Australia will invest $25.6 million (US$ 18.51 million) over the next four years to assist young Australian professionals in gaining experience at international institutions that are critical to Australia’s interests. The fund will be used to sponsor the United Nations’ Junior Professional Officer Program, which recruits Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) for the UN Secretariat and has more than 40 partner countries. “Australian participants will gain critical skills and expertise to build their careers in multilateral engagement, both in Australia and overseas,” reads a statement from Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. “It is an investment in the institutions that support our modern economy through critical functions such as international trade, global health, food safety, postal services, and air and sea transport.” The overall goal of the JPO Programme is to “enhance the development and capacity development work of the United Nations and other participating Agencies.” JPOs are recruited under bilateral agreements …