Young Professionals Programme (YPP) Exam: Global Communications (for external applicants), P2
Employment Type: Full Time
Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Location: Global (various duty stations)
Date Posted: October 29, 2025
Org. Setting and Reporting
Those who are successful in the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination process will be placed on a roster used to fill appropriate vacancies. Candidates may be selected from the roster as relevant vacancies become available across the UN Secretariat. The roster is valid for three years, but placement on the roster does not guarantee employment. Selected candidates will be offered a two-year fixed-term contract at the start of their Professional career with the UN. After two years, and subject to satisfactory performance, they may be granted a continuing contract. Positions may become available at UN Secretariat offices including Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, New York, Santiago, and Vienna. Successful candidates must be willing to work at any UN duty station or field operation.
Responsibilities
The YPP examination in Global Communications covers public information, campaign management, marketing, strategic communications, media monitoring, knowledge management, and multimedia production. Key responsibilities include gathering insights from media monitoring to inform strategy; implementing communications campaigns that drive engagement; drafting narratives and producing content for multiple platforms; planning media events; creating visual and audio materials; coordinating strategic partnerships; managing outreach campaigns; and maintaining data and analytics to support communications planning.
Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrates competence, mastery, persistence, and calmness under pressure.
Creativity: Promotes new ideas, “thinks outside the box,” and takes calculated risks to improve outcomes.
Client Orientation: Understands client needs, maintains partnerships, anticipates challenges, and delivers on commitments.
Education
At least a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, at least three years) in one of the following areas relevant to Communications: Arts, Business & Administration, Computing, Journalism & Information, Humanities, or Social & Behavioral Science. When preparing your application, select the closest matching field of study from the dropdown menu; do not select “other” as it leads to disqualification.
Work Experience
No work experience is required. Relevant work experience may be used as an additional screening criterion when more than 90 candidates from the same country apply for the same exam area.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this role, fluency in either English or French is required (UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Assessment
The assessment includes three stages:
- Screening of applications.
- Written examination (online) with two parts: a general paper and a specialized paper.
- Oral examination/interview (video conference).
The written exam is expected in early 2026 (February for Part I, and 1–2 months later for Part II). Only successful candidates in both written parts proceed to the oral stage.
Special Notice
This opening invites external candidates to apply for the 2025 YPP in Global Communications. Applicants must:
- Hold a first-level university degree in the required fields.
- Be 32 years old or younger by 31 December 2025 (born on or after 1 January 1993).
- Be fluent in English or French.
- Hold nationality from a participating Member State for 2025 YPP.
Participating countries include Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Panama, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, United States of America, Viet Nam, and others. (See full list on the UN Careers site.)
Applicants must submit:
- A valid passport or government ID with photo and birth date.
- Documentation of university degree(s), such as diploma or transcript.
Successful YPP candidates are placed on a roster to fill entry-level (P1/P2) vacancies globally within the UN Secretariat. Placement on the roster does not guarantee a job offer.
United Nations Considerations
The UN is committed to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and diversity. Applicants who have committed violations of human rights, humanitarian law, or sexual misconduct will not be considered. The UN Secretariat is a non-smoking environment and provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.
No Fee
The United Nations does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or training). The UN does not request information about applicants’ bank accounts.
How To Apply
Apply here