VOLUNTEER FOR UNITED NATIONS
Description
The decision to serve as a UN Volunteer, at home or abroad, is based on a commitment to the United Nations and to the UN’s contribution to peace, development and human rights in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Though UNV assignments can be very rewarding, applicants thus need to be prepared to be deployed to difficult places and they need to be able to adjust to fast-changing living and working circumstances. They need to be aware that they may not have a choice regarding their duty station (it is determined by operational requirements, not personal preferences); and that their final duty station may only be known after they have been recruited and have arrived on the ground.
The vast majority of UNV assignments are based on six to twelve month renewable contracts, with the expectation that the UN Volunteer will serve one year or more. If you are interested and/or available to volunteer on a short-term assignment of three months or less, read about the Short-term assignments HERE.
Eligibility
- A university degree or higher technical diploma;
- Two years of relevant working experience;
- At least age 25 when taking up an assignment (there is no upper age limit);
- Good working knowledge in at least one of the three UNV working languages: English, French and Spanish
- Strong commitment to the values and principles of volunteerism;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
- Ability to adjust to difficult living conditions;
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
- Prior volunteering and/or working experience in a developing country is an asset.
Benefits
To support you during your assignment, you will receive:
- Settling-in- Grant calculated on the duration of assignment, paid at the beginning of the assignment;
- Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) to cover basic living expenses, which is paid each month;
- Travel on appointment and at the end of assignment as applicable;
- Life, health and permanent disability insurance;
- Annual leave;
- Resettlement allowance calculated based on the duration of assignment, paid upon satisfactory completion of the assignment.
Application
The majority of UNV assignments are filled by candidates from the database who have expressed an interest in becoming UN Volunteers. You can register HERE.
In some cases, they seek additional applications for a specific area of professional expertise or for projects which require larger numbers of UN Volunteers. You can find the Special recruitment opportunities HERE.
For further information visit the official website HERE.