The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. They work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board.
Volunteering abroad is an unbeatable opportunity to serve as a global citizen. International UN Volunteers promote peace and development in communities around the globe while upholding the ideals and aspirations of the United Nations. International UN Volunteers come from 160 countries, representing many cultures and backgrounds. They bring a wide variety of perspectives and approaches which lends a dynamism to the experience.
To get more exciting opportunities like this, at your fingertips, install the Youth Opportunities Mobile App here.
Your international UN Volunteer assignment will make a lasting impact. It can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the immediate results of your efforts – both for the people you serve and yourself.
As an international UN Volunteer, you will learn about different cultures, expand your networks, study or perfect foreign languages and gain matchless professional and life experiences. Working in another country gives you the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, learn new approaches to tasks and problems and to operate in different environments. You will enter the singular domain of global citizenship. Facing challenges together with community members and fellow United Nations workers often creates life-long bonds.
After working in a foreign country, you can be sure your curriculum vitae will stand out. Employers appreciate the ability to adapt, to think outside the box and to embrace diversity. The enriched professional and life experiences gained through volunteering will not go unnoticed.
Volunteering abroad is an unparalleled opportunity to do something meaningful and to support peace and development initiatives in countries that need them most. And by giving back you will gain an incredible sense of fulfillment, which will pay dividends for the rest of your life.
International UN Volunteers support local volunteer initiatives, strengthen community capacities, foster ownership and sustainability of development activities and contribute toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
You will work actively with United Nations development and peacekeeping partners and within communities, responding to development priorities and needs in countries facing poverty and socio-economic challenges, humanitarian crises, conflict, and post-conflict situations and those of fragile peace. Through your expertise, you will enable the effective delivery of programs and mandates of partner United Nations entities.
International UN Volunteer assignments are usually an initial contract of 6 to 12 months, sometimes with a possibility to extend for one to two years. Short-term assignments of three months or less are also requested from time to time by their partners.
Benefits
The purpose of allowances is to enable international UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.
Allowances provided are:
- volunteer living allowance: a monthly allowance intended to cover basic living expenses (this is not a salary)
- travel expenses: for travel to duty station upon appointment and for repatriation at the end of the assignment
- settling-in-grant: a grant calculated on the duration of the assignment, paid at the beginning of the assignment
- insurances: life, health, and permanent disability insurance.
- annual leave
- resettlement allowance: calculated based on the duration of the assignment, paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.
Eligibilities
The minimum requirements to serve as an international UN Volunteer are:
- 25 years old and older (no upper age limit)
- university degree or higher technical diploma
- at least two years of relevant work experience in a professional background
- good working knowledge of at least one of UNV’s three working languages: English, French or Spanish
- commitment to the values and principles of volunteerism
- ability to work in a multicultural environment
- willingness to work with people and local organizations to draw upon the synergies between expert solutions and local knowledge
- ability to adjust in difficult living conditions and sometimes remote locations
- strong interpersonal and organizational skills
- prior volunteering and/or working experience in a developing country is an asset
When assignments arise, they search in the Global Talent Pool for profiles that match the requirements of the job. Matching candidates are contacted and given the specific details of the assignment, after which they can confirm their interest and availability. A short-list of available candidates is drawn up and a selection process follows.
Only when there are difficult, highly specialized or high-volume assignments, for example after a natural disaster or in the aftermath of a conflict, do they advertise them on this website, as well as via professional associations and social media. But even in these cases, candidates still must be registered in the Global Talent Pool.
Eligible Regions: Open For AllApplication Process
The registration process follows a few steps, all of which must be completed for your profile to be considered for assignments.
- First, submit some basic information to create an account in the UNV Global Talent Pool. You will receive an automated message with a link to verify your email address and activate your account.
- After successfully activating your account, you will receive a second message with a link to your profile. Click on the MY PROFILE link to enter your information regarding skills, educational qualifications, and experience.
- After completing all the required fields, click on the SUBMIT MY PROFILE tab.
- You will receive an email confirming your successful registration. The email will include a registration number and other practical information for potential candidates.
Apply nowOfficial linkTo get more exciting opportunities like this, at your fingertips, install the Youth Opportunities Mobile App here.
