority of cases to date. However, it is important to take into account in your own life planning that these are fixed-term employment contracts and that a corresponding degree of geographical mobility is required.

The BFIO provides assistance in the event of a return to Germany. A debriefing is scheduled after the end of the assignment.