The Fellowships Programme for Technical Cooperation Capacity Building and Human Resources Development is an initiative funded by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. It is implemented by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA) and targets post-graduate Italian nationals.

The fellowships under this Programme are awarded to allow qualified young professional seeking an international career in development cooperation to gain relevant hands-on experience and to assist United Nations system organizations in their activities by providing them with cost-free skilled personnel.

Fellows are selected for a one-year on-the-job training in the Field Offices of organizations belonging to the United Nations System. Before taking up their assignment in the host country, they attend a mandatory orientation workshop, which is an integral part of the Programme.

Initially rolled out in 1999 as a pilot scheme awarding 12 fellowships, the Programme has gradually grown into a fully-fledged initiative awarding on average 34 fellowships a year. To date, a total of 784 young Italian professionals have participated in the Programme.